It’s important that your dog gets his daily walk for exercise purposes. But it’s just as vital to let your dog sniff his surroundings. For many dogs, a walk is the highlight of their day and they are content to go anywhere as long as they get to be outside and with you. While on a walk, some dogs have a tendency to stop and sniff what seems like every couple of seconds – this can make your walk longer than you intended and it is frustrating for some dog owners. But should you let your dog sniff during his walk? Though dogs have the same five senses that people do, their sense of smell is infinitely stronger. In fact, a dog’s sense of smell is the primary way he takes in information about the world around him. For a dog, sniffing things is an automatic behavior – this is how he experiences the world, the same way you experience the world through vision. That’s why it’s so important that you let your dog sniff things while he is out on a walk. You don’t necessarily have to indulge him every time, but you should remember that the walk is for his benefit. If your dog wants to sniff something for a few seconds, let him! .
