As any caretaker of a dog will tell you, the dog's sense of smell is one of the most important senses. In fact, when we buy something from a store, the owner may promise that it's all-natural, but what they mean is that it is odorless. To the dog, it is as if the item was made out of sugar and it smells like a bottle of cheap perfume. It simply won't get a second thought that it's in the house.
But the pet's sense of smell is a very strong one and it can often help a dog to detect danger. For instance, dogs are particularly well-equipped to detect household chemicals such as detergents, bleach, and disinfectants. So, with this canine sense of smell, a good dog training program will teach a dog to identify various smells that might be dangerous or might cause a problem in the home. Even some of the things we use in our homes--such as moth balls and paint--can be toxic for your dog. So, if you're planning to take your dog out on a nice walk, make sure that he or she has a fairly good idea of where he or she is going before you go out. Remember, even the simplest scent-finding scenting exercises can be dangerous, especially if your dog is of a young age or has a short attention span. If you do take your dog on a walk, have him wear a pair of specially-designed shoes that are designed to recognize different types of scent. A more advanced scenting training program will include a small collar and a nasal spray bottle that your dog will attach to his nose. This nasal spray bottle will let him know when there is a scent to be found. You can also teach your dog to use a lead while he is walking around the neighborhood block. During walks, start out in the middle of the neighborhood or along the front walk of your house. The scent may be too faint to easily see, but it's not there when your dog is focusing on other things. When you get to the walk's end, start walking in a larger circle around your yard. Make sure that your dog has an opportunity to sniff out the small amounts of scent that are still left on the ground. If there is a scent, which might be there, continue walking and if the scent is gone, stop the walk immediately. Most dogs love to sniff out different types of scents. They are used to smelling around every nook and cranny in the house--from the sofa cushions to the pillowcases. That's why it's important that your dog wears a special scenting collar, so that your dog won't mistake the scent for something else. A spray bottle for dogs is ideal for teaching your dog how to identify a scent and using it with your walks will make it easier for your dog to keep track of the scent. You should also start to have your dog wear a collar as part of the initial training, and it will be easier for him to associate the collar with the same scent and thus, it won't be confused with other smells. Once your dog uses scent detection and tracking, it won't be long before he or she can begin to detect different odors. They will probably become more adept at detecting certain types of scents, as the scenting begins to get harder for them to fool around with. Remember, if you are worried about the smell of a certain scented item, don't make your dog to chase after it. If they don't want to chase after it, then leave it alone and wait for your dog to follow you or some other way. Being vigilant and observant is the key to a great relationship between your dog and you. Let him sniff around for a little while and then he or she will naturally learn to trust you and will quickly associate the scent with the positive image you want your dog to have.
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