đ¶ **Practical Tip â What if your dog used their nose more?**
We often think that dogs mainly need physical exercise. But **mental stimulation** is just as important.
đ And for that, one of their best tools is their sense of smell!
From simply **sniffing freely during walks**, to searching for treats, tracking, mantrailing, or scent detection, dogs have to:
đ search
đ concentrate
đ think
đ make decisions
đ persist
đ§ This kind of work is also very useful for developing **self-control**: instead of reacting immediately to everything around them, dogs gradually learn to slow down, stay focused, and manage their impulses more effectively.
đâđŠș This is also why I regularly use **scent work as a tool in the rehabilitation of reactive dogs**. At the right distance and while the dog remains below their emotional threshold, it can help them disengage from a trigger, regain focus, and learn to make different choices.
And it can all start very simply:
đż **On your next walk, perhaps walk a little less⊠and let your dog sniff a little more!**