08/04/2025
DO YOU KNOWS ABOUT MY NOSE?
Dogs largely perceive and interpret the world through their sense of smell, which is their strongest sense.
Their sense of smell can be powerful enough to detect substances at concentrations of one part per trillion—a single drop of liquid in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Just like every person has a unique fingerprint, each dog has their own unique nose print made up of ridges and bumps that create a unique pattern.
While all dog breeds have an excellent sense of smell, brachycephalic dogs – breeds that have a short muzzle and a flat or snub-nosed face like Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boxers, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Shih Tzus etc. have been found to have the least sensitivity to scent compared to non-brachycephalic breeds
The Bloodhound and other hound breeds are thought to have the best sense of smell. Their long ears carry scents upwards from the ground and the loose skin around their head and neck trap and retain scents, which makes them excellent tracking dogs.
Providing different types of scent enrichment has huge benefits for any breed of dog, especially as it’s such a natural behaviour.
Scent games, sniffing walks, a new environment or area to explore are all simple ways to provide enrichment.
Scenting has been shown to decrease heart rate, lower blood pressure, build self-confidence, decrease stress and anxiety and help dogs feel more positive and optimistic.
Here are some links for simple scent games to play with your dog -
Indoor Scent Games for Dogs:
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/indoor-scent-games-for-dogs/
A YouTube Video from K9 of Mine - 6 Nosework Games for Dogs - easy, simple scentwork
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTYZ_cenuWw
