Today we’re introducing Twelve Dog Days of Christmas – a mix of how to prepare your dog for Christmas and ideas and games to play with them. Plus, we’ll also highlight Dog Dangers to avoid. Today is all about those Christmas Smells!
I’m rather behind with my Christmas preparations as it’s been a tough few weeks recently.
My plan had been to do an advent calendar every day during December, but instead, from now until Christmas I’m going to be offering you my shortened advent calendar!
The “Twelve Dog Days of Christmas” is going to be a mix of how to prepare your dog for Christmas and ideas and games to play with them. Plus, I’ll also highlight Dog Dangers to avoid. So let’s get started!
DAY 1: Christmas smells
Are you excited yet? Over the past few days and weeks my study has been getting messier and messier, with odd boxes, parcels and bags stuffed in any available space as I accumulate gifts for family, friends and, of course, our wonderful Down Dog Devotees and Academy members.
I love the anticipation of gifts. The shape and feel of the present can give many clues. (Why are so many things so difficult to wrap? Nothing I buy seems to have straight edges!) But I don’t sniff them usually – although bath toiletries often give off quite a smell even through wrapping paper.
But dogs do
Every new package that arrives has to be inspected by Superintendent Sniff, aka Gus. I often wonder what he can learn. He can probably pick up the scent of the many people that have been in contact with it – the packer, various postal system operatives and our delivery person without doubt – but possibly also people who made the item. I wonder if he can discern the origin of the components? Who knows…
My first dog, Ben, always had a good sniff of any presents under the tree. He loved squeaky toys and he was either a brilliant detection dog or a pest, depending on how you look at it, sniffing out his squeaky toy and opening that present early, while ignoring the doggy and human food presents.
So for Day 1 of our Twelve Doggy Days of Christmas:
Allow and watch your dog sniffing when out for a walk today.
Where do they sniff? How do they sniff – a quick intake of air as they pass or a prolonged, focused examination? What do you think they are discovering? I want to come back as a dog, just to find out what scent and sniffing is all about.
If you want to know more, you could join in with our Nose Nerds programme, or get Nose Nerds for free plus many other benefits with our Devotee membership. Find out more here.
Keep training and stay safe,
Carol
