Our Top Tips for a Rewarding Walk

You’ve barely made it past the neighbour’s fence and your dog has stopped. Again. There’s a tree to investigate, a patch of grass that needs their full attention, and apparently something fascinating happened beside that letterbox.

Sound familiar?

When we head out for a walk, we often have a route in mind. Our dogs have a whole world of smells to explore along the way.

Giving them time to investigate is a simple way to make their daily walk more rewarding. It’s called a sniffari—and you don’t need to go anywhere special to try it.

What Is a Sniffari?

A sniffari is a walk where your dog has time to follow their nose, explore interesting scents and set a slower pace, wherever it’s safe to do so.

There’s no distance to achieve or particular destination to reach. A familiar street or a quiet corner of the local park can offer plenty to discover.

For dogs, sniffing is an important way of gathering information about their surroundings. Giving them opportunities to use their nose provides mental stimulation and lets them enjoy a natural behaviour.

Ready to give it a go? Here are five simple ways to turn your next walk into a sniffari.

1. Leave a Little Time for Exploring 🐕

It’s easy to fall into the habit of keeping things moving, especially when you’re squeezing a walk into a busy day.

Try setting aside part of your outing for a slower wander. When your dog stops to investigate a safe spot, give them a little time before encouraging them onwards.

You might cover less ground than usual. That’s fine—there’s still plenty for your dog to take in.

2. Let Their Nose Help Choose the Route 👃

Does your dog always want to investigate the grassy verge you usually walk past? Or turn towards a particular tree?

Where it’s safe, let them have a say.

Keep them on a comfortable, loose lead and follow their interest without allowing them to pull you into roads, private gardens or other hazards.

A few small choices can make an everyday outing more interesting.

3. Find Somewhere They Feel Comfortable 🌿

A quiet, dog-friendly green space can be a lovely place to explore at an unhurried pace.

But you don’t need a new destination every time. Your usual route still has smells worth investigating.

Choose surroundings that suit your dog. If busy parks or unfamiliar places leave them worried, start somewhere quieter and familiar. If they seem uncomfortable, give them space or move on rather than encouraging them to keep exploring.

4. Stay Curious—and Keep Watch 🐾

Take a moment to notice what catches your dog’s attention. A fallen leaf might get a quick sniff, while one small patch of grass deserves a much longer investigation.

Let them enjoy it while keeping an eye on what’s nearby.

Steer clear of rubbish, discarded food and areas where chemicals have been applied. Sniffing is welcome; picking up mystery snacks is another matter!

As the weather warms up, choose cooler times of day, bring water and take breaks to suit your dog.

5. Make Room for Sniffing in Your Everyday Walks 💚

You don’t need to turn every outing into a dedicated sniffari.

Try including a few relaxed sniffing stops on your usual walk, or finish with a gentle wander before heading home.

Sniffing adds mental enrichment alongside physical exercise, so make room for both in a routine that suits your dog’s age, health and energy levels.

You may find that slowing down gives you something to enjoy, too.

Where Will Their Nose Take You?

At Snoot Style, we believe the best everyday adventures start with paying attention to what our dogs enjoy.

Sometimes, that means giving them a little longer at the tree you’ve walked past a hundred times.

On your next walk, leave room for a few extra stops. Let them investigate. Watch that busy nose at work.