Shelters are often noisy, hectic and scary places for most of the 3.3 million dogs that enter them each year in the United States. Concern about the well-being of shelter dogs prompted a number of scientific studies, which conclude that offering dogs an opportunity to use their noses eases stress, reduces excessive barking and improves sleep. In my role as a behavior consultant and certified nose work instructor for Marin Humane, I’ve witnessed the extraordinary impact a simple sniffing session can have on a highly stressed, overwhelmed or under-stimulated dog. After just one round of sniffing [...]