You’re walking beside a grassy field when your dog suddenly lowers his nose and turns sharply left. A moment ago, he was strolling beside you. Now he’s moving with purpose, nose close to the grass, pulling toward a patch of trees.…
Dogs sniff trees because bark, roots, and nearby soil can carry scent traces from other animals, urine deposits, plants, and the surrounding environment. A tree that looks ordinary to you may contain odors from activity that happened hours earlier.…
Dogs sniff the ground before peeing because they’re investigating the odors already present at a location. Those smells may influence whether they urinate there, leave a small scent mark, or decide to keep walking.…
There’s something strangely personal about watching your dog investigate your dirty laundry.
You bought him a comfortable bed. You keep his blankets clean. There’s even a basket of toys he can rummage through whenever he likes.…
You’re sitting on the sofa after dinner, talking to someone on the phone, when your dog wanders over. She rests her chin near your knee, looks up at you, and then stretches her nose toward your mouth.…
Your dog comes back inside after enjoying a chew in the yard. Before he’s even reached his bed, your other dog walks over, lifts her nose toward his muzzle, and gives his mouth a careful sniff.…
Two dogs meet in the yard after spending the day apart. They know each other well, and the greeting is relaxed. One dog sniffs the other’s shoulder, moves toward his head, and spends a few seconds investigating the area around his ear.…
A walk that takes you fifteen minutes might take your dog twice as long. You know the route, there’s nothing unusual ahead, and you’ve already passed this particular patch of grass a hundred times.…