playing

Question
My healty and not overweight 6 year old golden lab was born to sniff.  It is frustrating when I am throwing a frisbee or ball in the park and she will play 2-3 rounds, but then lose interest (even tho I have small treats on random returns with the toy)and would rather sniff all around.  (She also likes to relieve herself even though we "took care of that" before playing). She is a very well-trained dog;  So I wonder if she's being naughty ignoring what I want her to do, or if she just can't help it that she's a born sniffer.  I see other dogs pay attention to the frisbee game - why can't she?

Answer
I get sick of my 11 year old Lab sometimes when we go for a walk.  She has to sniff all the the places males have marked and leave her own message.  This is a dog that was spayed 10 years ago and worked as a dog guide most of the time since until she retired.  She knows she is not working now, and thinks she can do as she pleases.  Is your dog dominate around other dogs, maybe mounting them or other signs?  I don't have much of an answer, but some dogs just seem very interested in reading the signs other dogs leave behind.  Much of my experience is with younger dogs.  I am trying to decide if this is something dogs become more and more obsessed with as they age.