Scent Games for Dogs 2025: Vet Recommended to Calm & Stimulate 🐶✨

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

Did you know your dog sees the world through their nose? While we rely on sight, your dog’s strongest sense is smell—and engaging it can boost their mood, reduce stress, and improve behavior.

I’m Dr. Duncan Houston. This article shares simple, powerful scent-based games and enrichment ideas to stimulate your dog’s mind and create calm—no matter their age or breed.

👃 Why Scent Is So Powerful for Dogs

• 🐾 Dogs have up to 300 million scent receptors (humans have about 5 million)
• 🧠 Sniffing engages a dog’s brain more than running or fetching
• 🧘 Scent work activates the parasympathetic nervous system—helping dogs feel relaxed

Translation: Letting your dog sniff isn’t just a walk—it’s therapy.

✅ Vet Benefits of Scent Enrichment

• 🧠 Builds confidence (especially in nervous or reactive dogs)
• 🛑 Reduces destructive boredom behaviors (e.g., chewing, barking)
• 🧘 Encourages calm focus after highenergy activities
• 👴 Perfect for senior dogs or dogs with limited mobility

🎯 7 VetRecommended Scent Games for Dogs

1. “Find It” Game (Beginner)

• 🧃 Start with a handful of treats and toss them gently onto the floor, saying “Find it!”
• 📈 Build to hiding them around a room or yard

2. Muffin Tin Puzzle

• 🧁 Place treats in a muffin tin, cover each cup with a tennis ball
• 🧠 Your dog must sniff and lift to find rewards

3. Snuffle Mat Feeding

• 🌿 Sprinkle kibble or dry treats across a or rolledup towel
• 🧘 Slow, enriching mealtime routine that promotes calmness

4. Scent Box Hunt

• 📦 Use 3–5 cardboard boxes; place a treat in one
• 🐶 Shuffle the boxes and let your dog sniff to find the hidden reward

5. Towel RollUp

• 🧻 Roll up a towel with treats scattered inside the folds
• 🐾 Encourages scent tracking, unrolling, and problemsolving

6. Scent Trails in the Yard

• 🚶 Drag a treat along the grass to create a trail, hide it at the end
• 🌤️ Great way to turn any backyard time into enrichment

7. “Find the Person” Game

• 👤 Have a friend hide in the house while you hold your dog
• 🗣️ Say “Find [Name]!” and release them to sniff out the person with treats and praise

🧠 How to Build Confidence with Scent Work

• 🪜 Start easy—always let them win
• 📈 Slowly increase difficulty: more hiding spots, multiple rooms
• 🥇 Celebrate each find with praise, not just food

🕒 How Often Should You Do Scent Games?

Just 10–15 minutes of scent work = the mental equivalent of a 30+ minute walk.

• 💡 Use scent games on rainy days or before guests arrive to help your dog stay relaxed
• 📅 Aim for 2–3 sessions per week or incorporate daily with mealtime sniffing

🎁 Products That Pair with Scent Enrichment

• Dual Pocket Dispenser – Keep highvalue treats ready to reward calm scent work
• Explorer Harness – Perfect for relaxed “sniffari” walks

💬 What Dog Parents Say

“Scent games helped my anxious rescue settle in faster than anything else.” – Priya & Theo

“Now we use a snuffle mat every morning—he’s calmer, happier, and so much more focused.” – Matt & Digger

👩⚕️ Want a Custom Scent Game Plan for Your Dog?

Send your dog’s energy level, behavior concerns, and home setup to Ask A Vet and we’ll create a vetapproved scent enrichment schedule for your pup.

Final Thoughts

Scent games aren't just fun—they're a window into how your dog experiences the world. With just a few minutes a day, you can calm their nervous system, boost their confidence, and deepen your bond through the power of the nose.

Shop VetApproved Scent Enrichment Tools →