Dogby Smellscapes Discovery Kit Owner’s Manual

Dogby Smellscapes Discovery Kit Owner’s Manual

Hello human,

As we go about our daily lives, most of us have the idea that the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations that we perceive with our human bodies and brains encompass everything there is to sense. But then you learn that owls can hear mouse heartbeats, bats can echolocate, and birds have magnetoreception, and you realize that we don’t know the half of it.

For me, learning about animals’ senses makes the world seem magical. That is why the first Dogby Discovery Kit explores dogs’ sense of smell, which is somewhere between 1,000 and 1 million times better than ours.

It’s a superpower that makes their experience of the same world incredibly different from ours.

I hope you have a ton of fun exploring your dog’s world of scents!

Have fun and be safe

Dogby Discovery Kits offer a low pressure, judgment free way for you and your dog to try new things. The point is to have fun together while learning more about your dog, not to master every new skill, so don’t sweat mistakes. Focus on having fun through the ups and downs of the learning curve.

Not all activities, toys, and treats are safe for all dogs. You know your dog best, so if you suspect something might not be safe for your dog, trust your gut. When in doubt, consult your dog’s veterinarian.

The anatomy of smell

What’s inside

Dogs’ olfactory bulbs are 40 times larger than ours relative to total brain size.

They have 200-300 million scent receptors in a labyrinth of channels in the olfactory recesses inside their muzzles compared to our measly 6 million scent receptors.

They also have a greater variety of receptors which means they can smell things that we’ll never be able to, no matter how potent.

Dogs have an extra smell organ, the vomeronasal organ. It sits above the roof of their mouth and has special receptors to smell pheromones, which give them information about the physical and emotional states of dogs, people,  and other animals.

What’s outside

Dogs are also better at collecting scent molecules. They have big wet noses that catch scent molecules and bring them in. They exhale out of the slits on the sides of their nostrils, which makes it easier for inhaled scent molecules to get to the receptors. Even better, exhaling out the sides of their noses creates small air currents to bring even more scent molecules up to their noses.

To top it off, some dogs have extra drool and/or extra-long ears to help collect even more scent molecules or short legs for easy ground-level sniffing.

Leaving notes for friends

Dogs leave each other a wealth of information in little bits of pee as they mark all over the neighborhood. When they smell each other’s pee, or perhaps take a little lick of it, they can tell if the other dog is healthy, looking to mate, or feeling confident and how long it’s been since they were there.

This communication style wouldn’t be possible without specially adapted bladders that allow the release of just a little pee at a time.

Dogs have a variety of ways to make sure their notes are read. Boy dogs will stretch their leg even higher when someone is watching them mark, likely to make sure they have their attention. Many dogs will scratch the ground after peeing and pooping, which scientists think is to leave a visual cue to other dogs to come smell that spot.

Seeing the past

Nearly everyone and everything leaves scent trails in the air they move through, on the surfaces and objects they touch, and even on the ground they walk on. Dogs can smell these scent trails, sometimes weeks later, to get a sense of who did what, where, and when. They are so good at it that hours later,they can sniff someone’s footprints and tell you which direction they went.

When your dog enters a space, they can smell who was there recently and what they did. When they smell an object, they can tell who touched it recently. When they greet you, they can tell where you were and who you touched.

On a walk, the scents in the air, on the ground, and near the path tell them which of their dog friends have been out lately, what critters came through, which people passed by, and when it all happened.

Predicting the future

Scent trails can also help your dog anticipate the future. Depending on the wind patterns, your dog can smell who’s coming and what lies ahead. Inviting smells such as another dog, discarded food, a sewer grate, a herd of deer, a creek, or a pet-friendly store might have your dog dragging you down the block long before you can figure out what’s going on.

Finding food

Dogs can smell at concentrations equivalent to one teaspoon of sugar diluted into one million gallons of water. That comes in handy when foraging. Dogs are scavengers by nature and their excellent sense of smell likely evolved, at least in part, to enable them to forage better

All dogs, even our well-fed companions, find foraging intrinsically rewarding. The fact that our dogs no longer need to forage contributes to boredom-based behavior problems. The energy that historically would have been spent finding food can go into naughty behaviors instead.

