6 Reasons Why Your Dog Is Sniffing A Lot (And How To Stop It)

If you know anything about dogs, you’ll know that they have many superpowers. 

One of these is their incredible sense of smell. 

But there’s more to it than just sniffing out treats or tracking down a favorite toy. 

No, the canine nose is like a constant flow of information.

It helps dogs gather important insights into their surroundings, recognize familiar humans, communicate with fellow dogs, and even determine how long ago that squirrel scampered up a tree. 

So, the next time your furry friend is taking an extra-long sniff break, know that he is using his superpower to truly experience the world around him.

6 Possible Causes Of Excessive Sniffing

Our nervous rescue dog Florence likes to sniff pretty much every blade of grass when we head out for our walks, meaning we sometimes stop literally every yard or two.

I’m not going to lie. It can get a bit frustrating – especially in winter when it’s absolutely freezing.

However, it’s completely normal for dogs to sniff excessively to explore and investigate their surroundings.

Sniffing also has numerous benefits for dogs, so my advice is to just go with it—as far as is possible, at least.

#1. Natural Instincts And Curiosity

A dog’s sense of smell is far more powerful than ours, and they have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their sensitive noses, compared to our 5-6 million (Medical Detection Dogs, n.d.).

Not only that, the part of a dog’s brain dedicated to interpreting scents is about 40 times larger than ours, according to Pet MD.

Because dogs are so different from us in this respect, it can be hard for us to understand, but sniffing is more than just a behavior for dogs – it’s one of the primary ways they navigate their environment. 

In fact, researchers suggest that a dog’s sense of smell is their most powerful—and perhaps important – sense of all (Berns et al., 2015). 

#2. Environmental Enrichment And Stimulation

Instinct and curiosity aside, excessive sniffing in dogs can sometimes be attributed to a lack of mental enrichment or boredom. 

Dogs who don’t get much exercise, who spend large parts of their lives alone, or who don’t get sufficient mental stimulation, may resort to excessive sniffing as a way to alleviate their boredom or seek sensory engagement.

#3. Emotional And Behavioral Factors

Stress, anxiety, or fear can contribute to excessive sniffing behavior in dogs. 

Dogs may also use sniffing as a way to cope with their emotions, as it provides a distraction from a stressful situation and gives them something else to do – rather like a displacement activity.

In humans, this often takes the form of biting our nails or fiddling with our hair!

Florence: Sniffing As A Displacement Behavior

When we first adopted the aforementioned Florence, she was terrified of the entire world.

This meant that when we first started taking her out for walks, she spent the entire time sniffing the ground.

I am certain this was a coping strategy for her, a way of handling the complete emotional overwhelm she was feeling at the time.

These days, she still sniffs, of course, but nothing like she used to in those early days.

#4. Breed And Genetics

While all dogs have impressive smelling abilities, certain breeds stand out in their olfactory prowess, according to experts.

For example, hound breed dogs are particularly renowned for their exceptional sense of smell, as are sturdy working breeds such as German Shepherds and Labradors.

On the other hand, dogs with “squished” faces, known as brachycephalic dogs, like Pugs and Boston Terriers, may have compromised airways that could potentially impact their sense of smell (PetMD, 2020).

When we’re out for our walks, our Greek rescue dog, Esme, tends to walk with her nose to the ground, constantly tracking this or that scent.

She gets pretty excited about it!

Esme looks like a cross between a Beagle and a Dachshund so I wonder if there is an element of genetics in her behavior too.

#5. New Environment

When you visit a new place for the first time with your dog, one that’s away from your regular walks, it will be full of new smells and exciting new scents.

For sure, he will want to spend extra time investigating and will need extra sniff time so he can take it all in.

#6. Health Factors

In some cases, excessive sniffing behavior in dogs may be a symptom of an underlying health problem. 

Allergies, infections, polyps, and other health issues can cause irritation or inflammation in the nasal passages, leading to excessive sniffing. 

Here are some physical and behavioral symptoms to look out for:

Physical Symptoms

• Sneezing: If your dog is sneezing frequently, it may be due to irritation in their nasal passages caused by an allergy, infection, or foreign object.

