Teach Your Chihuahua to Track a Scent Trail

Dogs use their noses over and above their other senses. Setting up a scent track activity for your Chihuahua will be a piece of cake. Lay a scent trail for your dog to follow with a payoff at the end. A scent trail needs setting up in
advance, but don’t leave it more than ten or fifteen minutes—the scent shouldn’t fade to the point where it isn’t obvious to 
your Chihuahua.

A really effective, smelly scent trail can also be somewhat messy, leaving broth or gravy in its wake, so it’s better to set it outdoors.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Put together a bag with extra-smelly contents that will appeal to your dog. You may be able to use leftovers from a family meal—a chicken carcass with 
some broth poured over it would be a good choice, as would ground meat, again with added broth so that the moisture will be left, with its scent, along the trail. Wrap what you’ve
   chosen in a piece of fabric—a piece of cheesecloth would be ideal—knot the corners together, and tie a piece of 
string to it so that you can pull it around.
2. Lay the bag on the ground and set the trail by pulling it around after you over as wide an area as you can. The track can meander about, but don’t go over a path you’ve already laid—try to leave a
a distinct trail behind you. When you’ve taken it as far as you can, pick the bag up and wrap it in plastic as you take it away to give the trail a clear end.
3. Leave a puzzle at the end of the trail to give your Chihuahua a final challenge before he gets his reward. It could be some cooked chicken or small pieces of cheese placed under a bowl.
4. Take your pet to the start of the scent trail. Most dogs won’t need any extra encouragement; they’ll start to follow their noses immediately. You can lay a small piece of chicken or cheese at the starting point to set him on the right track. Run along with him as he follows the trail, encouraging him back on track if he starts to follow his nose elsewhere.
5. As your Chihuahua gets used to the scent trail game, try subtler scents and see if he can pick them up. Make scent bags with just meat or fish remains but no extra liquid, so that the scent is fainter. Once your dog has got the idea, he should be able to follow them.

Why it’s useful

Really, this is just fun. But a dog’s strongest sense is his sense of smell, and if you never make use of it, you’re losing an important way in which you could interact with him. This game is also a particularly good way to fulfill a dog with an innate need to use his nose.