Sniffing games: 7 simple games that make your dog happy
Dogs get to know the world nose first. That's why they stop at the foot of every lamppost on a walk: that post is the neighborhood's "newspaper". For dogs, sniffing isn't just curiosity; it's an activity that works their mind, tires them out and calms them down. And you can do it at home, in a few minutes, at almost no cost.
- In a 2019 study, dogs that played sniffing games for two weeks behaved more optimistically in a test; no such change was seen in dogs that did heelwork training.
- According to Dogs Trust, mental exercise can be as tiring as physical exercise; sniffing, chewing and licking help calm a dog down.
- The easiest games: scattering food, treat trails, box digging, toy hide-and-seek and snuffle mats.
- Take the food you use in games out of your dog's daily ration, and keep an eye on your dog while it plays.
Why does sniffing make dogs happy?
In 2019, Charlotte Duranton and Alexandra Horowitz, a dog cognition researcher at Barnard College in the US, ran an experiment with 20 dogs. First, the dogs took a "cognitive bias test", which measures whether a dog interprets an ambiguous situation positively or negatively; roughly speaking, how optimistic it is. Then the dogs were split into two groups: 10 dogs regularly played sniffing games for two weeks, while the other 10 did heelwork training (walking at their owner's side) for the same period.
At the end of the two weeks, the dogs in the sniffing group approached the ambiguous stimulus faster, which means they behaved more optimistically. No such change was seen in the heelwork group. The researchers concluded that regular sniffing activities, which give dogs more chances to use their noses, made them more optimistic.
According to Dogs Trust, the mental exercise of training and play can be as tiring for dogs as physical exercise. Activities such as sniffing, chewing and licking help a dog relax, and they're also recommended for calming down an overexcited dog.
7 easy sniffing games
1. Scatter the food
The simplest one: as Dogs Trust suggests, instead of putting your dog's food in a bowl, scatter it around the house or the garden and let your dog find it. A meal that's over in a few seconds becomes a ten-minute hunting game.
2. Treat trail
Lay a few treats out on the floor in a trail and let your dog follow it with its nose. At first, put the treats close together and in plain sight; as your dog gets the idea, space them farther apart and hide them around corners.
3. Toy hide-and-seek
Hide your dog's favorite toy and ask it to sniff it out. Start with easy hiding spots while your dog is watching; then move to another room and try harder spots.
4. Box digging
Dogs Trust's recipe: fill a cardboard box with scrunched-up newspaper and hide food among the paper. Your dog rummages through the paper with its nose and paws to find the food. Putting food inside an empty toilet paper roll is a similar game.
5. Snuffle mat
A snuffle mat is a mat covered in long strips of fabric; treats are hidden among the strips and your dog finds them with its nose. According to Dogs Trust, you can easily make one at home with a rubber mat with holes in it and strips of fleece or felt; it's portable and machine washable.
6. Rolled-up mat
Scatter treats over a yoga mat and roll the mat up. Your dog learns to unroll it with its nose to get to the treats.
7. Lick mats and frozen puzzles
Spread food on a lick mat with a textured surface; your dog will lick it calmly. Dogs Trust suggests filling rubber food toys that can be stuffed and chilling them in the fridge to keep your dog busy for longer.
Turn walks into sniffing games too
Not every walk has to be a brisk lap. Dogs Trust recommends trying different routes and new places. Letting your dog stop for a few minutes and sniff as much as it likes makes the walk a much richer experience for it. As your dog stops pulling on the leash, "free sniffing" can also be a great reward: loose leash training.
Safety notes
- Keep an eye on your dog: Dogs Trust recommends supervising your dog during these games; it may need your help.
- Take it out of the daily ration: So your dog doesn't put on weight, take the food and treats you use in games out of its daily food. Dogs Trust suggests dividing the daily food into portions and using them in different games throughout the day.
- Safe materials: The boxes, paper and toys you use should be the right size for your dog, non-toxic, and free of pieces that could harm its mouth, throat or gut if swallowed.
- Soft toys: Make sure your dog doesn't swallow small pieces of soft toys.
- Toxic foods: Never use foods that are harmful to dogs as treats: foods that are harmful to dogs.
Frequently asked questions
Can sniffing games replace walks?
No, but they complement them. On rainy days, very hot days or fireworks nights, sniffing games are a good way to work your dog's mind. On normal days, they're best combined with walks.
My dog doesn't understand the game. What should I do?
Start easy: put the treats right in front of its eyes, a few steps away. When it finds them, celebrate. As it gets the idea, make it harder little by little.
Should we play every day?
Dogs Trust recommends doing enrichment activities every day. Even a few minutes of play adds a lot to your dog's day.
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Sources
- Duranton and Horowitz · Let me sniff! Nosework induces positive judgment bias in pet dogs, Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2019)
- Dogs Trust · Enrichment activities to keep your dog entertained
- Dogs Trust · How to make a snuffle mat for your dog
- Dogs Trust · Helping a hyper or restless dog to calm down
By Tüylüm · Published and last checked: October 24, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to [email protected] and we'll fix it right away. Photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under the license shown below each photo.
