How activating the SEEKING system supports confidence, curiosity, and emotional resilience

If you’ve ever watched your dog completely absorbed in following a scent trail, snuffling under leaves, or carefully investigating a patch of grass, you’ve witnessed something special in action: the SEEKING system at work.

This is more than just enrichment or something dogs “like to do”, it’s a fundamental emotional system that shapes the way dogs experience the world.

The Neuroscience Behind Sniffing and Searching

The SEEKING system is one of the core emotional systems identified by neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp. Found in all mammals, it’s responsible for feelings of motivation, curiosity, and anticipation. It encourages dogs to explore their environment, follow scent trails, and interact with the world around them in purposeful, engaging ways.

SEEKING is energised by curiosity and the anticipation of discovery. Dogs engage in these behaviours not just for external rewards, but because the act of exploring itself feels valuable. Whether they’re following a trail or investigating something new, SEEKING helps them interact with the world in a way that’s emotionally engaging and internally rewarding.

When a dog is engaged in SEEKING, you’ll often see:

exploratory body language
sniffing with purpose or repeated checks of the same area
tail movement that reflects interest without stiffness or tension
micro-pauses followed by renewed interest

These signs tell us the dog is curious, absorbed, and emotionally safe enough to explore.

Why It Matters for Anxious, Frustrated, or Shut-Down Dogs

For dogs who are fearful, anxious, or recovering from a stressful experience, the SEEKING system can offer a bridge back into the world. It’s not a fix or a shortcut, but it is a doorway. And when approached with sensitivity, it can reignite curiosity in dogs who’ve learned to shut the world out.

Engaging the SEEKING system supports:

Confidence: Dogs build emotional resilience when they’re given the opportunity to problem-solve and explore without pressure.
Focus: Sniffing helps shift dogs from scanning for threat to exploring their environment.
Autonomy: When dogs lead the activity, they regain a sense of agency in their environment.
Nervous system regulation: Activating the SEEKING system through sniffing and foraging may inhibit the expression of defensive emotional circuits, helping dogs engage more fully with their environment.

In contrast, when SEEKING is suppressed, through restriction, fear, or lack of opportunity, dogs may appear disconnected, disinterested, or reactive. The world becomes something to avoid or endure, rather than something to engage with. Supporting this system helps flip that narrative.

Simple Ways to Support the SEEKING System

You don’t need fancy toys or expensive set-ups. Often, it’s the small, natural, and thoughtful experiences that make the biggest difference.

Here are a few ways to offer SEEKING-based opportunities in your dog’s everyday life:

🔸 The Pause & Sniff Walk

Slow your walk right down and invite your dog to lead. Follow their nose. Stop when they stop. Sniffing is the activity.

🔸 Natural Object Discovery

Pick up a safe, interesting item on a walk, a dry leaf, a feather, or a piece of bark. Later, invite your dog to explore it indoors. If you’re concerned about chewing or ingestion, pop the object into a hessian sack or pillowcase. Your dog can safely investigate the scent without direct access.

🔸 Watch the World

Sit together near an open window or on the doorstep. Invite your dog to watch, listen, and sniff the air. No prompts, no praise, no distractions. Just quiet observation.

🔸 ACE Free Work

Set up a selection of ACE Free Work stations and invite your dog to choose, explore, and process in their own way and at their own pace. Free Work naturally activates the SEEKING system, supporting curiosity and emotional wellbeing.

It’s Not About Performance

None of these activities are about outcomes. They’re not about “doing well” or “getting it right.” They’re about supporting your dog to explore the world in ways that feel safe and meaningful to them.

Offering opportunities to sniff, search, and forage communicates something important:

You’re safe enough to be curious here.
There’s no pressure to perform.
You get to choose.

That message can be life-changing, especially for dogs who’ve spent a long time bracing themselves for what might come next.

Want to Go Deeper?

This month in The Confident Canine Hub, we’re exploring the SEEKING system through our brand-new Scent Quest. You’ll find a full set of scent-based activity ideas, insights into the neuroscience behind them, and ways to tailor everything to your dog’s individual needs.

If you’re already a member, you’ll find Scent Quest waiting for you. And if you’re not, we’d love to invite you in.