Let Your Puppy Explore!

Kate Hart
Mar 4, 2023
4 min read

Giving young puppies opportunities to explore different sights, sounds and textures is great for a number of reasons. It helps them develop their senses, and learn about the world around them.

Puppies are naturally curious and eager to explore their surroundings..

Sensory exploration allows our pups to experience new sensations and stimuli, which can help them develop both physically and mentally. Think of a puppy brain like a sponge, able to soak up lots of new experiences, while developing neural pathways and learning to make positive connections between different stimuli. This helps to promote cognitive development and problem-solving skills.

So, what does sensory exploration look like?

This can be achieved through play, training, and everyday interactions with their environment and with you.

For example, puppies may explore different surfaces, such as the roughness of carpet, smoothness of a wood floor, or the gritty feeling of sand, all of which can help them develop their sense of touch and confidence around novel textures.The more novel surfaces that a puppy becomes familiar with, the less likely they are to worry about unfamiliar surfaces later, like a bridge they haven't walked across before.

Experiencing novel sensations can also help puppies learn to cope with new or potentially stressful situations, such as meeting new people or encountering unfamiliar objects or environments.

Think of gently experiencing novel situations as a form of “stress inoculation”..

By introducing different sensations and stimuli in a safe and controlled environment, puppies can build confidence and resilience, which can help them adapt to new situations and develop into confident young dogs.

By encountering new things safely, slowly and in controlled manner, puppies can learn to feel comfortable and secure in their surroundings. It is important however, to introduce novel experiences carefully. In order to build confidence, we need to progress at our pup’s pace, whilst being observant of any signs of discomfort.

When is it “too much” for our puppies?

Firstly, let’s remind ourselves that every dog is different, and this is especially so of young puppies. Even within a litter, puppies may develop at a different rate than their siblings. This is why we also shouldn’t compare our puppies progress to those of a similar age. Secondly, look at your pup’s body language for clues that they are be feeling overwhelmed such as looking away, body held low to the ground, lip licking and even jumping up, all can be signals our puppy is feeling uncomfortable. If this does happen, don’t worry! Just remove your puppy from the situation and give them a less stressful but fun activity to do instead.

It is worth noting that puppies go through stages of development which can affect how they perceive the world. This means that a situation that didn't bother them one day, suddenly startles them the next, this is all normal, but we do need to be mindful of our puppies needs and not push them too quickly.

Finally, incorporating playful exploration into your puppy's routine can be a great way to provide mental and physical stimulation while helping your puppy develop into a well-rounded and adaptable adult dog.

Here are some fun tips below:

Sensory walks: Take your puppy on walks in different environments, such as grassy fields, rocky beaches, walking on gravel, this will expose your puppy to different textures, smells, and sights, and will help them become more comfortable with new environments. The caveat here is to always work at your puppy’s pace. Let your pup do the exploring and avoid luring them into situations. Being mindful not to “flood” or over-expose your pup to experiences that they feel a bit worried about.

Playtime with different textures: Introduce your puppy to different textures by providing them with toys made from different materials, such as rubber, rope, fabric or cardboard boxes. So don’t throw away the recycling just yet! You can also scatter different textured items, like balls, stuffed animals, or chew toys, around your puppy's play area for them to explore.

Scavenger hunts: One of my favourite games! Hide treats or toys around your home or in your garden and encourage your puppy to use their sense of smell to find them.

Food puzzles: Use food puzzles or toys, such as snuffle mats and Kongs that require your puppy to use their nose or paws to access their food. This will provide both mental and physical stimulation for your puppy.

Water play: Provide your puppy with shallow water to play in, such as a toddler pool or a shallow tray. This will help them develop their sense of touch and can also be a great way to cool off on hot days.

Introducing new sounds: Make it into a game! Play the sounds while engaging your pup in play or training. This will help them associate the sounds with fun and positive experiences. Make sure the sounds aren’t too loud, we want the sounds to be very much in the background and not cause our puppies to startle or become distracted.

++Remember to always supervise your puppy during sensory exploration activities to ensure their safety. With a little creativity, you can make sensory exploration a fun and enriching part of your puppy's routine ++