Snuffle mats: why 10 minutes of sniffing tires a dog out

A dog experiences the world through its nose. Dogs have up to 300 million scent receptors, against about 6 million in a human nose, and a large part of the dog brain is busy with smell. That is why a short sniffing session can tire a dog more than a long walk at your pace.

What sniffing does

Searching for food is a natural job. It uses the brain, slows the dog down and has a calming effect. In a study by Duranton and Horowitz from 2019, dogs that did scent work for 2 weeks became more optimistic in a behaviour test than dogs that did heelwork. Sniffing is not only busy work, it seems to make dogs feel better.

What a snuffle mat is

A snuffle mat is a base with many strips of fleece. You scatter dry food or small treats between the strips, and the dog has to find every piece with its nose. It turns a meal that would be gone in 30 seconds into 5 to 10 minutes of searching.

How to start

1. Begin easy. Put a few pieces on top of the strips, so your dog succeeds straight away.
2. Over the next sessions, push the food deeper between the strips.
3. Use part of the daily food ration, not extra treats, so the calories stay the same.
4. Stay nearby. A snuffle mat is for sniffing, not for chewing. Take it away when the food is found.
5. Shake out crumbs after each use and wash the mat regularly.

Which dogs it helps most

• Puppies, who cannot walk long yet but need to use their brain.
• Fast eaters, who swallow a meal in seconds.
• Older dogs and dogs on rest after an injury or an operation.
• Restless dogs in the evening, as part of a calm wind-down routine.
• Everyone on a rainy day, when the walk is short.

Sniffing games without a mat

You do not need to buy anything to start. Scatter a handful of food on the lawn. Roll a few treats into an old towel. Put treats in a muffin tray and cover each hole with a ball. Or hide a treat in another room and say "Find it". On walks, give your dog time to sniff at its own pace. A slow, sniffy walk counts as real exercise.

One rule

Keep it easy enough that your dog wins. A search that is too hard ends in frustration and chewing. If your dog starts pulling at the strips instead of sniffing, make the next round easier.