Introducing Bo!

[Clodagh]

Scentwork is for any dog and its a really useful way of tiring them out without expending too much energy-studies show it's good for the dogs' emotional wellbeing too as they have the need to sniff.

That is so interesting (mainly because it it agrees with something I have long thought). How do dogs cope that are walked on the lead and not allowed to stop, or only have a ball thrown for them for exercise. I always think they need to learn to 'pootle' and just be a dog. Not sniffing must be like us not being allowed to look at things.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

That is so interesting (mainly because it it agrees with something I have long thought). How do dogs cope that are walked on the lead and not allowed to stop, or only have a ball thrown for them for exercise. I always think they need to learn to 'pootle' and just be a dog. Not sniffing must be like us not being allowed to look at things.

completely agree and I could say the same for horses (wrt being horses and being able to work out their environment -I also believe a horse's sense of smell is close to that of dogs). This picture shows just how specialised dogs are-any animal this evolved to sniff must have a need to do it. From an owners PoV, nothing wears them out as much in 15 minutes lol. But positive problem solving and making choices makes dogs more optimistic (and other animals as well, its a big theme in animal enrichment)

 

[Clodagh]

completely agree and I could say the same for horses (wrt being horses and being able to work out their environment -I also believe a horse's sense of smell is close to that of dogs). This picture shows just how specialised dogs are-any animal this evolved to sniff must have a need to do it. From an owners PoV, nothing wears them out as much in 15 minutes lol. But positive problem solving and making choices makes dogs more optimistic (and other animals as well, its a big theme in animal enrichment)

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I'm not I can agree on allowing horses to stop and pootle out on hacks!
I do agree about them using scent though. A friend competes a stallion and he is extremely sniffy.

 

[planete]

We call it a 'sniffari'. A typical Sunday morning relaxed walk in the woods, just following one on lead dog wherever he wants to go, stop and sniff. Each of the dogs gets his turn to be in charge of the walk.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I'm not I can agree on allowing horses to stop and pootle out on hacks!
I do agree about them using scent though. A friend competes a stallion and he is extremely sniffy.

well not all the time but if a horse stops suddenly and stares into the distance then I am more inclined to give them a moment than tell them off. I am an awful old fluffy these days

 

[eatmyshorts]

Aww, he looks a lovely boy & very well settled! He reminds me a wee bit of my Alaskan husky (see crazy face on the right in my avatar) who is often mistaken for a fit collie.

Planete, i love the term "sniffari"!

 

[Clodagh]

Planete, i love the term "sniffari"!

Sniffari is great, if we are in a place where other dogs are walked we call it doing their peemails.

 

[Clodagh]

well not all the time but if a horse stops suddenly and stares into the distance then I am more inclined to give them a moment than tell them off. I am an awful old fluffy these days

I do agree really. Depends on the horse though, my last mare it would have been while she had a thought on what to do to really pee me off.