Dogs
By Tamara McRill
“Hi, my name is Cody and I am a leaf-aholic.” At least that’s how I imagine the meeting would start, if we could get our dog to admit he has an unhealthy obsession with brightly colored piles of leaves. Okay, he even finds the brown, beaten down crispy ones fascinating.
Of course it’s unhealthy only in the sense that we, his humans, worry about what unsafe things might be under there and like to have his attention during most of the walk. Cody, like most dogs, is pretty sure it’s just super fun and important.
Eau de Rotting Stuff
Why are leaf piles so fascinating to dogs? Because of all of the glorious outdoorsy smells of decomposing vegetation, rich dirt. And other interesting scents.
Olfaction, smelling something, is the primary sense dogs use. They rely on it to interpret the world, much like people rely on sight. Dogs have more than 220 million scent receptors in their noses. In comparison, humans have only five million.
So when they smell something particularly pungent, like rotting piles of leaves, they just have to investigate.
Getting Away from the Leaves
A well-trained dog may not have any trouble passing by something interesting if they aren’t on leave to explore. They may also leave it alone on command. If you’re dealing with impulse control issues, like we are, you’ll have to work with your pet until he follows commands. Make sure you have some tasty goodies, like CANIDAE dog treats, on hand as rewards.
Of course you can’t wait until your dog is totally trained to walk them. They need plenty of exercise. Try firm commands first; just don’t be surprised if that doesn’t work. When Cody’s nose is frantically burrowing through the leaf pile and his tail is wagging like crazy, I know my voice might as well be a hundred miles away.
So I gently take the tip of my shoe and slide it under his nose. Nothing like the smell of one of his human’s feet to remind a dog you’re still there. That trick usually works, but you might also want to keep a few treats in your pocket to lure them with.
Safe Leafy Fun
Knowing how much my dog loves rooting through leaves, I would never totally deny him that joy, especially since nosing through leaves and running through them are two of my dogs’ favorite fall activities. (Right after the “Look, the Neighbor Kids Are Home” game.) I do reserve the right, however, to make sure it is a safe pile of leaves.
Here are some tips:
- Use leaf piles you raked yourself, so you know what’s there.
- Remove any sticks, so your dog doesn’t get poked in the eye or nose.
- Keep piles away from standing water, to avoid mosquitoes and chemical runoff.
- Stay away from trees with squirrels. You know which one they’ll go after first.
- Make sure the rake is put away. Those things are just dangerous.
Also make sure you carefully check your dog’s coat and perform other fall pet care routines when they are done playing in the leaves. Be sure to look out for any ticks or red patches that signify an allergy.
Does your dog have a love of leaf piles? How do you get their attention back?
Photo by Aine D.
Read more articles by Tamara McRill
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Dogs
Why Do Dogs Find Leaf Piles So Fascinating?
“Hi, my name is Cody and I am a leaf-aholic.” At least that’s how I imagine the meeting would start, if we could get our dog to admit he has an unhealthy obsession with brightly colored piles of leaves. Okay, he even finds the brown, beaten down crispy ones fascinating.
Of course it’s unhealthy only in the sense that we, his humans, worry about what unsafe things might be under there and like to have his attention during most of the walk. Cody, like most dogs, is pretty sure it’s just super fun and important.
Eau de Rotting Stuff
Why are leaf piles so fascinating to dogs? Because of all of the glorious outdoorsy smells of decomposing vegetation, rich dirt. And other interesting scents.
Olfaction, smelling something, is the primary sense dogs use. They rely on it to interpret the world, much like people rely on sight. Dogs have more than 220 million scent receptors in their noses. In comparison, humans have only five million.
So when they smell something particularly pungent, like rotting piles of leaves, they just have to investigate.
Getting Away from the Leaves
A well-trained dog may not have any trouble passing by something interesting if they aren’t on leave to explore. They may also leave it alone on command. If you’re dealing with impulse control issues, like we are, you’ll have to work with your pet until he follows commands. Make sure you have some tasty goodies, like CANIDAE dog treats, on hand as rewards.
Of course you can’t wait until your dog is totally trained to walk them. They need plenty of exercise. Try firm commands first; just don’t be surprised if that doesn’t work. When Cody’s nose is frantically burrowing through the leaf pile and his tail is wagging like crazy, I know my voice might as well be a hundred miles away.
So I gently take the tip of my shoe and slide it under his nose. Nothing like the smell of one of his human’s feet to remind a dog you’re still there. That trick usually works, but you might also want to keep a few treats in your pocket to lure them with.
Safe Leafy Fun
Knowing how much my dog loves rooting through leaves, I would never totally deny him that joy, especially since nosing through leaves and running through them are two of my dogs’ favorite fall activities. (Right after the “Look, the Neighbor Kids Are Home” game.) I do reserve the right, however, to make sure it is a safe pile of leaves.
Here are some tips:
- Use leaf piles you raked yourself, so you know what’s there.
- Remove any sticks, so your dog doesn’t get poked in the eye or nose.
- Keep piles away from standing water, to avoid mosquitoes and chemical runoff.
- Stay away from trees with squirrels. You know which one they’ll go after first.
- Make sure the rake is put away. Those things are just dangerous.
Also make sure you carefully check your dog’s coat and perform other fall pet care routines when they are done playing in the leaves. Be sure to look out for any ticks or red patches that signify an allergy.
Does your dog have a love of leaf piles? How do you get their attention back?
Photo by Aine D.
Read more articles by Tamara McRill
- Veggies Dogs Love And Ones To Avoid
By Tamara McRill Dogs are often thought of as meat lovers, but some love to munch on vegetables. Take my dog Cody, for instance. He is crazy about broccoli! It doesn’t matter if it is fresh or cooked, he loves to munch on the green florets. My chocolate...
- Does Your Dog Video Chat?
By Tamara McRill Video chatting isn't just a great way for us humans to stay in contact—it can also keep our dogs in touch with those they love. I have one dog, Cody, who always gets face time with the camera when someone he knows comes up on chat....
- Helping Your Dog With Impulse Control
By Tamara McRill Who hasn’t known a dog that has struggled with going for what they want as soon as they see it? From snatching food to chasing squirrels and bounding out the door, to jumping on their favorite people, the wonderfully curious and energetic...
- Alleviating Your Dog’s Back-to-school Blues
By Tamara McRill It can be cute watching your dog tug on backpacks and careening for the door once school’s out, but the sadness some dogs feel in the fall is no laughing matter. The “Dog Days of Summer” could stand for the glorious months pets...
- Fun Fall Activities For Your Dog
By Suzanne Alicie You know how much you enjoy it when the days begin to cool down after a hot summer? Well your dog enjoys that as well. With cooler temperatures, your dog will have more energy and more stamina for being outdoors and enjoying fun fall...