Taking in their environment

When you take your dog on a walk, they smell the recent neighborhood happenings, messages from other dogs, and little snacks. They also detect changes to the seasons, lifecycles, and ecosystems at a minute level.

Scents disperse and get swept by the wind, which makes exploring by smell a different experience from exploring by sight.

• Dogs need to zigzag, backtrack, and go off trail to track down scents.

• When they find something of interest, they need to put their nose right to
  best smell it, which means going off trail.

• Many ordinary looking spots smell captivating, causing your dog to hit the
  brakes and ignore you when you least expect it.

• Their ability to smell what’s coming can motivate them to pull like crazy

Keeping these differences in mind on walks and giving your dog opportunities to explore in their doggy way can reduce friction and stress for both of you.

Sensing emotions

Humans have consistent physiological responses to emotions, and dogs can smell those changes. For instance, stress causes us to sweat, to produce adrenaline, which dogs can smell even though we can’t, and increases our heart rate, causing changes in the release of chemicals through our skin.

It’s also likely, but not proven, that like many animals, we humans release particular pheromones when we experience anxiety, sadness, fear, and more. Dogs can detect pheromones easily with their vomeronasal organ.

Smelling disease

Many diseases cause your body to give off a distinct smell. Dogs can smell cancer, diabetes, COVID, and seizures among many others. Detection dog trainers teach dogs how to signal to a human when they detect a specific disease. They don’t need to teach them how to smell it.

Crotch sniffing is polite
When dogs sniff a dog or a person, they can tell their emotional state, physical health, where they’ve been, what they’ve eaten recently, and more. In dog society, it’s normal, polite even, to greet someone by first taking a big sniff of their most scent rich area, the crotch. It’s the most efficient way to get to know each other. So when you can, let your dog greet other dogs that way and be kind to them when they do it to humans.

Explore smellscapes with your do

Here’s how to use the items inside your kit to dive into your dog’s world of smells with them.

Scan here or go to www.dogbybox.com/pages /smellscapes-resources to learn more about the items and activities listed below. There, you will find:

• Information on the source, cleaning, care, and safe use of all items
• Troubleshooting tips, additional info, and next steps for certain activities

Go on a sniffari with the long leash

A sniffari is a walk where your dog gets to sniff as much as they please. Sniffaris are mentally stimulating for dogs and often leave them at least as relaxed as if they went on a brisk walk. They are also a great chance for you to unplug and join your dog in their world.

The long leash makes the sniffari even better by giving your dog autonomy and flexibility to sniff where they please.

How to go on a sniffari

If your dog needs to get their wiggles out, give them a little exercise first so they don’t yank you around on the long leash.

Head to a safe place like a park, trail, or a quiet neighborhood to avoid the risks of busy sidewalks and fast roads.

Let your dog control the route and pace. They can wander aimlessly, double back, sniff one spot forever, or go off trail. You may want to pack headphones to resist the urge to speed them up or control the route.

Reduce the tripping and tangling risk by holding the leash’s slack in loops in your hand. Collect it as your dog comes closer. Release it as they move away

Forage with the snuffle mat

Foraging, searching for food, is inherently rewarding for dogs. Swapping your dog’s food bowl for puzzle toys like the snuffle mat is the easiest change you can make to boost your dog’s daily satisfaction. For virtually no extra work on your part, your dog will get an extra 20-60 minutes of fun mental stimulation and sniffing every day.

How to use the snuffle mat

To start, sprinkle their kibble or hard, non-sticky treats on top of the fleece.

Place the snuffle mat in a safe space where no human or animal family members will intrude and then give your dog space to work alone.

If your dog isn’t engaging with the puzzle, sprinkle a few high value treats on top to motivate them to investigate and to try a little harder.

As your dog gets better at using the snuffle mat, you can massage the food deeper into the mat for a tougher challenge.

