Sniffing: Your Secret Weapon for Dog Sports and Beyond

Did you know that sniffing can actually enhance dogs’ performance in high-energy sports activities? photo: AdobeStock

It’s Saturday morning, 4 a.m.

Your alarm goes off, and for a brief second, you question every life choice that led you to this moment. But there’s no time for existential crises - you’ve got a dog sport competition to get to.

You stumble out of bed, throw on whatever vaguely clean hoodie you can find, and start packing. Training gear? Check. Treat pouch stocked with whatever high-value snack your dog is obsessed with this week? Check. Foldable crate, extra leashes, backup harness, and emergency coffee supply? Double check.

By 5 a.m. you’re on the freeway, driving toward a random fairground, sports complex, or dusty field two hours away. The roads are eerily empty except for the occasional semi-truck and, most likely, a few other dog sport diehards making the same ridiculous trek. As you sip your now-lukewarm coffee, you glance in the rearview mirror at your dog, blissfully passed out in their crate, completely unaware of the effort you’ve put into this. And you think: why am I the only insane person out here doing this?

Welcome to the world of dog sports.

If this scenario sounds painfully familiar, then you already know the dedication, time, and sheer madness that go into training for and competing in dog sports. But here’s a question you might not have considered: is your dog getting enough time to sniff?

The Overlooked Secret to Success

Dog sports rely on precision, focus, and teamwork. Whether it’s agility, obedience, dock diving, or protection work, you’re asking your dog to process cues quickly and execute behaviors with split-second timing. But did you know that sniffing - yes, letting your dog stick their nose in the dirt and wander - can actually enhance their performance in these high-energy activities?

Research has shown that sniffing has profound effects on a dog’s cognitive flexibility, stress regulation, and emotional resilience. In fact, a 2019 study found that dogs who engaged in daily nosework performed better on cognitive bias tests, meaning they were more optimistic and adaptable when faced with problem-solving tasks.

This kind of cognitive flexibility is essential in dog sports, where quick thinking and adaptability can make or break a performance. By incorporating sniffing into their daily routine - whether through decompression walks, scatter feeding, or structured nosework - dogs develop stronger decision-making skills that translate into better focus and responsiveness in the ring.

In fact, whether your dog is training for high-level competition or just enjoying everyday adventures around the neighborhood, sniffing is an essential part of their well-being. The more opportunities your dog has to engage their nose, the better they’ll feel, physically, emotionally, and mentally.

How Sniffing Prepares Dogs to Excel at Sports and Life 

When you’re competing, your dog needs to be able to handle distractions, recover from arousal spikes, and stay mentally engaged. Sniffing plays a crucial role in all three of these areas. Here’s how:

1. Sniffing enhances self-control and focus. Dogs competing in sports need to be able to regulate their impulses, whether that’s holding a start-line stay, resisting distractions, or staying engaged in high-energy environments. A 2024 study published in the journal Animals found that dogs trained in scent work displayed improved inhibitory control, meaning they were better able to stay calm, make thoughtful decisions, and assess situations rationally instead of reacting impulsively. This is a crucial skill for any competitive dog sport, where the ability to pause, process, and respond appropriately are essential. That’s why sniffing exercises can be a powerful addition to your dog’s training routine, helping them develop the mental resilience needed for competition.

2. Sniffing lowers stress and arousal. Competition environments can be chaotic: new locations, unfamiliar dogs, loudspeakers, plus a human who’s way more nervous than they want to admit. When dogs get overstimulated, their stress hormones spike, making it harder for them to focus. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone in dogs, plays a significant role in this response. Elevated cortisol levels can lead to difficulty concentrating, increased excitability, and a longer recovery time after arousal.

Sniffing helps lower cortisol levels and regulate arousal, acting as a built-in decompression tool. Studies on olfactory enrichment have shown that dogs exposed to calming scents or given opportunities to engage their noses display fewer stress behaviors, including reduced pacing, barking, and restlessness. While those studies focused on scent exposure, they highlight how engaging a dog’s nose - whether through passive scent enrichment or active sniffing - has a profound impact on stress reduction. 

3. Sniffing aids in recovery. Whether your dog just crushed their run or had a total meltdown in the ring, recovery time between events is crucial. Sniffing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps bring the body back to baseline after high-intensity activity. When dogs remain in a heightened state for too long, they may struggle with focus or even burn out over time. Instead of pacing, whining, or getting amped up watching other dogs, a quick decompression walk and sniff session can help them reset, process their environment, and mentally prepare for their next event.

How to Incorporate Sniffing into Your Dog’s Routine

Whether you’re a serious competitor, a weekend hobbyist, or just have a couch-loving dog who occasionally dabbles in backyard games, sniffing should be a core part of your dog’s routine. Sniffing gives your dog a healthy outlet for stress relief, mental enrichment, and emotional regulation in everyday life. Here are some simple ways to build sniffing into your dog’s routine:

• Decompression Walks. Take your dog on a relaxed, low-pressure walk where they can sniff freely without being rushed. Using a dog drag line (a longer leash that provides freedom while maintaining control) allows for more natural exploration and increases sniffing opportunities. Learn more about how to use a dog drag line here.

• Scatter Feeding. Instead of feeding your dog from a bowl, toss their kibble onto the grass or a snuffle mat or other textured surface for them to sniff and find. This taps into their natural foraging instincts while providing mental stimulation.

• Food Puzzle Toys & ACE Free Work. Food-dispensing toys, snuffle mats, and ACE Free Work setups give dogs opportunities to engage their nose in problem-solving activities. These are great ways to incorporate structured sniffing indoors.

• Train Your Dog to Sniff Out Scents. Whether it’s playing “find it” with hidden treats or introducing them to nosework games, teaching your dog to search for food or a specific scent is an excellent way to channel their natural sniffing abilities.

• Sniffing as a Reset After Arousal. If your dog gets overly excited after playing or training, guiding them to a sniffing area - like a patch of grass or leaves - can help them settle down faster. Sniffing helps shift the nervous system from high arousal to a more balanced state.

Dog sports are intense for dogs and their humans. But sometimes, the key to better performance isn’t more training, tighter control, or extra repetitions. Sometimes, it’s as simple as letting your dog sniff.

So the next time you find yourself in a pre-dawn drive to a trial, hyped on caffeine and nerves, remember: your dog doesn’t care about ribbons or titles. They care about feeling good, working with you, and enjoying the journey. And sometimes, the best way to set them up for success is to let them take a deep breath, lower their head, and do what dogs do best - sniff.