Ask the Trainer

   “Sniffing to Beat the Heat”

Summer is finally here; the heat is blistering and the air is hazy! Average summer temperatures may leave us sweating and irritable but, for some of our dogs, staying cool is more than just a matter of comfort.

Puppies, elderly dogs, heavy-coated dogs, and brachycephalic (short-nosed) dogs are all at higher risk of heat injury because they are less able to regulate their body temperature for a variety of reasons. There are lots of ways to help your dog with the heat, including cooling coats, cooling mats, fans, air conditioning, limiting exercise and stress, and providing constant cold water and shade.

What happens when your bulldog simply can’t go outside safely in a heat wave, despite these measures? Or your senior dog won’t move from the shade of the porch because the heat is just too uncomfortable?

How about looking to mental enrichment, instead of physical exercise, for the too-hot days ahead?

Dogs find inherent joy in sniffing, as you have observed when your dog gets their nose glued to a post when you’re out for a walk around the block! Not only is your dog able to collect important social information with their nose, they also find a mountain of enrichment and enjoyment though sniffing out different scents and their sources.

Let’s use that to your, and your dog’s, advantage in the next heat wave by playing Sniffer Games! A Scent Detection class is an excellent training endeavour, but sometimes we need quick and easy options to use in times like these. Below you’ll find a few easy ways to engage your dog’s nose around your home or on short, heat-safe walks.

Sniffy Walk

This is the easiest option of them all! Pick a cooler time of day and simply follow your dog, stopping at every pole, hydrant or patch of long grass. Don’t pull your dog away, just let her indulge in the smells! Pick some new spots to walk for novel smells, and seek out trails with cool damp soil. Moisture holds scent well, so your dog will get a snootful of interesting smells on a trail like this!

Yard Sniffs

If you have a grassy yard, you can really make use of it! Try these two options using your dog’s regular meals. (Be mindful that left over treats may attract wildlife and take steps to limit leaving any in the yard).

1. Treat Scatter! Take your dog’s cup of food and chuck it across the yard! How easy is that? Actually, you may need to keep it contained to begin with so your dog finds all the food. As your dog’s persistence in sniffing increases, you can scatter more widely – and your dog will take longer to find the kibble!

2. Treat Tracking! With your dog indoors, walk a winding path around your yard, placing pea-sized treats every 4-6 inches in your footsteps. Show your dog the start of the trail and encourage her to sniff (and eat!) the whole trail. After a few reps, just show her the start and let her hoover!

The “Sniff This!” Game

Your dog’s nose is so much more powerful than yours. Not only is this related to the structures of the nose, but also how much of her brain is devoted to olfactory processing.  Your dog is able to detect smells that you don’t even know exist.

Because of this, many dogs find interest in objects that we humans wouldn’t give a second thought to. Next time you go shopping and come home with bags of new items, call your dog over and bring out one item at a time and allow her to sniff it top to bottom. Once she’s satisfied, show her the next item.

Notice if your dog is more interested in some things more than others -different types of materials, or store-bought items versus something you brought home from a friend’s house. This is a super easy way to offer enrichment with almost no time or effort on your part!

In-Home Cookie Search

Baiting your baseboards, corners and cracks in the dog bed is a great way to engage your dog’s scavenging desires that might come out a little stronger on days that her off leash hikes are limited. Be sure to hide cookies or kibble only in places where your dog is allowed to poke around; for example, hiding a treat on the fireplace hearth or in a bookshelf is probably not advisable! Try hiding your dog’s dinner around the living room tonight, and search for the treats with her with lots of verbal encouragement. Within a couple days you can sit in the air conditioning in front of the TV while your dog entertains herself!

Toy Box Sniffing Game

Many dogs have a toy box in the house where their stuffies and chews are kept. Make use of it in a new way by scattering your dog’s dinner through the box and encouraging her to sniff out the kibble!

Of course, use your good sense as to which games are best for your dog, or modifications that might be appropriate for her. For instance, if your dog resource guards, you will need to modify these games to mitigate that risk. If your dog tends to grab and eat inedible objects, you may need to ensure that you show your dog only safe items in the “Sniff This!” Game.

Luckily there are many ways to engage your dog’s nose – and brain! – to make up for the hot-sticky days to come!

Written by

Emily Fisher

Emily is a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC), and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).

   Dogs Looking for Homes

Open your heart and your home to a rescue dog. You’ll be glad you did.

For complete information about the adoption process, please visit www.speakingofdogs.com/adoption-process.

Ande is a one-and-a-half-year-old, 55lb, German Shepherd/Lab mix. He was a stray, adopted from a shelter at 7 months of age, however due to the dynamics between the adopter’s current dog and Ande, it was not the best fit for either of them.

Ande is an incredibly loyal, smart, playful, sweet, and affectionate boy. He would be the perfect dog for someone who loves German Shepherds but is looking for a smaller version. He is a shadow to his favourite person, following them wherever they go. He can be a bit fearful in new places or situations, finding it difficult to settle, but in time he likes to nap and enjoy the quiet with a chew toy or games. Ande loves belly, chest, ear rubs, and sniffing around in the yard. He’s become a really good snuggler, loves to lay on top of his person on the floor or to gently rest his head in laps and on shoulders.

