Engaging Your Dog's 5 Senses: Smell

A few months ago, I took on a new position working at the Humane Society of Sonoma County as the Canine Enrichment Coordinator. So what does enrichment mean? Enrichment is anything we can add to the dog's habitat or daily routine that can improve their overall experience, engage their mind, and decrease stress. Creating enrichment for dogs means getting creative and trying to think like a dog, and the more time I spend at this job, the more inspired I get to enrich the lives of my own dogs, too! There are so many simple little ways we can enrich our dogs' lives - these next few blogs will be a mini series on how to engage each of your dog's senses. Today let's talk about smell:

Smell

Dogs tend to experience their world through smell - it's a huge part of their lives, so smell is by far one of the most important senses for them to have opportunities to use!
*Let them sniff! Don't rush your walk, let your dog stop and smell the "pee mail."
*Provide them with some dog-safe aromatherapy! Scents like lavender can be enjoyable and calming for dogs and humans alike. 
*Set up a "treat trail" for them to follow or hide treats for them to discover around the house.
*Serve their meals in more interesting ways like crumpled up in a paper bag for to tear into, or rolled into a towel for them to nudge open!