When we are walking across the brewery, beer in one hand and leash in the other, we want our dogs to follow us back to our spot at the table. You see another dog approaching and you are going to have to pass by them, what do you do?! We can teach our dogs the Sniff N Go so that they know it is okay to stop to say hi with a little sniffing, but then it is time to keep moving on with their human.
An ideal Sniff N Go should be about 3-5 seconds long. As you pass the other dog, let your dog stop to sniff just briefly, then call them to continue following you as you walk forward. Keeping these interactions short prevents the pups from breaking out in play but still satisfies their urge to say hello!
The secret to a good Sniff N Go is watching your leash tension. Having a tight leash can cause frustration for your pup causing them to pull even harder to get to what they want. It is actually better here to keep the leash loose and allow a quick greeting to satisfy your dog and then call them away with enthusiasm rather than a tug on the leash. Don’t forget to reward your dog for following you away - this is a tough ask for a pup!
Here’s a quick video showing some Sniff N Go examples:
