To Sniff or Not to Sniff?

    This week we had a huge breakthrough in regards to training. It was one of those things that a passerby would probably not have noticed at all, but I could have jumped for joy. I'm sure I would have scared off any other hikers with my Cheshire cat smile, but thankfully we were alone. What was this breakthrough, you ask? Mia walked without stopping to sniff stuff!

    Okay, it doesn't sound like that big of a deal, but it actually is. Have you ever been walking your dog and it feels like you're spending more time standing still than actually walking? Yeah, me too. Mia used to be a big sniffer. To the point of being annoying. She couldn't walk ten feet without having to stop and smell one thing or another. Now, don't get me wrong, smelling new things is very important to how dogs perceive the world around them. It's probably the most important way they process information. It tells them all kinds of things, from how many other animals have passed by recently, if those animals were healthy, if any of them were a potential threat, if there's a food-source nearby, etc. And all that info is processed solely though their noses. Basically, they use their noses like we use our eyes. It's actually pretty amazing and you can read some more about it here. It can also be a huge frustration on your walks. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds? Yes, it is.

Her 'up' command went a little haywire...

    I'll preface this next bit by saying, I am no training expert, but this is what worked for us. 

    First, as with any training exercise, you have to have a goal. My goal with Mia was to have her still be able to smell the ground and things around her, but not be consumed by the desire to work out the elemental compounds that are present in the smell. Some people feel that a dog should not smell anything while on a walk and they should be totally focused on the handler, and if that's your goal, that's fine. For me, it's a bit extreme. I want my dog to enjoy our time together, not be concerned if she's looked at me enough in the past ten seconds. And, as stated above, smelling things is very important to how your dog deals with an environment or situation. 

    After you have a goal in mind, teach your dog a basic 'leave it' command. How you go about this varies depending on your training philosophy, but there's a great article that breaks down pretty much how Mia and I learned it, here. 

    Once your dog has an understanding of the 'leave it' command, it time to grab some treats and go for a walk! When I walk Mia, I'm constantly talking to her, giving her praise or direction. I'm also using the leash to give her signals, like to slow down a bit, or to catch up, or as a reminder that I'm still there and she needs to check in, especially if it seems like her ears have stopped working (no lie, sometimes I feel like she goes deaf on walks, that's how little attention she pays to my verbal cues at times). Once your dog moves to sniff something, tell them to 'leave it' and reward with praise or food if they do leave it. Remember to keep moving throughout the whole process, so they associate the command and praise with movement. If your dog did not 'leave it', repeat the command and give a quick 'pulse' on the leash to help get their attention. (Some people feel 'pulsing' or 'popping' on a dogs leash is negative and can harm the dog, but in my opinion, you'd have to be pretty aggressive in you corrections for any harm to come to your dog.) You may need to increase the pressure in the pulses if your dog is ignoring you, and if he's being particularly stubborn, you may need to move in and touch or tap his side to get his attention. Once he's focused on you and not the smell, move on and repeat the process as needed. If he only pauses briefly before moving on, praise and keep moving!

    It can be frustrating at first, especially if you have a stubborn dog who is more inclined to stop and sniff, but firm, consistent training is the key. I also stop once or twice in high 'dog-traffic' areas and let Mia sniff for as long as she wants (as long as it's within reason), so she can indulge in more complex scents. But she still needs to follow her 'leave it's; getting a good sniff doesn't mean she needs to figure out the last five generations of the dog who left the 'pee-mail'. 

    Remember to have fun with your dogs and let us know if you have any other tips in the comments!