• Snorting: A reverse sneeze or snort is a common occurrence in dogs, but if it happens frequently or is accompanied by other symptoms, it may indicate an underlying health issue such as polyps or respiratory infection.

• Runny Nose: A runny nose can be a sign of irritation or infection in the nasal cavity, or a reaction to airborne irritants such as chemicals or allergens.

• Weight Loss Or Gain: If your dog’s sniffing is caused by an underlying health problem, he may also experience changes in appetite and weight.

Behavioral Symptoms

• Avoidance: If your dog is sniffing a lot while avoiding certain areas, people, pets, or objects, it may be due to fear or discomfort.

• Distress: Excessive sniffing can be a sign of stress or anxiety, especially if your dog is also panting, pacing, or exhibiting other anxious behaviors.

• Lack Of Interest: If your dog is sniffing excessively, but is not interested in his usual activities or toys, it may be a sign he is not getting enough mental stimulation and needs some new physical and mental challenges.

• Crotch Sniffing: While it may be a natural behavior for dogs to sniff each other’s rear ends – especially when it’s a new dog – excessive crotch sniffing (dogs and humans!) can be a sign of an underlying health problem or hormonal changes.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it is important to take him to a veterinarian for a check-up. 

The vet may perform an X-ray or swab to check for infections or inflammation in the nasal passages or prescribe medication to alleviate symptoms.

What To Do When Your Dog Is Sniffing A Lot

If your dog is sniffing a lot, the first thing to do is figure out the underlying reason.

Visit Your Veterinarian

With Florence and Esme’s excessive sniffing, it is pretty clear to me what the motivation was/is.

If you’re not sure, however, it’s always best to check first with your veterinarian before you go down the behavioral route.

Your veterinarian can rule out any potential health issues causing the excessive sniffing. 

Consult With A Dog Training And Behavior Professional

If your pup has been cleared by your vet, you may want to think about seeking professional guidance from a certified positive reinforcement dog trainer or behavior consultant. 

They will conduct an in-depth assessment to determine the underlying causes of your dog’s excessive sniffing and develop a tailored behavior modification plan accordingly.

Provide More Mental Stimulation

Dogs need mental enrichment just as much as physical exercise. 

Providing your pup with interactive toys, scent work activities, and nose training exercises are some of the best ways to engage his sense of smell in a constructive manner and help reduce excessive sniffing.

For pet parents, allowing your dog to sniff on walks is a simple way to provide mental stimulation and support his natural instincts. 

You can actually do a proper “sniff walk,” commonly known as a “sniffari,” where you take a slow walk and your dog gets to sniff for as long as he likes, wherever he likes.

​This provides him with the perfect outlet for his innate need to sniff.

It’s also a good idea to incorporate scent games or hide treats around the house or yard to give your dog a fun and engaging activity. 

This will tap into his innate hunting instincts and keep his mind engaged.

Puzzle toys are also excellent tools for mental stimulation. 

They require dogs to problem-solve and use their sense of smell to access hidden treats or rewards. 

Puzzle toys provide a great outlet for your dog’s natural foraging and sniffing behavior while offering a challenge that keeps him mentally active and entertained.

Training Techniques

Positive reinforcement training methods can also be used to redirect and manage excessive sniffing behavior. 

For example, you can train your dog to “leave it” or “come back” when he starts to sniff excessively. 

While I always give my dogs a chance to sniff on our walks, if it goes on for several minutes at a time, I will gently move them along by throwing down a few treats a yard or so away and cueing them to “Find It!” 

This works perfectly, without me having to pull them or physically drag them away from whatever is so intriguing.

Use Distraction Techniques

Another way to manage excessive sniffing is by using distraction techniques. 

You can use a favorite toy or treat to redirect your dog’s attention away from what he is doing.

This technique can also be used to prevent your pup from sniffing certain objects or areas.

Reward Good Behavior

Rewarding good behavior is a powerful way to reinforce positive habits in your dog. 

Whenever your dog sniffs less or responds to your cues (e.g. leave it, or come back), reward him with high-value treats (in other words, something he really loves – like our Lennox with his pieces of sausage), petting (if he likes that) or verbal praise. 

This will encourage him to repeat the behavior in the future.

Reduce Stress

Stress can be a major factor in excessive sniffing behavior. 

