Let Them Sniff
For most dogs, the traditional march around the neighborhood on a 4-6ft leash just doesn’t cut it. Twenty minutes of the same old suburban sights, sounds, and smells isn’t terribly enriching, and it certainly won’t meet the exercise needs for any dog except maybe the biggest of couch potatoes. To top it off, many pet parents expect their dogs to “heel” for the entirety of the walk with virtually no opportunities to sniff, explore, and just be a dog! So this year, make it a goal to start the practice of decompression walks with your dog.
What’s a decompression walk? The term, coined by fabulous trainer Sarah Stremming, is best described in her own words as “a walk where the dog is allowed freedom of movement in nature.” There’s a growing body of research showing the massive positive effects nature has on human mental health. While we don’t have the benefit of formal research on its effects on dogs (yet!) (update: we do now!), there is more than enough anecdotal evidence to suggest similar benefits for our canine companions. We do know that sniffing has a calming effect on dogs, that control over their environment is a primary reinforcer, and that mental enrichment is crucial for tiring dogs out!
Not everybody has easy access to large, empty areas where dogs can be safely or legally off leash. While the total freedom of movement that off-leash walks allow for is ideal, a long line attached to a non-restrictive back clip harness is a great option! Hiking trails, beaches, large parks, baseball fields, even cemeteries can serve as perfect sites for a decompression walk. The key is choosing quiet, low-traffic areas with few distractions (people, dogs, cars, etc) to allow your dog to sniff, run, dig, roll in smelly things, and do whatever else comes naturally! Be sure to check out SniffSpot, basically airbnb for off-leash dog areas, to find decompression spots near you.
If you don’t have a long line for your dog yet, do yourself and your dog a favor and order one today! They come in a variety of sizes and lengths in both standard nylon and weather-resistant biothane. We don’t recommend the use of flexi-leads because they can result in serious injury to dogs and humans alike, they don’t allow you to easily reel your dog in the case of an emergency, and they tend to encourage leash pulling. We promise long lines are a game changer and they’re worth every penny!
Decompression walks can benefit every dog, but we find them especially helpful for dogs who have a hard time winding down. Adolescent dogs with boundless energy, dogs who become anxious and startle at sounds, dogs who bark and lunge on leash, or dogs who become overstimulated by busy environments could all use some decompression time; so can their humans for that matter! So this year, take the time to adopt this practice, even if it’s just once a week.