Dogs can detect up to a trillionth of a gram of scent.
“A dog’s sense of smell is … so sensitive that (dogs can) detect the equivalent of a ½ teaspoon of sugar in an Olympic-sized swimming pool!”
(Dr. Michael T. Nappier, DVM, DABVP, the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine)
A sense that far exceeds our own....
The part of the dog’s brain dedicated to analysing smells
(the ‘olfactory bulb’) and is about 40 times greater than ours.
About 30% of their brain mass is for the detection and
identification of odours, while humans use a mere 5%.
Dogs have scent nerves and receptors in the roof of their mouth
as well in their nasal passages. They have up to 300 million,
compared to our mere 6 million!
Picture from petpooskiddoo.com
This gives dogs an almost super power,
which is just about impossible for us to comprehend.
Dogs use their sense of smell more than any other sense to navigate, understand and learn about the world.
All day and every day they will be influenced by the scents around them and every time you open the front door or go on a walk they will have a mass of new information ‘thrown’ at them.
For under socialised, anxious or reactive dogs this can make the outside world an overwhelming experience.
Pictures created using by poster my wall and freepik
Not only can they detect dogs/other animals, but people and even different vehicles and the cargo, that have passed by. This can also include activity in the past, due to the reduction of concentration of an odour.
A well socialised dog will be able to cope with all of this information and greet another dog politely by sniffing areas that release pheromones - rear, ears, mouth. This allows them to know the other dogs age, gender, health status, diet, and even whether they are scared or excited.
'How do you do, how are you today'
Image from Encyclopedia Britannica
This information is gathered due to an organ that is part of secondary olfactory system. The “Vomeronasal” or “Jacobson’s” organ, is specifically for chemical communication and can pick up on “pheromones”. Pheromones are present in sweat and other bodily fluids that are secreted from glands in the body.
A dog is pretty much continuously getting information from the surroundings, due to their nose structure. The slits in the side of a dogs nose means they can breathe and process smells at the same time.
Dogs can also smell separately with each nostril. giving them a 3-D mental picture of the world, allowing for more precise processing and locating.
This may explain why dogs sleep up to 14 hours a day,
they are mentally tired from handling all this information!
Sniffing also engages an area of the dog’s brain responsible for releasing dopamine. Dopamine is known as the ‘feel good’ hormones and can boost mood and help regulate emotional responses, allowing your dog to feel happy and calm.
Having some understanding of your dogs sense of smell,
can help you to influence behaviour in a positive manner:
Smelly treats when training offers motivation and reward, improving attention and learning.
Treats can also offer support at times of stress by adding positive emotions.
Incorporating scenting opportunities for your dog at home will fulfil a major part of their hard-wired natural behaviour and promote an overall more relaxed state.
This can be easily set up using every day items, outside or inside;
The videos have been edited, as the dogs spent about 20 minutes on the activities.
The dog in the indoor activity is elderly with reduced eye sight and hearing, but this offered no hinderance to her enjoyment or fulfilment.
You can use part of their dried food allowance or treats, and there are lots of recipes online for easy to make dogs treats, using simple ingredients.
The internet can also provide details for other activities, but always supervise your dog for safety.
A 15-minute good sniffing ‘session’ can be as tiring as a 45-minute walk.
When out on walks, always allow them time to stop and sniff for information and leave their own information.
Support and manage greetings with other dogs, allow for sniffing of rears or the ground close by. Be observant of both dogs body language and remove your dog from the situation if needed.
Be aware, your mood can affect your dog’s behaviour, as any stress or anxiety you are experiencing will cause you to release pheromones that they can detect.
In the home, strong scents in air fresheners, scented candles, essential oils or cleaning products can irritate skin or respiratory system in dogs.
Scents can also be very stressful for a dog, as they are unable to get away from them and this could then be reflected in unwanted behaviour: not settling/restlessness, barking, being 'snappy' and even destructive behaviour.
Respecting and working with your dogs scenting abilities and making some adaptions to environment,
can produce a happier, calmer dog.
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