What Do I Need to Know to Be a Good Pup Parent?

Understanding a Dog's Inner World

It’s mostly common knowledge that pups need food, water, walks outside and lots of love and attention.  But, how many people really understand a dog’s inner world and are prepared to provide them with a wholly satisfying life? Dogs need the freedom to express their natural behaviours. They need outlets for their natural instincts, such as sniffing, chewing, and digging . Allowing pups time for these activities helps them feel fulfilled and can reduce stress and frustration. 

For many dogs, a huge component of their mental health is synonymous with olfactory health. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell. They have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about 6 million in humans. And, the part of a dog’s brain dedicated to analyzing scents is about 40 times larger than in humans, allowing them to detect scents at concentrations up to 100,000 times less than what humans can perceive.

This powerful sense of smell enables dogs to detect things that humans can’t even imagine. When trained, dogs can detect things from specific human emotions to medical conditions like diabetes and cancer. In fact, specifically trained dogs can identify certain diseases in their early stages by detecting subtle changes in a person’s scent, showcasing the remarkable abilities of a dog’s nose and olfactory bulb in their brains. This extraordinary sensory ability makes dogs invaluable in roles like search and rescue, medical detection, and even conservation, where they help locate endangered species by tracking their scent trails.

How To Provide Enrichment For Your Pup

A dog’s keen sense of smell should be nurtured by their owners. Scent-based activities are highly enriching, as they engage a dog’s brain, provide sensory satisfaction, and promote calm, focused behavior. Enrichment toys like snuffle mats serve as a perfect tool to help your pup get the stimulation that they need. Snuffle mats encourage dogs to use their noses to search for hidden treats or kibble, engaging their powerful sense of smell in a way that is both mentally stimulating and satisfying. Since sniffing and foraging tap into a dog’s natural instincts, these activities help reduce boredom, relieve stress, and provide a sense of accomplishment.

Read more about snuffle mats as an enrichment tool for your pup.