Always pick up the mat and put it away when your dog is done to avoid conflict.

Have fun with the scent work kit

Scent work is a unique way to have fun together while you both learn something new.

The mental effort of scent work is exhausting and all that sniffing is calming. The fact that it can be done completely indoors gives you the perfect activity for work nights, rainy days, and dark winters.

How to start scent work

Shut your dog in a different room while you get ready. Use the tweezers to put 3 scented-swabs into each hide container. It’s important that the scent is only in the hides, so be careful not to get it anywhere else, especially your hands. Reseal the smell-proof bag on the kit and put it away in another room.

Place the hides in plain sight on the floor around the room and put a pea- sized piece of meat or cheese on top of each one. Pocket 10 more of the same treats.

Let your dog explore the room while you follow behind. When they find a hide, go over to the spot to give a second treat. This is the start of teaching them to wait for you when they find the scent.

If they struggle or give up, don’t show them the hides. End the session and try an easier set up next time. We’re encouraging independent problem solving.

Forage with the burrow toy

Giving your dog multiple chances to sniff and forage throughout the day will burn off their extra mental energy, keeping them busy, quiet, and satisfied.

How to use the burrow toy

Toss a few dry treats into the burrow and then stuff the critters in. Offer the toy to your dog in a private space where no humans or other pets can intrude.

They can shake or roll the burrow or pull the critters out to get to the treats.

If your dog needs help, take the critters out to make it easier. You can also scatter treats next to the toy to get them engaged in foraging.

Always pick up the burrow toy when your dog is done to avoid possessive behavior or conflict.

Play a game with the stinky treats

Treat-based training is stimulating, confidence-building, and bond strengthening. When you don’t have anything that you need to teach your dog, simple training games can give you the same benefits!

Moist food rolls make a perfect training treat.

They’re stinky and meaty to keep your dog engaged and motivated. But they are still a fully nutritionally balanced food, so it’s ok to treat generously

How to play “Which Hand?”

Dice the Red Barn roll into pea-sized pieces. Store the extra in the fridge. With your hands behind you, make two fists, one with a treat and one without.

Present one fist at your dog’s nose height. Let them sniff for a few seconds and then take it away. Repeat with the other hand. If they are pawing, biting, or jumping, remove your hand, ask them to sit, and try again.

Now present both fists at once. When your dog nudges or paws at a hand, open it. If they won, praise them and let them eat the treat. If they lose, be nice about it, but don’t give them the treat.

Repeat! But keep your session short and sweet, in the range of 2 to 10 minutes. Stay focused on the game and don’t dally between repetitions to keep it fun for your dog and always leave them wanting more.

Forage some more with the box

Novelty is the spice of life for dogs too, so the bigger variety of independent activities you have for your dog, the better. Boxes and all kinds of stuff from your recycling bin can make great food puzzles and spice up your dog’s usual routine

How to make a snuffle box

Sprinkle a few treats or a bit of food in the bottom of the box. Feel free to use stinky, sticky, perishable treats. Then, if you trust that your dog won’t ingest it, add a layer of crinkle paper. Layer more treats and paper until you’re done! If you need an alternative stuffing, try using your dog’s toys.

This will get messy, so put an old blanket down before giving your dog the box.

If the box scares your dog, try cutting off the flaps or folding them inwards.

Ready for a tougher challenge? Roll or crumple old newspaper or wrapping paper around treats. and put them in the box. Stuff the burrow toy and put that in the box. Tape one or two flaps of the box closed. Close the box by tucking one flap under another before giving it to your dog.

More Fun Ideas

A few more ways to enrich your dog’s life through their sense of smell

Stay cool with “Find It”

Life is full of scary and exciting things that can get your dog amped up. Sniffing can lower your dog’s heart rate and cortisol levels, and it’s just plain fun, which makes mini sniffing sessions a great way to distract and mentally reset your dog while out and about.

How to teach “Find It”

Inside your house, say “Find it!,” wait one full second, and then toss 3-8 treats on the ground right in front of your dog. Make sure they see you do it.

