Dogs have an incredible sense of smell that allows them to detect even the slightest odours in the air. Dogs perceive the world differently to us humans, they literally "see" the world with their nose.
"When they sniff, it's like they're reading a novel with their nose!"
They take in all the information in the air around them, like the title, the author, the plot, and all the characters. It's like they're gathering clues to solve a mystery or piece together a puzzle. Their nose is like a superpower, and when they start to sniff, they become unstoppable detectives on a mission to uncover the secrets of the world around them.
Dogs have over 300 million olfactory cells in their noses while we humans only have a paltry six million. Their ability to smell is so astounding that it is impossible for us to make a fair comparison between the way dogs and humans use their noses. I mean, did you know that dogs are masters of multitasking, when it comes to breathing? That's right, while us humans have to take turns breathing in and out, dogs have a special respiratory system that lets them do both at the same time! We can but marvel at this scentsational canine superpower that is the dog's nose.
Our dogs have amazing noses from birth to old age. Dogs rely on their sense of smell to track game or humans, detect cancer and other diseases, and even sniff out weak thermal radiation. A new study reveals that dogs can detect body heat through the air with an accuracy of up to 20 metres away!
From the moment they are born, a dog's nose is already fully developed and ready to sniff out the world around them. Let's take a look at how a dog's nose evolves over the course of their life, from puppyhood to old age.
Puppies
As soon as a puppy is born, they start using their noses to find their mother's milk. Whilst they are born blind, and unable to walk, their incredible noses start out as sophisticated radar systems designed to locate mum.
Puppies rely on their sense of smell to locate their mum and start nursing. From there, their sense of smell only gets better. Puppies are naturally curious and love to explore the world around them. They use their nose to sniff out new smells, both good and bad. This is also the time when puppies are known for putting everything in their mouths and this includes things they've sniffed out with their nose. In our household, anything with our scent is particularly attractive, slippers, bobble hats and gloves being the current favourites!
Adolescence
As puppies grow into adolescence, their sense of smell becomes even more powerful. This is because their nose is developing more receptors, which allows them to detect even the slightest scents. Adolescent dogs are known for being more adventurous, and their nose is a key tool in their exploration. They are also more likely to get into trouble, as their sense of smell leads them to things that we would prefer they ignored. It’s incredible that our young dogs seem able to focus on the only fox poo in a field a few football pitches long, but not on anything else!
Adulthood
By the time a dog reaches adulthood, their sense of smell is truly incredible! They are able to detect scents that are beyond human comprehension, making them valuable assets in many fields such as search and rescue, law enforcement, and even medical diagnosis. They can use their nose to detect changes in a person's body odour that can indicate a medical condition, such as cancer or diabetes. Did you know that trained canines detected Covid in 97% of symptomatic cases and nearly 100% of asymptomatic cases? The accuracy of our medically trained dogs never fails to amaze me.
Old Age
As dogs age, their sense of smell can start to decline. This is because their nose is no longer able to regenerate cells as quickly, which can lead to a loss of receptors. This can make it more difficult for them to detect certain scents, and they may become less interested in using their nose to explore. However, even in old age, a dog's nose is still far superior to ours. They are still able to detect scents that are undetectable to us, so while everything else might be slowing down for the older dog, it is important to recognise that they will still enjoy a slow, leisurely sniffy walk, and will be able to appreciate the scents around them in a way we can only imagine.
"So, what age can we start Scentwork?"
From young pups to wise old dogs, scentwork is a fun activity that can be enjoyed by all ages and stages of a canines life. Dogs of all ages can benefit from Scentwork!
For puppies, Scentwork can be introduced as early as 8-12 weeks old. As puppies love to explore with their noses, this is a great time to start! The act of sniffing actually stimulates a puppy's brain and helps with cognitive development. So fun sniffy games can lead to clever pups, I mean, how cool is that!
With pups we start with simple, fun exercises and scents, and increase the difficulty as they become more experienced. Puppies need shorter sessions than adult dogs, and of course lots of breaks to rest. Scentwork is a great way to mentally stimulate puppies without physically over-tiring them.
Adolescent dogs also benefit from Scentwork, channelling all that energy from running off chasing a scent several fields away, to working in a controlled, yet fulfilling way, enabling young dogs to express their natural desire to sniff. The caveat with younger dogs is that they might struggle with being still - so useful games to practice at home to help them learn how to be still is hand touch - moving eventually from a hand-touch to targetting, and a chin rest.
For senior dogs, Scentwork can also be a great activity to help keep them mentally sharp and engaged. However, it's important to take their physical limitations into account and adjust the exercises depending on their individual needs, so being mindful of heights - setting exercises not too high, and equally not too low. Ensuring that flooring has plenty of traction and not to slippery. Older dogs can be more thoughtful and measured in their approach, but still able to teach the youngsters a thing or two!
In conclusion, a dog's nose is truly an incredible thing. From the moment they are born, their sense of smell is fully developed and only gets better with age. Their nose is a key tool in their exploration of the world around them, and it allows them to detect scents that are beyond human comprehension. So, the next time you see a dog sniffing around, remember just how amazing their nose really is
