December 5: Use sniffing as a calming signal 🐶🌱
Today, December 5th, the advent calendar is about a natural behavior that can be a great help in training and everyday life – namely sniffing ! 🤩
Just as dogs use shaking to find calm, sniffing can be a great way for dogs to de-stress, especially in situations that can be overwhelming. Imagine you meet another dog on a walk and your dog gets a little too excited – it might be a good idea to let him stop and sniff to calm down. 🐾🌿
How sniffing acts as a dampening signal:
When a dog sniffs, it triggers a calming response. Dogs use sniffing, chewing, shaking, and licking to calm themselves in stressful situations. Just like when we sit down with a good book or listen to a podcast to find peace, dogs use their senses to de-stress and find balance. 📚🎧
Here's how you can use sniffing actively:
1️⃣ On the walk: If your dog is easily agitated by disturbances like other dogs, you can throw treats in the grass and let him sniff. Use a signal like "sniff sniff" each time, and the dog will learn to associate it with calmness and focus. 🐕
2️⃣ Sniffing mat: Use a sniffing mat at home so your dog can de-stress by searching for treats on the mat. This helps activate your dog's sense of smell and helps them find peace. 🌿
💡 Bonus tip: Use sniffing as part of your training to help your dog focus in stressful situations. When you give your dog a cue like "sniff sniff," you can help them shift their focus from what's stressing them out to something calm and relaxing.
Competition – win gift cards! 🎁
Participate actively in the comments section on door 5 on Facebook and tell us how you use sniffing to de-stress your dog! By sharing your experience, you are entered into the draw for a gift card that can be used to pamper both you and your dog. 🐶✨
So come along – we look forward to hearing from you! 🎅
About Zara Zachariasen from Dog Life
Zara is a dedicated dog trainer and passionate dog owner.
Zara's love for dogs and the relationship between dog and owner shines through in her approach to training. She pays attention to detail and often has a strong theoretical approach to her teaching.
Zara currently works full-time as a dog trainer in her company Hundeliv. Here she shares her knowledge with physical training classes, and regularly as a facilitator of webinars, workshops and articles. Zara has also helped start the "Dog University" at DKK, and is responsible for the course content for this.
Follow Zara on the Facebook page " Hundeliv ," where she shares her own training experiences and reflections.
DogCoach Advent Calendar 24 In Door 5: Use sniffing as a calming signal
December 5: Use sniffing as a calming signal 🐶🌱
Today, December 5th, the advent calendar is about a natural behavior that can be a great help in training and everyday life – namely sniffing ! 🤩
Just as dogs use shaking to find calm, sniffing can be a great way for dogs to de-stress, especially in situations that can be overwhelming. Imagine you meet another dog on a walk and your dog gets a little too excited – it might be a good idea to let him stop and sniff to calm down. 🐾🌿
How sniffing acts as a dampening signal:
When a dog sniffs, it triggers a calming response. Dogs use sniffing, chewing, shaking, and licking to calm themselves in stressful situations. Just like when we sit down with a good book or listen to a podcast to find peace, dogs use their senses to de-stress and find balance. 📚🎧
Here's how you can use sniffing actively:
1️⃣ On the walk: If your dog is easily agitated by disturbances like other dogs, you can throw treats in the grass and let him sniff. Use a signal like "sniff sniff" each time, and the dog will learn to associate it with calmness and focus. 🐕
2️⃣ Sniffing mat: Use a sniffing mat at home so your dog can de-stress by searching for treats on the mat. This helps activate your dog's sense of smell and helps them find peace. 🌿
💡 Bonus tip: Use sniffing as part of your training to help your dog focus in stressful situations. When you give your dog a cue like "sniff sniff," you can help them shift their focus from what's stressing them out to something calm and relaxing.
Competition – win gift cards! 🎁
Participate actively in the comments section on door 5 on Facebook and tell us how you use sniffing to de-stress your dog! By sharing your experience, you are entered into the draw for a gift card that can be used to pamper both you and your dog. 🐶✨
So come along – we look forward to hearing from you! 🎅
About Zara Zachariasen from Dog Life
Zara is a dedicated dog trainer and passionate dog owner.
Zara's love for dogs and the relationship between dog and owner shines through in her approach to training. She pays attention to detail and often has a strong theoretical approach to her teaching.
Zara currently works full-time as a dog trainer in her company Hundeliv. Here she shares her knowledge with physical training classes, and regularly as a facilitator of webinars, workshops and articles. Zara has also helped start the "Dog University" at DKK, and is responsible for the course content for this.
Follow Zara on the Facebook page " Hundeliv ," where she shares her own training experiences and reflections.