Why dogs need time to sniff
Walks & wellbeing
Why dogs need time to sniff
Ever set off for a walk, only for your dog to stop at the very first patch of grass? It can feel as though you’re getting nowhere. For your dog, that pause is an opportunity to explore.
Some things are worth stopping for.
A world of scent
A world we cannot see.Smell is one of the main ways dogs gather information about their surroundings. Sniffing lets them investigate scents we may barely notice, making those little stops a meaningful part of their walk.
Their noses are beautifully adapted for the job. Research combining measurements of sniffing with a detailed computer model found that airflow carries scent into a specialised smelling region at the back of the nose. Sniffing is an active way of sampling the world.
Something for their minds
Little discoveries matter.Following a scent or searching for a hidden treat gives dogs an opportunity to use their natural behaviour. Dogs Trust recommends making time for sniffing on walks and offering suitable searching games at home. This is enrichment, providing interesting activities that engage a dog’s mind.
There is also encouraging research into emotional wellbeing. In a 2019 study involving 20 pet dogs, one group practised scent games for two weeks, while another practised walking beside their owner. Afterwards, the scent games group approached a bowl in a location where the presence of food was uncertain more quickly than before. Researchers interpreted this as a more optimistic expectation of finding a reward. The comparison group showed no statistically significant change.
It was a small study of structured scent games, so we should be careful about applying the result to every sniff on a walk. It offers promising evidence, rather than a guarantee that sniffing will make every dog calmer.
Making room for a good sniff
Let them take their time.On your next walk, allow a few unhurried pauses in safe places and notice what interests your dog. Where it is safe, let them choose which scent to investigate. Keep the experience comfortable and move away if they seem worried.
At home, try an easy search for a few pieces of their usual food in a safe area. Supervise, use part of their daily food allowance and make the game easier if they become frustrated.
Physical exercise still matters. Sniffing and movement can sit alongside each other, with the balance suited to your dog’s age, health and individual needs.
At Holty Paws & Hooves, we value walks that give dogs time to explore and enjoy their surroundings. Sometimes a little patience at that patch of grass is part of making the walk worthwhile.
Some things are worth stopping for. Let them sniff.
Good sniffing spots close to home
We are fortunate to have lovely places to explore around Hamble, Warsash and Whiteley, with woodland paths and open spaces that can turn an ordinary walk into an interesting outing.
A few ideas from our Walking Ideas page:
- Hamble Common and Shore. Woodland and common paths offer opportunities for unhurried exploring, without needing to make the beach the focus of your walk.
- Hook Common and Warsash Common. Choose a shorter outing or explore connecting paths, allowing time for the scents that catch your dog’s attention. Our walking guide flags seasonal adder awareness here.
- Whiteley Woods. Varied woodland routes offer plenty to investigate. Check access before setting off, as nearby development can affect some paths.
- Forest of Bere, near Wickham. Another woodland option to consider if you are looking for a walk in the wider Fareham area.
Follow current signs and lead requirements, give wildlife and livestock space, and choose a route suited to your dog. A familiar local path can be just as rewarding as somewhere new.
Explore our Walking Ideas for locations and practical notes, or read about our dog walking services and coverage across South Hampshire.
Read the research
- Craven and colleagues, 2010, airflow and canine smelling
- Duranton and Horowitz, 2019, Let me sniff!
- Dogs Trust, enrichment activities for dogs
Adapted from our approved sniffing post. Research links reviewed 22 October 2026.
A little patience. A world to discover.
