Sniffing boosts dogs’ optimism.

Opportunities to sniff and make independent choices have a positive impact on dogs’ well-being.

We all know dogs love to sniff. It turns out that letting them search for food while sniffing boosts their mood and makes them more optimistic about life.

New scientific research by Dr. Charlotte Duranton (Ethodog) and Dr. Alexandra Horowitz (Barnard College) has shown that dogs engaged in scent-based tasks display a higher level of optimism than those participating in obedience exercises.

Importantly, both activities used positive reinforcement and food rewards. The key difference is that scent work allows dogs to sniff freely and make their own choices.

The study

They used a cognitive bias test (aka optimism test). Dogs learned that a bowl in one spot always had food, and a bowl in another spot was always empty. Then a bowl was placed in the middle — empty — and researchers measured how fast the dog ran to it. The quicker the dog moved, the more “optimistic” it was about finding food.

20 adult dogs of various breeds took part. Half joined scent detection training, the other half practiced walking calmly beside their guardian. They did one group session, followed by a week of daily training at home, then another group session and another week of practice.

Exercises were structured and gradually got harder. The heelwork group progressed from two steps to ten, then added direction changes. The scent group started with one box, then searched among three, and eventually looked in harder-to-reach spots.

Results

At the start, both groups reacted the same in the optimism test. After two weeks, the scent group dogs approached the middle bowl significantly faster. The heelwork group showed no change. That means the scent dogs became more optimistic.

All dogs got food rewards, so the key difference was likely control and choice. The scent dogs could move freely and make their own decisions. That kind of autonomy boosts well-being.

Also: sniffing itself. Smell is a dog’s main sense. Environments that let them use it are crucial for their welfare.

Bottom line

– Let your dog sniff.

– Let them choose.

– Let them think.

That’s how you support a dog’s mental health.

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Duranton, C., & Horowitz, A. (2018). Let me sniff! Nosework induces positive judgment bias in pet dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2018.12.009