Calm Snuffling: Creating the Picture

Snuffling has an extraordinary amount of benefits for our dogs. And like many things in our dogs’ lives, it’s going to help our dogs significantly more if it lowers arousal instead of increases it. I want my dog to enjoy herself while snuffing, and I also want to see it create a calm happiness, not a frantic or erratic response. I also want to see my dog build confidence through snuffling, rather than becoming frustrated and walking away before finishing. Helping our dog become successful as a calm snuffler teaches them a multitude of skills in emotional regulation, resilience, and confidence.

I liken how I want to see my dog snuffling to how I want to see them sniffing their environment or taking treats. Both are amazing barometers to how our dog is feeling, and snuffling can be that for us as well! For example, ideal sniffing on a walk means my dog is comfortable enough to engage with the environment through their nose, yet not so overaroused by the various smells that they’re frenetic and pulling. Same with taking treats. If my dog is either refusing food or taking treats too sharky, then I know they’re not in the mindset I’d like them to be.

This is a video of my Collie, Jane, two days after an emergency spay. The fact that she began sniffing so early on in her recovery made me so incredibly happy! It was a wonderful sign that she was healing well.

So what exactly does calm snuffling look like? Let’s take a look!

Notice how Sunday is eating the food eagerly, and using her nose to find it. The tips of her ears are bobbing up and down, suggesting that her muscles are relaxed. Her eyes are soft and slightly closed, and she’s taking the time to chew each treat that she finds.

Every dog is going to look differently for their calm snuffling, and we’ll take time during this class to figure out what your dog’s baseline may be. Ultimately we’re looking at a slower pace than if your dog were eating out of their food bowl. We can also tell if a dog is calm by the fluidity or tension in their body; we want to see soft movement throughout their body such as a flowy tail (if they have one), soft ears, and for long coated breeds, some swishing and movement of their fur.

Free Work emphasizes raising the snuffle mats in order to maintain physical comfort and balance for our dogs. By ensuring our dogs are physically comfortable, their nervous system will respond more calmly to the activity. Think of how the power pose has been proven to bring confidence to a human (and if you haven’t seen the Ted Talk on this yet, I recommend watching it!), whereas grounding ourselves is important for meditation and yoga. We are using our dog’s posture to improve their emotions.

Our first and easiest way to do this is by raising our dog’s snuffle mat to about chest height. We’re only just beginning to build the picture, so don’t worry too much about how this looks for your dog – let’s just show our dogs that they can in fact snuffle on a raised station. Based on how your first few sessions go, we’ll observe and adjust from there!

Especially for dogs who already have a history of snuffling, as well as for those who are brand new to it, we want to build a picture of success as we introduce calm snuffling. This means that we are making it very easy for our dogs to find and consume the food. Making snuffling difficult by burying the treats in deep or using really small food can can over arousal due to frustration, or a lack of confidence that may lead to your dog giving up and leaving food behind. Neither of those are ideal! We are beginning with a snuffle mat that is going to be easy for your dog to eat off of. As well, we want the snuffle to remain stationary. If your dog has a tendency to pick up a snuffle mat and walk away, we can troubleshoot that! For now, make sure your snuffle mat is securely attached to the raised station, or support it yourself.

Finally, let’s talk about food! As your dog progresses their skill as a calm snuffler, we will be introducing a variety of treats. For now, let’s use a medium value treat, or for our really foodie dogs out there, a low value treat. I also encourage you to find something that is large enough to promote chewing or crunching from your dog. Gulping is not our goal!

Who knew that snuffling could be so intricate?! And this is only just the beginning! By the end of this course, your dog will be a Master Snuffler, and you will be pleasantly surprised by all the benefits of this title. Until then, your next lecture is all about how to introduce food to the snuffle mat and teach calm snuffling. So let’s continue!