#180 Sniff 1st - Listen Later

Ever wonder why your perfectly trained dog suddenly "forgets" all commands when you enter a new environment? The answer lies in understanding how differently dogs experience the world compared to humans.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to 5-Minute Dog Podcast
• 0:12 How Dogs Process New Environments
• 1:00 Why Dogs Get Distracted or Overwhelmed
• 1:44 The Simple Solution: Allow Sniffing Time

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:03

Welcome to the 5-Minute Dog, the mini-podcast that delivers practical training advice in less than 5 minutes. When we walk into a new place, like a building, a friend's home, a park, we use our eyesight to check the place out who's here, what's going on? Where do I go? This place is nice, it's automatic. It helps us get our bearings and feel comfortable, and dogs do the exact same thing. They just use their nose.

Speaker 1: 0:43

Sniffing is how dogs process the world. When they enter a new environment, they need a moment to gather information. What's been here? Who's nearby? Is this place safe? Instead of giving them that moment, we launch right into commands Wait, leave it, stay close, don't sniff. That.

Speaker 1: 1:15

We expect them to focus and pay attention to us before they've had a chance to get comfortable in the environment, and you know some dogs will go along with it. They'll stay by your side, follow your lead, but quietly feel overwhelmed. Others might pull sniff frantically whenever they get the chance or just seem to act distracted, and it's not because they're being bad, but because they're trying to catch up. They're not comfortable in the environment yet. So here's the fix when you go somewhere new, just pause for a second, go slow, give your dog at least 30 seconds to sniff when you enter a new environment.

Speaker 1: 1:59

If possible, take their leash off and let them explore. If you're in a big box store or new outdoor park, maybe go light on the leash, allowing for more sniffing and exploration during your first visit. That tiny window of time can make a huge difference, helping your dog feel more confident, comfortable and ready to listen. Sniffing is the canine version of looking around the room, so the next time you head somewhere new, take a breath, let them sniff. They're not ignoring you. They're getting comfortable. Give them that moment. It builds confidence, it makes future outings go smoother and it honors the way they naturally experience the world.