Take Your Dog on a Sniffari

Anytime your dog smells something, it is already on a sniffari because dogs love smelling everything around them. It is part of their natural instinct to use their sense of smell to find food, and it’s how they learn about the world. Dogs communicate and find things through their sense of smell. The ability to smell as well as dogs do is impressive and can create fun activities for you and your dog to adventure together and grow closer.

What is a Sniffari?

Exactly as it sounds - a safari of exciting smells. Giving your furry friend a reason to sniff around the yard, house, trail, or other safe place, helps them learn and prevents dog boredom. When you let your dog enjoy the natural act of smelling, you provide extra time for them to sniff and enjoy the world. Take your dog on a sniffing journey to channel their inner smell and reward their positive sniffing techniques with these ideas.

5 Places to Sniffari With Your Dog 

1. Take a Walk Near Your House

Take your dog for an extended walk around the block. Give your dog extra time to sniff flowers, grass, sidewalks, etc., as you leisurely walk your usual path. The long walk will allow your dog to smell who has been around the block and what new things pique its interest. Your dog will appreciate the time outside and be ready to rest when it returns home.

2. Beaches

If you live near a dog-friendly beach, whether a river, lake, ocean, or bay, give your dog the opportunity to join your walk for a beach sniffari. If you can, let your dog walk off-leash to enjoy the freedom and smells of the sand, rocks, water, and plants even more. Lakes and oceans are excellent places for your dog to gain knowledge of new odors and look forward to finding new things on the beach, like beautiful seashells. You can even encourage your dog to hop in the water on hot days to further their experience and enjoyment of the walk.

3. Hike a New Trail

Take your dog on a road trip plus sniffari by hiking a new trail. Find a spot near your home that is new to you or one you haven’t hiked recently. Let your dog join your journey and enjoy the new smells of the trail, other dogs, people, and whatever else may be in the area of the hike. Hiking is an excellent way to let your dog smell and get lots of needed exercise.

4. Backyard Adventures

Prevent dog boredom by letting your dog go outside in the backyard for a sniffing safari. Either walk it on a leash or, if possible, let it off the leash to roam around and smell all the wonderful backyard fragrances. 

Another excellent use of the backyard is to give your dog a sniffari scavenger hunt. Hide toys and treats in various spots outside and let your dog take time smelling for them. See how long it takes to trick your dog into staying occupied. For future scavenger hunts, hide items in other locations and maybe more difficult places to really keep their attention.

5. Indoor Scavenger Hunts

Your dog naturally sniffs around the house all the time. However, you can add a little fun to the day by giving your dog an indoor sniffari scavenger hunt. Place toys filled with peanut butter or other dog-approved treats throughout the spaces your dog wanders and let it sniff around to find all the fun things you hid for it. 

In addition to an indoor sniffari which gives your dog something to do while you are home, sniffing hunts are excellent to keep your dog occupied when you leave home for a few hours. Find great hiding places for your dog to enjoy sniffing around for its tasty treasure treats. Indoor scavenger hunts are excellent ways to prevent dog boredom while you are home or away and can give your dog something to enjoy and look forward to.

Be Aware of Your Dog’s Surroundings

Letting your dog sniff around the house and the outdoor world is a fantastic way to keep your dog busy for a while. However, it is vital to control where your dog is going and what it is sniffing at all times, particularly in the Arizona desert region. 

Keep your dog on a leash while it sniffs around if you are outside in an open area or on a trail. The trail will prevent your dog from stepping on a cactus, rattlesnake, or scorpion while enjoying its sniffari time. If you are in the backyard, ensure your plants are safe for your dog to sniff and check around for harmful animals before letting your dog off-leash. 

When you notice your dog going near a plant or edge of the trail, it is good to have it trained on commands to come back to you or leave the item alone. Training can help your dog have a safe and enjoyable adventure outside or inside. Teaching your dog simple commands, such as ‘Come’ or ‘Leave it,’ prevents dog boredom by letting your fur buddy safely explore the world around it.

Train Your Dog for a Sniffari

True Canine knows how much dogs love to sniff, scratch, and wander wherever possible. Training is critical to giving your dog the best sniffing opportunities, whether inside or outside. If your dog needs training on commands like ‘No,’ ‘Leave it,’ or ‘Come,’ our professional trainers are happy to discuss your goals and our dog in-home or board and training programs. Your dog will learn effective training techniques to keep it safe while it enjoys time sniffing around. 

Our board and train program also provides training on socialization, which is helpful for outdoor trails, parks, and neighborhood walks. Your dog will learn to behave appropriately around other people and dogs, so you can enjoy a sniffari together anywhere you go. Sign your dog up for honest and humane training lessons today.