Sniffing for Success: How Nose Work Boosts Dog Sport Performance

If you’re into dog sports, you already know the grind—early mornings, long drives, adrenaline highs, and the occasional meltdown (yours or your dog’s). But in my latest piece for Bay Woof, I dive into something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention in that world: sniffing.

Read the full Bay Woof article here.

Yep, good old-fashioned nose-to-ground sniffing. As it turns out, giving your dog time to sniff isn’t just a nice decompression tool—it can actually enhance performance, improve focus, and help dogs problem solve better. Whether you’re competing in agility or just navigating the chaos of a training class, this article is for you.

Want to go deeper into the power of sniffing and how it supports recovery and regulation? If you’re curious about the role sniffing plays in your dog’s emotional health, I’ve written more on the subject:

• [The Science Behind Sniffing – Why It Matters More Than You Think]

• [What’s Happening in Your Dog’s Body During Stress]

• [How to Use Decompression Walks to Support Your Dog’s Recovery]

About Bay Woof

This article was originally published in Bay Woof, a San Francisco–based publication dedicated to responsible dog ownership, advocacy, and education. Bay Woof provides thoughtful, community-supported content for dog lovers across the Bay Area and beyond. I’m proud to contribute to a platform that values the human-dog connection and promotes the well-being of dogs through education and storytelling.

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