Let’s play ... Hide ‘n’ Scent
This Schnuzzle game is great to play with your best friend. A simple variation of Hide’n’Seek.
Place a Scent Disc in your Schnuzzle and activate it.
Let your dog have a good sniff.
Now hide the toy around the house or yard.
Try somewhere easy at first.
Say: ‘Find Schnuzzle’
Action: Walk with them as they look for the toy.
You may need to help them find the toy at first.
Praise: Make a big fuss when they find the toy.
Use your happy voice and lots of cuddles.
Next: As their skills improve look for more challenging places to hide
Schnuzzle or play the game in larger areas.
Scent memory.
A smell can call up memories and powerful emotions almost instantly. This event is called “Scent episodic memory”.
It may be the smell of freshly baked bread that transports you back to Grandma’s house and the feeling of comfort and safety that you felt as a small child.
The same reaction occurs in dogs... for instance a particular aroma can be paired with good times playing in the backyard or hanging on the couch with you. This is a great tool if you have a dog that suffers from anxiety when left alone or in the care of a stranger.
Calming exercise.
Choose a Scent Disc from our essential oils range and insert this into your Schnuzzle.
Action: Spend some quality time just chilling with your dog and the Schnuzzle. You can use the nodules on the ball to rub his/her tummy or just let your dog gnaw on the toy while you sit together on the couch... cuddling, stroking his/her ears - whatever usually works to comfort your dog.
Praise: Talk to your dog in a soft, happy voice.
Repeat: Make this a regular special time for you and your pet. After a period of time your dog will build up a collection of relaxing memories associated with the same scent.
Result: You can now use the same Schnuzzle Scent Disc as a trigger to help soothe your dog during stressful situations... whether it’s a long car ride, thunderstorms, fireworks, a trip to the vet or time spent away from you.