Puppy stops to sniff everything!

[thinkpad1]

This is the fourth day of taking my 12 week old frenchie out for walks. I enjoy it but the constant sniffing of everything we come across is getting tiring! What should be a 10 ish minute walk turns into a 45 minute one. Is this quite normal for dogs to do when they first go out into the big world? I don't remember my three previous pups being this bad. Thanks

[BiteyShark]

Yes perfectly normal. They are exploring the world with their nose.

[PuppyMonkey]

The sniffing tires puppies out better than the walk, imho.

[thinkpad1]

@PuppyMonkey

The sniffing tires puppies out better than the walk, imho.

I never thought of it like that! Thanks very much

[Floralnomad]

Our dog is 10 - he still likes to stop and sniff everything and then pee up it .

[TimeWastingButFun]

Sniffs is the best bit of the walk!

[vanillandhoney]

Sniffy walks are the best walks!

Mine is two and even now, a gentle, slow sniffy walk will tire him out a lot more than a mad run about off the lead

[PennyRoyal]

Very normal. Just think of it as him catching up with messages left by others, who's done what where! Doggy Facebook or Mumsnet. Mental stimulation is often more important than physical exercise at a young age.

[chipsandpeas]

my 13yr old dog still does this and hes quite happy but walking him is no exercise for me as my pace is a lot slower cos im waiting on him

[OrangeSamphire]

Very normal and actually totally essential for your pup’s wellbeing.

Not allowing a dog to sniff is akin to abuse in many experts eyes. That may sound totally dramatic, but gives you an idea of the importance of sniffing!

I listen to an audiobook on the long slow sniffy walks. It’s lovely. I don’t get bored and the dog gets to sniff to her heart’s content. Then she comes home calm and happy.

[twinkletoedelephant]

We call it checking his pee-mails

[Pinkchocolate]

My dog is 8 and still does this so I walk for him and then walk alone for exercise, it takes forever but he needs to sniff (and pee on EVERY SINGLE THING).

[allfalldown47]

My dog is 6 and still does this. Some days seem particularly 'sniffy' presumably just because she's getting a high level of quality sniffs on certain days

[muckandnettles]

@twinkletoedelephant

We call it checking his pee-mails

Brilliant!

I've found that this is why the 5 minute rule for puppy walks is difficult to follow - 20 minutes for my 4 month old pup would barely get us through the gate of the field!

[username58]

I agree! Even though the walk lasts around 45 minutes I think he's not walking that much in the time so hopefully he'll be ok

[Home42]

My 2 year old loves his sniffs. He can be encouraged to pick his feet up and walk these days but I make sure any outing has some slow sniffing time included. It really is the thing he loves best!

[dontdisturbmenow]

Brilliant thread, will remember it when we go out today!

[Vicbarbarkley]

One of mine can take half an hour to cover 20m, I swear!
He is allowed to have initial long sniffs, then i apply the 5 second rule😁
He can sniff to the count of 5 then eithers pees or we move on.

This is the reason I drive to my walks. Out of the car, off the lead, he catches up when he is done sniffing - everyone is happy!

I have read that sniffy dogs are more intelligent than the ball chasing zoomers. I have one of each and can confirm that this is a blatent lie 😂

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Totally normal. While humans use sight as their primary sense, dogs use smell. Taking a dog out for a walk and not allowing it to smell is like going to an art gallery while blindfolded.

Even with my 4 year old, I have to factor in about 50% extra time to get from A to B on lead (e.g. going to the train station or whatever), due to the amount of things he has to sniff. Off lead, we both go at our own pace - he stops, sniffs, and then runs to catch up.