Why Do Dogs Like To Sniff?

Dogs experience the world through their noses. They have about 220 million scent receptors in their nose! Compared to us humans, who have about 5-6 million, they rely on their sense of smell as a way to navigate the world.

What Can Dogs Smell When Sniffing on Walks?

For dogs, sniffing can help them take in their surroundings and communicate.

Each sniff can tell them more information than you’d think, including what other dogs have been there, what they ate and even how they’re feeling.

Dogs may even be able to sense the passing of time with their noses!

The part of the brain dedicated to analysing smells called the olfactory bulb, is 40 times larger in dogs than in humans. This allows dogs to process complex layers of scent information that we can’t even detect.

Also, dogs have an organ in their nose called the Jacobson Organ. This organ specialises in detecting pheromones, which can help dogs pick up emotional cues or even the reproductive status of other dogs!

Scent & Communication

When dogs sniff, they can gather detailed information about who’s been there. They can detect the age, gender, health, and even emotional state of other dogs.

This helps dogs navigate their social environment much like humans do with verbal or visual cues!

Can Dogs Actually Smell Time?

Well, sort of, but not really. They don’t actually smell time. They can just use smells to help understand how things change throughout the day.

As smells change and dissipate throughout the day, a dog can tell how recently another animal or person was in a particular spot.

As your smell fades, through associations between smell, routine and memory, for example your dog will recognise that you will be home from work soon.

Why Dogs Love To Sniff on Walks?

A dog’s natural instincts drive them to follow scent trails.

When we let them take time to sniff on walks, they’re engaging their hunting and tracking instincts, making the walk more fulfilling and enriching.

Ten minutes of sniffing is as stimulating as 1 hour of walking.

Sniffing can actually be a relaxing and calming experience for your dog. Dogs can feel more relaxed and engaged when they are allowed to sniff and explore on walks.

Especially for fearful dogs, it can give them a good map of their surroundings.

Do Different Breeds Have Different Scent Abilities?

Not all dogs have the same power in their sense of smell.

Scent hounds like Beagles and Bloodhounds are bred specifically for their scent-tracking abilities and have even more refined senses of smell.

In contrast, other breeds, such as the Bulldog, have a less intense sense of smell due to their shorter snouts.

Why Do Dogs Sniff Each Other’s Bums?

The glands located in a dog’s bum release pheromones that release vital information about health, age and reproductive status.

So when your dog sniffs another dog’s bum, don’t be alarmed; this is their form of greeting, almost like their version of a handshake. They are gathering information about the dog they just met.

Sniffing is a vital part of a dog’s communication, and it is as important as a conversation to us humans.

That’s why at Cloud K9, we ensure every dog gets all the time they need to sniff and explore on every walk.

Are There Any Smells That Dogs Don’t Like?

There are some smells that dogs don’t like. Some owners opt to use these smells to keep their dogs away from certain things at home.

Dogs typically dislike the smell of citrus, vinegar, alcohol, cleaning products, coffee grounds, black pepper and more.

It is important to monitor how consistently your dog is exposed to these strong smells and be cautious that it doesn’t become overwhelmed.