In his previous home, Ande would guard the family’s other dog while at the park, at doggie daycare and on walks. He seems to have a high prey drive for cats and other small animals. For this reason, it would be best if Ande were the only pet in his next home. It is unknown if he is good with children.  Ande has shown to be reactive on leash. If a dog walks by, it works well to continue walking, say his name and, when he makes eye contact, provide him with a treat. When approached by loose dogs, Ande relies on his person to step between him and the dogs to manage the situation and keep everyone at a distance. Ande barks and jumps on people when he is excited and should not approach anyone with chronic pain or difficulties with balance, until he settles.

When adjusting to a new home, he is initially vocal when left alone and crated during the day.  He has some separation anxiety and will ingest items that are harmful to him if not crated when alone. He can be crated 3-4 hours during the day, and overnight. He can be fearful of some men and of new objects.

Ande is potty, car, and crate trained. Ande has proven to be a very quick learner.  He knows many commands, including Sit, Down, Wait, Come, Drop It, Leave It, No, Let’s Go, Let’s Go to Work, Break, Get It and Paw.  He also knows to wait and sit at doorways, gates, and stairs. In his foster home, he learned several new commands in a very short time such as bringing his bed to the in-home office when it is time to go to “work.” Here’s a video of what his foster mom has taught him. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/HPmZsAu8aJV3JkhY/

He is extremely food motivated. He’s a fast eater and will not stop once he starts, even with a slow feed bowl. He enjoys his dinners being scattered throughout the house or yard, in puzzles, or wrapped in a twisted towel. Other stimulating rewards, like tug of war, may be used especially in situations where he needs to release some excess energy.

He loves to be brushed and is okay to bathe and have his nails trimmed.

The morning is a time of great celebration for Ande. He will dance, run around, and show off the first thing he can grab, when greeting his person for the day. No matter the level of activity from the day, he will be exhausted by 9:00pm and ready to call it a night.

Ande’s health is well-maintained with all vaccinations being up to date along with regular deworming, flea, and tick medication. He is neutered. He has no known allergies.

As you can see from the above, there is some training work to be done, but Ande is still only a “teenager” and has proven to be a quick learner. He is brimming with potential and eager to find a best friend who will be excited about training with him!

If you are interested in giving Ande a place to call home, please fill out an application for our consideration.

Click here to visit our adoption application.

The Great Canadian Giving Challenge and Step Up for the Pups!

As most of you know, our Step Up for the Pups walk will take place on Saturday June 22^nd.  We strategically chose to do this in June since it coincides with CanadaHelps “Great Canadian Giving Challenge”.

What is The Great Canadian Giving Challenge

Every dollar donated to our charity in June, via CanadaHelps.org or CanadaHelps fundraising tools, is an entry for a chance for our rescue to WIN one of two $10,000 donations from CanadaHelps!  The more we raise, the more chances we have to win!

How Does Step Up for the Pups Tie into This?

Since the fundraising for our walk is done through CanadaHelps, the more we raise through Step Up for the Pups, the more chances we have of winning!

You can participate by walking on June 22nd, with or without a dog, or pledge your support for one of our participants through our CanadaHelps page.  The more people that sign up, spread the word, and collect pledges, the more money we can raise to help the pups.  Dogs like Lana, Kenna, Rudy and Pumpkin (mentioned in our last newsletter) came into our rescue and received life-saving medical treatment through our fundraising efforts and your donations.  Sadly, more dogs need us each and every day. Over the last year, we have seen more owner surrenders than ever before, and shelter requests come to us almost daily.

Please help us be there for these dear dogs by walking in or sponsoring our Step up for the Pups – our coffers need replenishing. For more information about Step Up for the Pups and how you can help, please visit our Speaking of Dogs website or visit our CanadaHelps page and Step Up for the Pups!

   Happy Tails

   a.k.a. “Recent Adoptions”

   Adoption Update

Dear Speaking of Dogs

I adopted Dexter in November 2018. In July 2019, he blew his ACL in his left knee and needed surgery. In October the right ACL needed surgery.  Through all of that, he’s been the sweetest gentlest soul.

When I met him, he was the mellowest dog I ever encountered and I knew he’d be perfect as Cinnamon’s (my previous lab) legacy.

He started visiting Belmont House Seniors Residence in May of 2019 and he passed his Child Friendly test in May of 2023.  Since June of 2023 he has been visiting Sick Children’s Hospital in Toronto with the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program.  He’s made almost 400 visits as a therapy dog and makes people smile wherever we go.

I’ll always be grateful.

My name is Leanne and I have been a volunteer with Speaking of Dogs Rescue for many years.  In the past 4 years I’ve been focused on helping the rescue with owner surrender/intake interviews, new foster orientations, and transports.  I’ve also lent a hand doing the odd adoption interview and home visit over the years.

Our two current dogs, Jack and Beau, were both foster fails from Speaking of Dogs Rescue and bring joy to our lives everyday.  Our lives just would not be the same without a rescue dog or two to dote on.

Volunteering for Speaking of Dogs Rescue and doing my small part to help make the lives of dogs in need better is extremely rewarding and I hope to continue to do so for many years to come.

Want to help our dogs?

Consider making a donation from our Amazon wish list of priority dog supplies.

  Wags & Wiggles

   a.k.a. “Thanks you’s & Shout Outs”