Amazing how it only takes seconds for your dog to destroy the piles of leaves you raked for hours to create. I bet you don’t know that your buddy isn’t simply being naughty but rather tuning into their inner instincts.
While you may think a leaf pile is proof of your hard work, it’s really a treasure chest of crunchy scent-filled messages. A leaf retains the traces of soil, insects, birds, and animals that it came across during its journey to be raked.
Why Piles of Leaves Are Irresistible to Dogs?
A dog’s nose can detect scents up to 100,000 times better than humans. That means while your leaf pile is a badge of honor for your raking hours, it’s a page-turning novel for your pup. Every leaf and every sniff reveals a story to your buddy.
Even if your dog couldn’t smell all those stories, there would still be an instinct to jump into your pile. The rustling sounds of your freshly raked leaves are similar to the noises small prey, like mice, squirrels, chipmunks, and even lizards, make as they scurry across the ground. It’s those little sounds your leaf pile makes that can trigger your dog’s instinct to chase and dig.
In other words, it’s the sound of the leaves that activates your buddy’s hunting and problem-solving mode. My dog, Henry, never met a leaf he didn’t want to chase. It’s his own curiosity-driven instinct game of chase.
When you add the crunchy texture to the smell, chase, and dig instincts, your perfectly raked pile of leaves is doomed to be a festive explosion of fun for your dog. It’s almost as irresistible as Lucy pulling away the football from Charlie Brown.
🍁🐾 Added Leaf Pile Fun: Try hiding a smelly treat or toy at the bottom of the pile and let your buddy enjoy digging for it.
Your dog may even find hiding in your pile comforting. Many pups love the warm, crunchy blanket on a cold fall day. Think of your leaf pile as your dog’s comfy fall fort. But remember that if your pile sits very long, it can attract pests like spiders.
🍁🐾 Fun Leaf Pile Fact: Wild animals such as foxes, raccoons, skunks, hedgehogs, bunnies, and wolves have been known to play in leaf piles. Even cats love exploring piles of leaves. The behavior is instinctual based on the warmth, scents, and curiosity.
The next time your pup leaps into your artfully piled fall leaves, let your buddy have a fun time. It’s a great exercise, adds mental stimulation, and it’s hysterical to watch, and who can’t use a good laugh, right?
