Hey dog parents, I have an indoor dog due to behavioral issues, and I’m working on improving her physical exercise and mental stimulation. I’ve been teaching her basic scent games, mostly using smelly treats, kibble, and catnip in “hide and seek” or by scattering treats. However, I’m unsure if she’s actually using her nose since she seems to rely more on her eyes and ears. She often misses treats right in front of her and struggles to find ones above her nose/eye level. Am I approaching this incorrectly? Any tips would be helpful.
Hey Luka, You can encourage your dog to sniff more by using a snuffle mat or hiding treats in various containers. One idea is to tie a piece of meat to a string, drag it around the yard, and hide it, allowing the dog to follow the scent. I tried this for fun, worked for my fur baby. I believe this could be effective to your dog too.
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Thanks @Gianni , I actually have a snuffle mat, however it’s not easy to hide treats in it. Additionally, it’s only about a foot long, so my pet finds the treats quickly without much effort. I’ll try the drag and hide to see if she follows the smell though, I really appreciate.
But wait, why are having trouble hiding treats? What’s difficult in hiding treats? If the treats are bigger, maybe try breaking them into smaller pieces, or alternatively use kibble instead. Another option could be to replace your snuffle mat with one that has longer strands for better concealment. It shouldn’t be difficult to hide small treats or kibble in a mat like this. Another option that could perfectly work is you can fold up a towel or blanket and tuck treats inside. My dog loves sniffing for hidden treats this way. While some suggest rolling kibble in a towel, I find folding it up with kibble hidden in the folds makes the challenge more engaging. Maybe try this, should work.
Okay, sorry, but this is what I meant, I’ve been hiding treats in the snuffle mat, but the kibble is usually easy to spot. Sometimes I just scatter it on the mat, but that doesn’t feel much different from using a dog bowl. Even when I try to hide the kibble better, it’s still quite visible. I also tried using a towel to hide the treats, but it was too easy for her. I bought some puzzle toys, but she figured those out quickly too.
Sorry @Luka I’m not trying to be rude, but it seems like you might be using the snuffle mat incorrectly. The food shouldn’t be placed on top where the dog can see it; it needs to be hidden in the mat for the dog to search for it. Setting it up only takes about a minute.
Some people mention they simply place food on top, but that method doesn’t work for my dog. I may just have a poorly designed mat. I purchased a snuffle mat similar to the Pet Parents Forager snuffle mat, but I find it difficult to hide kibble in the fabric, and most treats are too large to conceal effectively.
Do you mind sharing what breed she is? Some dogs are less driven by scent. My friend has a rescue mix (part pit bull, black mouth cur, etc.) that behaves similarly, relying more on his ears than his nose.
We also have a lab, and we do much of what you’re already doing, like playing hide and seek and hiding treats. As someone else suggested, snuffle mats are great. We’ve also tried scattering his food over a flat sheet and bunching it up, which works well. Keep at it, sometimes it just takes a while for things to click.
Well, she’s a mix of Westie and miniature poodle.
Uhmm… I’d advise that you try using strong-smelling treats like cheese or dried liver. Dogs are more likely to rely on their nose when the scent is more intense and appealing
Maybe begin with simple tasks and gradually progress to hiding treats in more challenging spots. For instance, start by placing the treat directly in front of her and saying, ‘find it.’ Then, slowly increase the difficulty by covering it with a small towel or placing it behind her. She may be more inclined to use her nose and search if she has previously had quick successes in finding rewards.