Dogs have such a developed sense of smell because they have approximately 220 million olfactory cells in their noses, which is 40 times more than humans. Additionally, the part of their brain dedicated to processing olfactory information is larger than in humans, allowing them to detect and identify a wide variety of smells with precision.
The dog's nose has up to 300 million olfactory cells, compared to only about 5 million in humans. Its nasal cavity has a very large surface area lined with mucosa, increasing contact with odor molecules. Thanks to their complex nasal turbinates, the inhaled air is divided into two distinct currents, one for breathing and the other specifically dedicated to smell. In dogs, the Jacobson's organ, located in the palate, detects chemical signals that are undetectable to us, such as pheromones. These anatomical specificities explain why Fido can precisely perceive scents that completely escape us.
In the ancestors of domestic dogs, an ultra-developed sense of smell allowed them to locate prey or detect predators long before they became visible. It was a true superpower for hunting and survival. An effective nose also helped to easily find food or water, which could make the difference between continuing to live or dying of hunger. Individuals with the best noses thus had a significantly higher chance of surviving and passing on their genes to their offspring. Over time, this created natural selection favoring dogs with hyper-efficient noses, which explains the irresistible scent of barbecue detected by your dog from several hundred meters away while you haven't noticed anything yet.
In dogs, the area of the brain that processes smells is particularly large compared to the total size of the brain. Their olfactory bulb, a brain structure that receives odor signals, is about 40 times more developed in proportion than that of humans. It's no wonder that our four-legged companions identify ultra-subtle scents. The canine brain accurately analyzes each odor molecule to recognize, categorize, and even store a "library" of smells. This advanced processing allows dogs to distinguish every olfactory detail of their environment, somewhat like a mental map of smells that precisely indicates what is happening around them. Their ability to memorize scents is also phenomenal: they easily recognize a specific odor even after a long time. That's why Fido knows exactly where his favorite treats are hidden, even when you think you're being clever.
For dogs, smells primarily serve to express precise and direct social messages. For example, a dog releases pheromones in its urine to clearly tell others, "this territory is my space." Similarly, when a dog intensely sniffs a pole, it is analyzing the information left by passing peers: age, sex, mood, a whole olfactory dialogue. The glands located under the paw pads or near the anus also secrete unique odor substances for each individual, a sort of invisible business card explained by a scent. This system allows dogs to avoid many direct conflicts: the information is communicated clearly, without even having to cross paths.
Thanks to their extraordinary sense of smell, dogs play an essential role in several specialized professions. They are often trained to detect specific substances such as explosives, drugs, or even diseases in humans, like certain types of cancers or epilepsy. In search and rescue teams, they can find missing persons or those buried under rubble in record time, saving many lives. Some dogs also work in detecting banknotes, food smuggling, or in the fight against poaching. Their infallible noses have become a valuable and irreplaceable tool for many professions.
A dog has about 220 million olfactory receptors, which is nearly 50 times more than a human, who has around 5 million! This allows dogs to detect certain scents up to 100,000 times better than we can.
Each nostril of a dog can operate independently of the other, allowing it to analyze the location of a scent very precisely. It's as if it perceives smells in "stereo"!
The moist nose of dogs helps capture odor-bearing particles in the air more easily, thus facilitating their identification and analysis by the body.
Some specially trained dogs are capable of detecting diseases such as diabetes, certain cancers, or even impending epileptic seizures thanks to their extremely sharp sense of smell!
Among the dogs known for their particularly developed sense of smell are the Bloodhound, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Beagle, and Basset Hound. These breeds are commonly used for tasks requiring a keen sense of smell, such as in the detection of drugs, explosives, or in the context of rescuing missing persons.
Dogs sniff quickly to increase the airflow in their nasal cavities, allowing them to better distinguish smells. Each rapid sniff enables the inhaled air to flow efficiently through the olfactory cells, thereby enhancing the accuracy and sensitivity of their sense of smell.
Yes, a dog can lose its sense of smell partially or totally, for example, due to a disease, a severe nasal infection, an injury to the nose, or simply due to aging. A visit to the veterinarian is recommended in case of a sudden or unexplained decrease in this ability.
Although it depends on the type of scent and the surrounding conditions, dogs can generally detect specific odors from several hundred meters away, and sometimes even up to a kilometer. Their sense of smell is about 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than that of humans.
Some specially trained dogs can detect human diseases such as cancers, seizures, or blood sugar fluctuations in diabetics. This is made possible by their extremely developed sense of smell, which can identify extremely subtle changes in the human scent profile.
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