Dogs at home · The research
Why Sniffing Games Are So Good for Dogs, and How a Snuffle Mat Brings Them Indoors
Dogs who got regular sniffing time came out more optimistic in a clever test. A snuffle mat is the simplest way to bring that kind of game into the living room.
By Nora Vance, Contributing writer · 4 min read · Published
Sniffing games are good for dogs because searching with the nose is one of the most rewarding things a dog can do. A 2019 study by Charlotte Duranton and Alexandra Horowitz found that pet dogs who took part in regular nosework became more optimistic in a judgment test than dogs who practiced heelwork instead. A snuffle mat, like Puppy Kind's Sniff and Seek Snuffle Mat, brings a small version of that game into your home: you hide dry treats in knotted fleece, and your dog sniffs them out.
I love research like this because it measures something we see every day. My dog naps under my desk chair most of the afternoon, and the one thing guaranteed to bring a happy, busy dog out from under there is a treat hidden somewhere to find.
What did the study actually measure?
The researchers worked with 20 pet dogs. Ten did nosework, where they searched with their noses, and ten did heelwork, where they walked closely beside their owners instead. Before and after the training, each dog took a cognitive bias test. They learned that a bowl in one spot always held food and a bowl in another spot never did. Then the test placed a bowl halfway between.
A dog who runs quickly to that in-between bowl is treated as expecting something good, which researchers call a positive judgment bias, or optimism. After the training period, the nosework dogs reached the ambiguous bowl faster than before, and the heelwork dogs didn't show that change. You can read the abstract in Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
How big a finding is this?
It's a small study, and I always say that clearly. Twenty dogs is a starting point, and one test of optimism is one window into a dog's state of mind. Still, the result fits beautifully with what owners see: dogs light up when they get to use their noses, and giving them more chances to sniff is an easy, happy thing to add to any day.
Bringing a scent game indoors
Most of us can't run a nosework class every evening, which is where a snuffle mat shines. Puppy Kind's Sniff and Seek Snuffle Mat is a square of knotted fleece, 49 x 49 cm, made for hiding dry treats. Puppy Kind describes it as an easy indoor game for rainy days and quiet evenings, and that's exactly how it fits a home office like mine.
Here's a simple way to start:
- Scatter a few pieces of your dog's kibble or dry treats across the top first, so the game is easy.
- Next time, tuck pieces a little deeper into the knots.
- Let your dog work at their own pace, and cheer them on.
- Pick the mat up when the game is done, so it stays special.
For more on how a small home setup fits a dog's day, here's why the Puppy Kind purifier is so small.
A sniffing game is one of the simplest ways to give a dog a happier day, and a snuffle mat makes it easy to play anywhere at home.
Questions readers ask
Are sniffing games good for dogs?
Yes. In a 2019 study, pet dogs who did regular nosework became more optimistic in a judgment bias test than dogs who did heelwork. The study was small, but it fits what many owners see: dogs enjoy using their noses.
What is a snuffle mat for dogs?
A snuffle mat is a mat of knotted fabric where you hide dry treats or kibble for your dog to sniff out. It turns a snack or part of a meal into a scent game you can play indoors.
Does Puppy Kind sell a snuffle mat?
Yes. Puppy Kind sells the Sniff and Seek Snuffle Mat on puppykind.org. It's a 49 x 49 cm knotted fleece mat for hiding dry treats, made as an easy indoor game for rainy days and quiet evenings.
What was the Duranton and Horowitz nosework study?
It was a 2019 study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science. Twenty pet dogs did either nosework or heelwork, and the nosework group showed a more optimistic response in a cognitive bias test afterward.