Is sniffing as good as walking?

[LoveUsed]

I take my new rescue out for a couple of walks a day. Morning one usually longer, around an hour if I can. He’s on a long lead for walking through the fields and a short one for walking by the roads (no recall)
But my question is, I’m not ‘walking for a whole hour’. LoveDog does a lot of sniffing, snuffling and trampling through the undergrowth. He seems to be moving around a lot doing this, but sometimes I’m walking very slowly, sometimes stood still waiting for him to investigate something. So after an hour outside, we may not have covered a huge wide Area if that makes sense?
I guess my question is is that ok?! I guess it’s enrichment too? Like his legs don’t actually have to be moving at a certain pace for the walk to be effective and for him to get amount exercise/stimulation?
He’s my first dog and I want to get it right! He’s a terrier cross if that helps (I know they do like to snaffle about though)

[LoveUsed]

He obviously also gets training (as he’s completely untrained), playing and cuddles throughout the day as well. He’s 3 years old.

[TeacupRex]

100% yes! Letting your dog sniff is so important, it stimulates their brains and gives them a mental workout from all the olfactory information they pick up with their powerful noses. Ours spend about 80% of their walk pottering around sniffing on a walk. It's a vital part of letting your dog be a dog :)

[LoveUsed]

Thank you @Teacup for the reassurance! I was worried that we don’t cover a huge distance or anything, and when I get home my husband says ‘oh you’ve been gone for a long time!’ But LoveDog has spent a lot of his time snaffling around! He seems to love it and I love watching him investigate things!

[ThisIsNotMyRealName1]

Absolutely what Teacup said, so good for them. Sniffing etc is way more stimulating/enjoyable for him than just walking for an hour.

[ineedaholidaynow]

Our dog trainer regularly feeds their dogs by making them sniff for their food using things like snuffle mats, rather than putting their food in a bowl

[LoveUsed]

Thank you all! I know because he’s a terrier they need quite a lot of stimulation and exercise and I want to get it right for him x

[stanski]

You sound like you'll be a fab dog owner ❤️

[Wolfiefan]

I once heard sniffing for dogs compared to reading a paper for us! It’s the news.
My girl loves to run and play but loves a mooch and a sniff even more. It works their brain is hugely important.

[LittleSweet]

I read someone calling it peemail. My dog loves to track scents.

[Wolfiefan]

I love peemail! I’m old. Hence the newspaper thing. I’m totally stealing peemail.

[LoveUsed]

Thank you @stanski I hope so 💓

[LoveUsed]

Thanks all, when he comes in from a walk we have a play and then he does settle so I figure he must be stimulated, I guess I was just worried I worry about everything with him as it’s completely new territory.

[Milkstick]

Aww. Lucky dog. One of my pet hates is a dog walker dragging their dog away from a good sniff, it makes me sad. I was out with my greyhounds years ago when they stopped to investigate a smell very thoroughly and I cheerfully muttered "bloody hell, must be unicorn piss!" - there was someone behind me, they were grinning as they passed. :D

[BeagleMomma]

Definitely!

I once read some research that said something like a 15 minute "sniffy" walk where there were loads of interesting and new smells could be the same amount of stimulation as a 2 hour run with no time to stop and smell.

My boys love the evening before bin day so they can investigate everyone's bins

[LoveUsed]

I normally let him lead the way as well, yesterday we did the same area of field and undergrowth over and over again just in different directions I only pull him away if it’s not safe....for example the first week I had him I let him investigate under a hedge and he got his lead tangled and we had to use hedge cutters to get him free! Lesson absolutely learned.

[CupCupGoose]

Dogs love a good sniff. Slightly off topic but A game I play with mine is I lock them in the cage then hide tiny pieces of chicken or whatever around the whole of the downstairs and just let them sniff it out. They love it!

[BertrandRussell]

When we got our dog, I saw a trainer on YouTube talking about walking walks and television walks. A television walk was one where they could take their own time and sniff and potter as much as they want, like a human flipping the channels, watching bits of programmes and seeing what was going on in the world.....

[LoveUsed]

When we walk by the road I guess we have more ‘walking walks’ too, he does sniff but we do walk more. So I guess there’s a good balance! I just prefer the field walks because they are quieter and more scenic

[ThisIsNotAIBUPeople]

Hi @LoveUsed
Good thread. Can I ask which long leas you use? I think Sam would love a long leas in the field and possibly garden.

[ThisIsNotAIBUPeople]

Why did you autocorrect lead to leas you stupid Ipad

[LoveUsed]

Hi @ThisIsNotAIBUPeople
We use this one

www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/flexi-extending-dog-lead-new-comfort-small-cord-8m-red

Sorry if that doesn’t do the link thing! I do like it, I feel safe with him on it. I use it on a harness and even when he does pull it feels quite secure. But I always take the short lead with me just in case!

[ThisIsNotAIBUPeople]

Great thank you

[LoveUsed]

I think there are some differences between the cord and tape leads but this one does the job for us, although everyone has their own preference!

[LimeJellyHead]

Sniffing is massively important and yes, a good 20 min sniff and explore is worth an hours walk or more.