You can reduce stress by creating a comfortable and safe environment for your dog, avoiding loud noises, and providing plenty of physical activity.

You can also allow him to make his own decisions as far as it is practical and safe to do so.

For example, I allow our dogs to choose which way they want to go on our evening walks.

It doesn’t matter to me which way we go, so why not let them decide?

This gives them more control over their environment which is crucial to building confidence and reducing stress.

Preventing Excessive Dog Sniffing

If your dog is sniffing a lot, there are also a few things you can do to prevent the behavior.

Train Your Dog

Training your dog is one of the most effective ways to prevent excessive sniffing. 

For example, as I already mentioned, you can teach your dog “Leave It!” when he’s sniffing everything in sight. 

As I said earlier too, you can also teach your dog to reliably come to you when you call him.

This can help break the cycle of excessive sniffing.

Train “Leave It”

Here’s expert dog trainer Emily Larlham demonstrating how to train “Leave It!”:

Train “Come Back”

And here’s Blue Cross UK showing how you can train a rock-solid recall:

Provide Regular Exercise

Regular exercise is another great way to prevent excessive sniffing. 

Physical activity can help your dog burn off energy and reduce stress. 

Try Calming Aids

Calming aids such as synthetic pheromones (like Adaptil) or essential oils can sometimes help reduce stress too. 

For example, scents like lavender and chamomile can have a calming effect on dogs. 

You can try applying the oils directly to your dog’s collar or bedding.

Adaptil comes both as a plug-in diffuser and a spray option, so you can experiment to see which works best for your dog, if any.

Avoidance Techniques

If your dog is excessively sniffing due to stress or anxiety, it’s important to avoid situations that trigger these feelings. 

For example, if your dog is nervous around other dogs, you may want to avoid the dog park, or take evasive action if you see another dog when you’re out for your walks. 

If your dog is anxious in new environments, it is best to introduce him to new places slowly and gradually.

The Importance Of Sniffing For Dogs

French researchers (Budzinski & Budzinski, 2019) conducted a field study about dog walks to ascertain, in part, the importance of sniffing.

Key findings include that:

• Dogs spend almost 2.5 times more time sniffing when they are on a longer leash, as opposed to when they’re on a shorter leash. That’s a 280% increase.

• Dogs spend the most time sniffing when they are completely off-leash. That’s 330% higher compared to when on a short leash.

• Sniffing has a calming effect on dogs and reduces their pulse rate, even if they are walking and sniffing at the same time.

• The more intense the sniffing, the more the pulse rate will lower.

This tells us that when dogs have more freedom to do so, they make the choice to spend more of their time sniffing.

And because of the calming effect on a dog’s pulse rate, allowing your dog to sniff on walks can be a great way to provide physical exercise while also helping him relax and de-stress.

This is especially important for nervous dogs or those who are reactive.

The Budzinskis made this cool video to demonstrate how the act of sniffing affects a dog’s pulse rate in real-time:

Rescue Dog Lennox: Using Sniffing To Curb Reactivity

Our rescue dog Lennox can be quite reactive to other dogs and kids on bikes when we’re out for a walk.

So I throw down a handful of sausage pieces and tell him to “Find It!” as they approach and go past.

This helps to keep him calm, provides a distraction, and teaches him that other dogs and kids on bikes are actually a good thing – because every time we see them he gets to sniff out highly desirable pieces of sausage.

4 Amazing Facts About A Dog’s Sense Of Smell

The canine sense of smell is truly remarkable, so it’s worth taking a moment to look at some of the amazing facts about a dog’s sense of smell.

The Vomeronasal Organ: An Extra Special Scent Detector

Dogs have an extra special smell detector called the Vomeronasal Organ or Jacobson’s Organ.

This is located in their mouth and has two long sacs filled with fluid.

It helps dogs detect body scents called pheromones.

Pheromones are like hormone-like substances that allow dogs to assess and understand other dogs’ sexual and social information.

It’s like a special sense just for social interactions and communication through smells.

The vomeronasal organ can also detect liquid-phase chemicals that aren’t airborne, such the layers of urine on a bush or lamppost.

It acts like a pump, delivering all those intricate scents for analysis so your pup can almost taste them (Handwerk, 2017).

