by Ashley Demers
It's true that exercise ranks high as far as priorities go- it's important for dogs to be able to burn off some steam, and it's great that they help keep us in good shape. But if you're not feeling up to pounding the pavement with your dog tonight, you don't necessarily have to!
Maybe your dog likes to keep moving, but is still happy to do a "walk by" sniff and follow the scent trail. Or maybe your dog prefers a slow, meandering walk where they can stop and really process each and every scent as long as they please. And that's okay, too.
Dogs are different from us in that they primarily "see" the world through their incredible noses. A dog experiences their entire life through scent before other senses. Knowing how important a dog's nose is to their interpretation of their world helps us understand why it is so engaging for them to sniff a single spot over and over, even for several minutes. So let's briefly delve into how and why that is:
Not only is a dog's nose incredibly "scent-sitive", it can actually create a continuous air flow and take in scents while exhaling at the same time. The constant circulation of air also allows them to separate some air just for breathing and some for serious scent work.
Depending on the breed, a dog can have up to 300 million olfactory receptors. A human has only six million! Dogs, like many other animals, also have a special scent organ in their nose called the vomeronasal organ (aka the VNO or the Jacobson organ) which contains some of their millions of scent receptors. The VNO is nestled at the bottom of the nasal cavity, just behind the front teeth.
In this organ are two fluid filled sacs dedicated to processing more than just scent, but also the odorless pheromones that contain information about age, health, gender, and even mood state of the person or animal that left the scent behind. The VNO can also somewhat process taste (which helps puppies locate their mother's milk before their eyes are open). If you've ever seen your dog, cat, or even a horse curl their lip, flick their tongue, while seeming to "suck" in a scent, this is called the flehmen response. What's happening is your dog is opening tiny ducts in their mouths to send an odour straight to the VNO for a better understanding of what it's all about, through both scent and taste!
A dog's olfactory sensory bulb, at the front and base of their brain, is three times larger than that of a human's sensory bulb. This is an extra incredible smelling power, when you consider that a dog's brain is ten times smaller than ours. A dog's nose is so adept at taking in the world, but sniffing actually lowers a dog's heart rate, too- much like meditative breathing would for us. The longer and more strongly the dog sniffs, the lower their pulse rate goes. This happens even if they are sniffing while moving, meaning their heart rate wouldn't rise as much as if they were just moving alone.
When you're out on walks together, as you are taking in the buildings, trees, and other people via your eyes and ears, your dog is doing the same but of course, mainly through scent. That picket fence looks very pretty to you, and to your dog, it smells absolutely fascinating!
So consider taking a leisurely "scent walk" now and then, and allow your dog to choose the route as much as possible. Whether it's just around the neighbourhood, or on a quiet trail where you can use a nice long leash for more freedom. Relax, breathe and enjoy the scenery!
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