Sarah Posted October 5, 2009 Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 Do you let your dog sniff when on walks or do you only allow it in certain areas? Took my boys out tonight and every lamp post / tree we passed got the once over by my two - now personally, I don't mind this - my view is - they're out on a walk and should sniff to their hearts content, it's how they learn about the world outside. Reason for this question is that whilst on a walk tonight I saw a man on the other side of the road with a Jack Russell and he wouldn't let him stop even for a spray up a lamp post. What do you think - should they WALK or Walk and sniff? Or walk to the field or where ever you walk them and THEN sniff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 5, 2009 Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 ive often wondered if this is normal, as oscar does it at every bin, lampost, tuft of grass? i say "on by" and give him a little tug and he moves on but wondered if it was ok for him to do it constantly as it gets a bit annoying after a while? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted October 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 yeah I know what you mean - worst day for me is Thursday mornings as it's bin day and all the wheelie bins are out on the pavements, I flatly refuse to stop at every one lol - the ON BY command is a godsend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utahraptr Posted October 5, 2009 Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 We try to keep them walking, more because Kahtadin picks up anything and everything and tries to eat it (garbage, leaves, dead animals, etc. Jay had to pry a dead, run-over frog from his mouth the other day! And tonight I had to pry a wet napkin out of Haley's mouth, and then another piece of garbage she managed to find while waiting for a car to pass). If they're in a new area, they sniff a lot, but on their regular walk they usually just go with little sniffing unless they see something ahead that looks interesting. And then we try to get them to continue walking so they don't have time to pick it up and eat it. We took them to the dog park this past weekend, and took them on a short walk down the walking path before turning them loose in the fenced dog area. They had to stop at just about every tree, rock, sign, etc to sniff, but we think that's due to all the dogs that walked that path before them. Once in the fenced area, they sniffed a little and then played with the other dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damrod Posted October 5, 2009 Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 It is their walk!!! But I do have a limit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbb23 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 OMG Grey will sniff every thing posts, bins you name it he will bloody give it a sniff I do let him have a sniff at most things but I do have to have a limit or we will never get to where we are going. Also You have to keep a close eye on Grey as he will pick up anything and eat it and everytime he stops and have a sniff he will have to have a pee up against it. ( Grey must stop every 2 mins to have a sniff and mark with his pee LOL...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqwidge Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 in theory you shouldn't let them sniff when THEY want to, you should keep them moving or else they'll think they control the walk. Eika is allowed to sniff a little...but only if i stop, not if she stops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val (Zebedee) Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 I must admit, 90% of the time, when out with them, I see it as their walk - if I wanted a walk round the shops, for example, I'd stop every now & again for a nosey (no, NOT to cock my leg!) so I let the dogs stop & sniff, but if we're going somewhere, they understand the difference between a stroll across the fields for their benefit & a walk down to the vets or wherever as my walk & just keep walking with me with perhaps the odd quick sniff on the move! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 i let my boys sniff most ov the time not every singel time but 8 times outta 10 they r allowed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austinville Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 I didn't let Bo do this until the past year or so. I found it frustrating to stop at every vertical thing he thought he should sniff and/or mark. In the past year or so, I've noticed his eyesight is beginning to deteriorate (he'll spot a leaf blowing across the yard and that prey drive kicks in - we must then check to be certain it isn't a bird) He relies more on his nose now, so I've relaxed and hold in my urge to tell him to pass by and now allow him to explore more with his nose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinitykate Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 I let Finn sniff to a certain degree, but if I don't want her to sniff I just make her heel. The second she looks like she's gonna try to get away with it I just say "hey" and she will come back to heel, and continue on her way. It's a nice happy medium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akira26 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 I let Tala sniff to a certain degree as well... if she had it her way i'd be at the same spots for hours lol I just tend to stop a few times on a walk and let her sniff to her hearts content, if I didn't there wouldn't be a walk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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