Patterns, not prescriptions

Some days your dog needs more help to settle than others. Sniff helps you discover patterns in their day and explore what helps them. Record the activities you do, along with walks and meals, then look back at how your routine changes from one day to the next.

Using Sniff

Record

Choose your dog's activities and arrange them as big tiles on one screen. Each time you do an activity, tap to record it. The number shows how many times you've recorded it today.

Food, walks and triggers

Record how long a walk lasted, when your dog ate or any triggers they encountered. Add notes for anything you want to remember. You can edit today's records. Previous days are view-only.

Insights

Sniff brings together the activities you've recorded and when they happened. You might notice that activities continue later after busier walks, or that some days involve more repeats than others.

The summary highlights patterns across your recorded history when there are enough comparable records. Below it, tiles show your days, entries, mix of activities, walks and triggers for all time, the last 30 days or the last 7. Tap a tile for more, or a day to see its records, including triggers and notes.

Weather

Turn on weather in Settings to add the day's local weather to your logs. It gives you another detail to look back on alongside walks and activities. It represents the day, rather than the weather at the moment of each walk.

Activities to try

Sniffing, licking and chewing give dogs an outlet for natural behaviours and can help them unwind. Find activities your dog enjoys, keep them manageable, and leave room for quiet rest too.

Snuffle mat

A mat that hides small pieces of food for your dog to sniff out. Start with the food easy to find, then let them explore at their own pace.

Lick mat

A textured mat spread with a little suitable soft food. Licking can be soothing and gives your dog something gentle to focus on. Stay nearby while they use it.

Chew

Chewing is a natural behaviour and can be a soothing way to spend time. Choose a chew suited to your dog's size, health and chewing habits. Hard items such as bones, antlers and hooves can damage teeth; ask your vet if you're unsure what suits your dog. Supervise and stop using a chew if it breaks into pieces they could swallow.

Treat toy

A food toy gives your dog something to lick, nose or chew as they work the food out. Choose one made for dogs and suited to how yours uses it. Check it for damage and supervise them.

Scatter treats

Scatter a little of their usual food in a safe, clear area and let their nose lead the way. Start with a small, easy search.

Go find

Scatter a few small dry dog treats or pieces of kibble around a room while your dog waits comfortably nearby or in another room. Say ‘Go find’ and let them sniff out the food at their own pace. Start with easy, visible spots, then try a few simple hiding places.

Puzzle feeder

A feeder that makes finding food a small challenge. Start easy. If your dog seems frustrated, simplify it or try something else.

Play

Tug, searching for a toy or a game of fetch: choose something your dog enjoys. Short games count. Use suitable toys and leave time to wind down afterwards; play doesn't have to be about wearing them out.

Training

A few minutes practising a familiar skill or learning something new together. Use rewards, keep sessions short and work at your dog's pace. Finish with something they can do comfortably.

Affection

Gentle strokes or quiet company, when your dog wants them. Let them come to you and move away when they've had enough. Sitting beside you can count; a cuddle isn't everyone's favourite.

Walks

A chance to move, sniff and explore at a comfortable pace. Choose surroundings your dog can cope with, and give them space from things they find worrying. Record the walk when you're home.

Food

Record when you feed your dog, so meals sit alongside walks and activities in their routine. It's a simple record to look back on, not a feeding plan or a judgement about meal times.

Keep it comfortable

Stay nearby with chews, mats and food toys. Use food that suits your dog and count treats and enrichment food towards their daily allowance. If an activity frustrates or worries them, stop and try something easier. Quiet rest matters too.

A little guidance

These are general ideas. Your vet or behaviourist can help you choose what suits your dog. If their behaviour changes or you're concerned, speak to your vet.

The honest bit

Sniff shows patterns in what you record. A gap between entries doesn't tell it whether your dog was resting, you were busy or you simply didn't record something.

You know the context, and can review the patterns yourself or with your behaviourist.

What it can't tell you

Sniff can't tell you exactly when your dog settled, why their behaviour changed or which activity caused a change. It doesn't diagnose or recommend treatment.

If you're concerned about a change in your dog's behaviour, speak to your vet. For behaviour support, look for an appropriately qualified professional, such as through the ABTC register.

