August 8, 2025
As a new grandmother, I am always learning about the latest in parenting trends, one of which is sensory play. When I raised my kids, toddlers tried to play with their food but we didn’t exactly see the benefits. Today, parents are setting up elaborate play areas with water, sand, and even slime for their toddlers and young children to use in creating a gigantic mess in the name of learning. Fast forward to today, while browsing Atlanta Humane Society‘s website, I learned that they have a sensory garden for their adoptable dogs. All of this inspired today’s blog: Sensory Play Disguised as a Dog Walk. Let’s talk about what sensory play is, what it looks like for our canine best friends (hold the slime), and how you can encourage sensory exploration in your dog.
What is Sensory Play?
In terms of mammals in general, grandkids and pets alike, sensory play refers to activities or behaviors that actively stimulate and engage one or more of the animal’s sensory systems, such as sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch, as well as additional senses like balance (vestibular), proprioception (body awareness), and interoception (internal state awareness).
In plain terms, smells activate the olfactory system, sounds activate the auditory system, etc. Activating these centers or systems is beneficial in that it supports brain development and promotes neural connections. It also contributes to cognitive, emotional, and social growth.
How a Dog Walk Engages All Five Senses
Dog walks, on leash or off-leash if you’re hiking with an experienced adventure dog, engage both the mind and the body. Whether it’s a quick stroll around the block or a sprawling adventure in the park, every outing is a sensory experience that enriches your dog’s world via their five senses.
1. Sight: Visual Exploration
Dogs may not see the world in full technicolor like humans, but that doesn’t mean their walks aren’t packed with visual excitement. Their eyes scan the horizon for movement from squirrels darting up trees, children playing, bikes whizzing by, and a whole lot more. With every walk and outdoor experience, dogs mentally map their territory, recognizing landmarks and observing changes in the environment. The season changes and vibrant neighborhoods in Atlanta give dogs a changing visual landscape, keeping them alert and mentally stimulated, with every walk.
2. Sound: An Audible Adventure
The outdoor world is filled with sounds unique to every neighborhood. Dogs have far more acute hearing than humans, which means they’re attuned to a wider range of noises: the chirping of birds, rustling leaves, distant voices, and dogs barking in the distance. Even sounds we take for granted, like a car engine starting or the jingle of another dog’s collar, become signals that feed into their understanding of the environment.
3. Smell: A Bouquet of Scents
Of all the senses, smell reigns supreme for dogs. Their sense of smell is up to 100,000 times more sensitive than ours. On a walk, every sniff tells a story. They can tell who passed by, when, what they were doing, and more. Grass, trees, lampposts, and fire hydrants become information centers, packed with scent markers left by other animals. This olfactory exploration gives dogs valuable data, making every stroll an exciting new adventure. It’s like social media scrolling for dog noses!
4. Touch: The World at Their Feet
The pads on a dog’s paws are designed to feel the ground beneath them. Every surface, from soft grass and rough concrete to warm pavement or chilly snow, offers a different tactile experience. The sensation of wind ruffling their fur, a gentle brush from a plant, or water splashing against their legs all contribute to their awareness of the surroundings. Even the rhythmic vibration of their paws hitting the trail provides welcome feedback about their environment.
5. Taste: Sampling the Air
Though we often discourage our dogs from picking up objects or food scraps during walks, there’s one “taste” that’s impossible to avoid: the air itself. Dogs gather immense information by tasting and smelling the air. Open mouths and twitching nostrils don’t just mean they’re excited, it’s a way to sample airborne scents and microscopic particles, further decoding the day’s story told by their environment.
Sensory Play Disguised as a Dog Walk
If you have a dog that could use a sensory experience but don’t have the time or ability to offer it, count on us! Our dog walking services allow for more than just exercise, they are a full-body experience that fuels curiosity, social interaction, and mental well-being. By engaging all five senses, daily walks help your dog explore, learn, and connect with the world in a way that’s both instinctual and joyful. We don’t just go for a walk, we embrace an adventure in multi-sensory discovery!
The Best Dog Walkers in Atlanta
Buckhead Pet Pals offers dog walking and dog sitting services, as well as cat sitting and care for other species. We proudly serve Atlanta, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Marietta, and Dunwoody.
Learn more about our onboarding process and scheduling software/app here. We welcome your questions and comments via phone at 404-303-0312 or email at office@buckheadpetpals.com. If you’d like to learn more about what it takes to work with Buckhead Pet Pals, check out our jobs page.
Existing clients, please request dog walking services here.
