Leash walks are a much needed daily activity that allows our dogs to release energy not only physically, but mentally! Often times, dog owners will rely on just their yard to allow the dogs to run, sniff and play. However, this yard can become, as Craig mentions, like a fishbowl for the dog, meaning that it is confined, and not getting much stimulation of their senses due to the fact that they have already sniffed every square inch of the yard. This confinement is not only understimulating, but can actually lead to anxiety and a yearning for the dog to try and leave to follow new scents in the huge world outside of the confines of that yard.
Dogs noses have more than 200 million scent receptors, and allowing them to sniff new smells on neighborhood walks stimulates their brain, allowing them to gather information about the world around them and thus using lots of energy. They can pick up the scents of other dogs, cats and any other animals that may be in the area, allowing their natural senses to thrive. Many of us usually assume that the faster paced, longer walks are what will drain their high energy dog and will take a longer period of time to accomplish the goal of tiring their dog before they leave for work. In reality, a shorter walk, while allowing your dog to sniff around and use their sense of smell, can drain just as much, if not more energy in a much shorter period of time.
This does not mean that you no longer need to run your dog or go for longer, fast paced walks. However it is very important to remember that allowing your dog time to sniff is equally important, and much needed for them to satisfy their curiousity of the world around them. Tiring a dog is much more easily accomplished by not just physical stimulation, but the combination of physical and mental stimulation! Especially for dogs in urban areas where there is no yard to sniff in, many times these dogs can be taken for walks to pee and poop, and are quickly taken back inside. This lack of ability to sniff and engage in new smells can lead to anxiety, whereas giving them time to sniff can relieve stress in the dog by lowering their heart rate and actually releasing dopamine, which is what brings our dogs a sense of joy and satisfaction.
So remember next time you just let your dog into the yard, or run them in the hopes that they will be exhausted, that allowing them time to smell the world at their pace on a nice leash walk can benefit them so much more, making them happier and even more tired, which is a plus for both the dog and owner!
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