Patterns, not prescriptions

Some days your dog needs more help to settle than others. Sniff helps you discover patterns in their day and explore what helps them. Record the activities you do, along with walks and meals, then look back at how your routine changes from one day to the next.

Using Sniff

Record

Choose your dog's activities and arrange them as big tiles on one screen. Each time you do an activity, tap to record it. The number shows how many times you've recorded it today.

Food, walks and triggers

Record how long a walk lasted, when your dog ate or any triggers they encountered. Add notes for anything you want to remember. You can edit today's records. Previous days are view-only.

Insights

Sniff brings together the activities you've recorded and when they happened. You might notice that activities continue later after busier walks, or that some days involve more repeats than others.

The summary highlights patterns across your recorded history when there are enough comparable records. Below it, tiles show your days, entries, mix of activities, walks and triggers for all time, the last 30 days or the last 7. Tap a tile for more, or a day to see its records, including triggers and notes.

Weather

Turn on weather in Settings to add the day's local weather to your logs. It gives you another detail to look back on alongside walks and activities. It represents the day, rather than the weather at the moment of each walk.

Activities to try

Sniffing, licking and chewing give dogs an outlet for natural behaviours and can help them unwind. Find activities your dog enjoys, keep them manageable, and leave room for quiet rest too.

Snuffle mat

A mat that hides small pieces of food for your dog to sniff out. Start with the food easy to find, then let them explore at their own pace.

Lick mat

A textured mat spread with a little suitable soft food. Licking can be soothing and gives your dog something gentle to focus on. Stay nearby while they use it.

Chew

Chewing is a natural behaviour and can be a soothing way to spend time. Choose a chew suited to your dog's size, health and chewing habits. Hard items such as bones, antlers and hooves can damage teeth; ask your vet if you're unsure what suits your dog. Supervise and stop using a chew if it breaks into pieces they could swallow.

Treat toy

A food toy gives your dog something to lick, nose or chew as they work the food out. Choose one made for dogs and suited to how yours uses it. Check it for damage and supervise them.

Scatter treats

Scatter a little of their usual food in a safe, clear area and let their nose lead the way. Start with a small, easy search.

Go find

Scatter a few small dry dog treats or pieces of kibble around a room while your dog waits comfortably nearby or in another room. Say ‘Go find’ and let them sniff out the food at their own pace. Start with easy, visible spots, then try a few simple hiding places.

Puzzle feeder

A feeder that makes finding food a small challenge. Start easy. If your dog seems frustrated, simplify it or try something else.

Play

Tug, searching for a toy or a game of fetch: choose something your dog enjoys. Short games count. Use suitable toys and leave time to wind down afterwards; play doesn't have to be about wearing them out.

Training

A few minutes practising a familiar skill or learning something new together. Use rewards, keep sessions short and work at your dog's pace. Finish with something they can do comfortably.

Affection

Gentle strokes or quiet company, when your dog wants them. Let them come to you and move away when they've had enough. Sitting beside you can count; a cuddle isn't everyone's favourite.

Walks

A chance to move, sniff and explore at a comfortable pace. Choose surroundings your dog can cope with, and give them space from things they find worrying. Record the walk when you're home.

Food

Record when you feed your dog, so meals sit alongside walks and activities in their routine. It's a simple record to look back on, not a feeding plan or a judgement about meal times.

Keep it comfortable

Stay nearby with chews, mats and food toys. Use food that suits your dog and count treats and enrichment food towards their daily allowance. If an activity frustrates or worries them, stop and try something easier. Quiet rest matters too.

A little guidance

These are general ideas. Your vet or behaviourist can help you choose what suits your dog. If their behaviour changes or you're concerned, speak to your vet.

The honest bit

Sniff shows patterns in what you record. A gap between entries doesn't tell it whether your dog was resting, you were busy or you simply didn't record something.

You know the context, and can review the patterns yourself or with your behaviourist.

What it can't tell you

Sniff can't tell you exactly when your dog settled, why their behaviour changed or which activity caused a change. It doesn't diagnose or recommend treatment.

If you're concerned about a change in your dog's behaviour, speak to your vet. For behaviour support, look for an appropriately qualified professional, such as through the ABTC register.