THE SAVVY TRAINER
Imagine walking into a room blindfolded. With every step you risk tripping over furniture or falling down stairs. Without sight, an unknown room is an intimidating scenario. We see the world, but dogs smell it. They smell it at a level that is impossible for us to comprehend. We have about six million scent receptors in our nose; a sheepdog has over 200 million receptors and a beagle over 300 million. Furthermore, dogs smell at a molecular level allowing them to dissect a complex odor into smaller parts. Alexandra Horowitz, author of ‘Inside of a Dog,’ offers the analogy that a dog can smell a teaspoon of sugar in one million gallons of water, the equivalent of two Olympic-size pools! Dogs trained to detect the odor associated with cancer cells failed to identify the cancer only 14 times in 1,272 attempts.
Any item that has our smell on it is an extension of us to our dog. My clients often report that when left alone, their dog gathers shoes, socks, and other personal articles. They don’t chew anything but just collect the objects in an effort to soothe themselves. A towel or blanket with your scent left on your dog’s bed could help him feel better about being alone. This technique is also useful in advance of bringing a new baby home. Take an extra baby blanket to the hospital and let the dog get acquainted with the new family member before the actual homecoming.
Dogs can smell fear in a human or another dog. Sweat and the adrenaline associated with increased blood flow make us a particularly smelly species. Dogs who have had an unpleasant encounter with another dog often develop fear-based aggression. In turn, we worry that our beloved friend will get attacked, and our heart rate increases when an unknown dog approaches. Our dog smells our fear, which reinforces their fear, making it worse. Working with a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT) can help both you and your dog learn to manage these situations.
We can also harness our dog’s amazing sense of smell to modify his behavior. A nervous or stressed animal is more likely to act aggressively and be less able to learn. When dogs actively smell something, their brain is fully engaged in the task at hand and less likely to be reactive.
Take your dog on ‘smell walks.’ Let your dog determine the pace and path of the walk in order to fully take in the environment. This could be the most fulfilling part of your dog’s day! If you don’t have time for a leisurely walk, stop occasionally and let your dog sniff. Teach a ‘let’s go’ cue to use when it’s time to move on.
Hide your dog’s morning kibble around the house instead of feeding it from a bowl. It will keep him busy and mentally active when you leave the house, and he will likely need a good nap after finding all the food.
Dogs smell each other to get acquainted, but this simple act can be too much for some fearful canines. To make the greeting easier, allow each dog to smell the other’s bed prior to any kind of direct encounter.
Develop your dog’s natural scenting abilities through the sport of K9 Nosework, which teaches a dog to find scents using increasingly difficult games. Dogs work one at a time, so even shy or reactive dogs can do it. No prior training is required and all you need is a few empty boxes to practice at home.
The next time your dog insists on stopping constantly to sniff, remember that this is how they ‘see’ the world and appreciate them for who they are.
For more information about the sport of K9 Nosework, including trials and title levels, visit the National Association of Canine Scent Work at funnosework.com. K9 Nosework classes are offered at the Savvy Dog Training and Education Center, thesavvydog.net.
~ Comment on this column below.