Dogs Can Breathe In And Out At The Same Time

Dogs also have a specialized snout that helps them breathe in a steady stream of scent information that we humans could only dream about.

This means that when your pup breathes in, a special tissue inside his nostril guides the air in two different directions.

Most of the air goes into the lungs for breathing, but around 12% of the air is directed to a specific area at the back of the nose.

This special area is solely dedicated to analyzing scents.

So, while dogs are taking in air to breathe, a small portion is reserved for their incredible sense of smell.

Dogs Can Smell Differently With Each Nostril

Dogs can also smell with each nostril independently.

Their brains use the different smells they detect from each nostril to figure out exactly where things are located.

Dogs are so sensitive to smells that they can even pick up on small changes in odor over short periods of time.

This incredible ability helps tracking dogs sniff the ground and quickly determine the direction a person or animal has gone in (PetMD, 2019).

Breathing And Smelling At The Same Time

Have you ever noticed how your dog’s nostrils flare and even have slits at either side?

When dogs breathe out, these nose slits play a crucial role.

Unlike human noses that simply release spent air, the cute little slits on each side of a dog’s nose actually swirl the exhaled air.

This swirling motion helps bring in fresh air, allowing dogs to breathe and smell seamlessly without interruption.

It’s like they have a built-in system that lets them breathe and smell at the same time, all the time (Beverly Hills Veterinary Associates, 2019).

All in all, there’s a lot going on here. It’s no wonder your dog is sniffing a lot!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Does My Dog Sniff My Private Area?

Dogs use their sense of smell to gather a lot of information about their surroundings, including other animals and humans. 

When your dog sniffs your private area, it’s likely because he is trying to learn more about you. 

For example, he may be trying to pick up on your scent to identify you, find out more information about you (e.g. age, gender, health status), or get a sense of how you are feeling.

Why Is My Dog Sniffing The Air And Looking Up?

When your dog sniffs the air and looks up, he may be trying to pick up on scents that are higher up in the environment or wafting along on the breeze. 

He may also be trying to identify any potential threats or prey that may be in the area. 

This behavior is common in dogs that have a strong prey drive or are trained to hunt.

How Can I Stop My Dog Constantly Sniffing The Carpet?

If your dog is constantly sniffing the carpet, it may be a sign that he is anxious or stressed. 

You can try to redirect your dog’s attention by providing him with more exercise and interactive play sessions.

You may also want to consider getting your carpet cleaned in case he is picking up on any residual scents.

Sometimes, when a dog is sniffing the ground a lot, it is a sign he needs to go to the bathroom, so you could also try taking him out for a potty break to see if that helps.

Why Do Dogs Sniff The Ground To Poop?

When your dog sniffs the ground before pooping, it’s likely because he is trying to identify any potential threats or prey that may be in the area. 

He may also be trying to find a suitable spot to do his business or overmark where another dog has been with his own scent.

READ NEXT:

Resources

• 8 Dog Nose Facts You Probably Didn’t Know – Jennifer Coates
• Anatomy of the Dog’s Nose – Medical Detection Dogs
• Dog Nose Slits: The Secret of the Canine Superpower – Beverly Hills Veterinary Associates
• Dog Recall Training [Video] – Blue Cross UK
• Effect of Sniffing on a Dog’s Pulse [Video] – Dog Field Study
• How Powerful Is a Dog’s Nose? – Phoenix Veterinary Center
• In Some Ways, Your Sense of Smell Is Actually Better Than a Dog’s – Brian Handwerk
• Leave It [Video] – Dog Training by KikoPup
• Pulse Study “At The Heart of The Walk” – Christina and Aurélien Budzinski
• Scent of the familiar: An fMRI study of canine brain responses to familiar and unfamiliar human and dog odors – Gregory S. Berns, Andrew M. Brooks, & Mark Spivak

NEED A DOG TRAINER OR BEHAVIOR EXPERT?

If you need more help dealing with a training or behavior issue, please find professional help from a force-free dog trainer who can consult with you either in person or remotely.

GOOD PLACES TO START ARE:
- COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers
- Pet Dog Trainers of Europe
- International Companion Animal Network
- Institute of Modern Dog Trainers
- Pet Professional Guild 

All dog owners deserve to have successful relationships with their canine companions!