Repeat 3-5 times/session, 1-5 sessions/week until your dog knows the game.

You’ll know they understand when they sniff the ground or turn to look at you as soon as you say “Find it,” before you’ve even tossed the treats.

Repeat the training process during calm moments on walks. You may need very good treats to compete for their attention outdoors.

Once you’ve got it down, you can use “Find it” to distract your dog before they get too amped up about something (a squirrel, another dog, etc.) It also works as a mental reset after they have an exciting, scary, or otherwise intense encounter.

Treasure hunt for treats

Here’s an independent activity for your dog to do when they are patiently, or impatiently, waiting for you to have time to entertain them. This game requires no toys or gear and can be set up in 30 seconds if you’re in a hurry

How to set up a treasure hunt

Scatter a handful of your dog’s food or treats on an open floor where they are easy to see. To avoid conflict, make sure no human or animal family members bother your dog while they are treasure hunting.

As your dog gets better, put some of the food in harder spots like at the edge of the room or right next to the furniture.

Continue to make it harder as your dog gets more proficient. Tuck some food under blankets, boxes, etc. that your dog has to move. Put food on higher surfaces like couch cushions. Try the backyard. A lawn is a giant snuffle mat.

In addition to our standard cautions to keep human and pet family members away while your dog does their treasure hunt, don’t forget to collect the treats your dog doesn’t find. You don’t want a fight to start over a hidden treat.

Be nose-friendly at home

Knowing how important the sense of smell is to dogs, we can make a few changes in our home life to maximize their comfort.

How to make a nose-friendly home

Dogs get comfort and enrichment from the varied scents of family and daily life. Cleaning wipes them away and replaces them with strong, potentially irritating scents. Consider a more relaxed cleaning schedule or switching to low-odor cleaners.

Let your dog snuggle up with your scent. Your clothes, bed, and sofa all smell so much like you that they are almost an extension of you in your dog’s mind.

Try scent enrichment. Spritz a room with dog-safe essential oils like lavender, vanilla, or peppermint. Notice how they respond and if they seem to like it.

Let your dog maintain their natural scent. Before giving them a bath, see if a vigorous rub with a wet or dry towel will do. When choosing decor, look for durable and washable pieces that will stand up to a doggier smelling d

Sources

• Horowitz, Alexandra. (2009). “Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know.”
• London, Karen B, PhD. “Dog Walks, Sniffing, Shaking, and Pulse Rate.” The Bark. thebark.com/content/dog-walks-sniffing-shaking-and-pulse-rate
• “At the Heart of the Walk.” Dog Field Study. www.dogfieldstudy.com/en/study/ pulse-study-at-the-heart-of-the-walk
• Taylor, Siena and Binks, John. (2020). “Beating the Boredom Blues: Sniffing Out New Opportunities for Dogs.” Companion Animal Psychology. www.companion animalpsychology.com/2020/04/beating-boredom-blues-sniffing-out-new.html
• Todd, Zazie, PhD. (2016). “ Seven Reasons to Use Reward-Based Dog Training Methods.” Companion Animal Psychology. www.companionanimalpsychology.com /2016/06/seven-reasons-to-use-reward-based-dog.html
• Siporin, Sheldon, PhD. (2022). “Do Essential Oils Pass the Smell Test?” The Wildest. www.thewildest.com/dog-behavior/essential-oils-and-dogs-how-scentinfluences-behavior
• Fratt, Kayla. (2020). “Nosework: Exhaust Your Dog and Teach Impulse Control (No Shoes Needed).” Journey Dog. www.journeydogtraining.com/nosew

(No Shoes Needed).” Journey Dog. www.journeydogtraining.com/nosework/
Scan this QR code for links to all of these sources.

Thank you so much for supporting Dogby!

We hope you and your dog have a blast trying these new things together.

We are here for you if you need anything. Please email us at hello@dogbybox.com.

www.dogbybox.com

References

• animalpsychology.com/2020/04/beating-boredom-blues-sniffing-out-new.html
• Companion Animal Psychology

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