What terrifies drug smugglers the most at the airports? Well, no, it’s not the uniformed officers or the X-ray machines, it’s the sniffing dogs with the police! The sniffer dogs don’t wear a badge (mostly), but they surely have a nose that can send these smugglers to prison for the rest of their lives.
Some dog breeds are normal creatures, while others are phenomenal when it comes to sniffing. They have exceptional noses, and they know how to use them to their advantage. Some dogs are so good at it that they will even help you find a sock you lost a week ago!
They work as phenomenal hunting dogs, exceptional police dogs, and a great resource for the search and rescue teams as detection dogs. Their keen sense of smell sets them apart from other dogs, making them a great choice for drug detection and even detecting diseases.
So, what’s the wait? Let’s hop on and check out some top sniffing breeds of the dog world who are the ultimate heroes of finding the lost socks.
9 Best Sniffing Dog Breeds
1. Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is not just a super star in terms of its looks, it can also smell crime a mile away!
Its superpower? It has 220 million scent receptors, which don’t let even a fragment of scent pass away without it getting a hint of it.
The fragment of smell couldn’t be minute, the dog will still be able to notice it!
The Belgian Malinois can outperform other breeds in scent detection speed, precision, and even endurance. With all these characteristics, wouldn’t you call it the Tom Cruise from Mission: Impossible?
Historica Tidbbid: Belgian Malinois named Cairo was a prominent part of the SEAL Team 6 that raided Osama bin Laden’s compound in 2011, as claimed by The New Yorker.
2. Bloodhound
Well, you may think your Bloodhound is a lazy creature who always thinks about taking a nap, but it’s not true.
These dogs are excellent sniffers.
Thanks to their 300 million scent receptors, as PDSA claims, they are great at sniffing out everything from a piece of pasta that fell under the cabinet while you were tossing the pan to the dirty sock your kid hid behind the cupboard.
They are so good at it, even AKC claims they are some of the best sniffers in the dog world.
These dogs are built for the purpose of sniffing out lost things! Their super-long ears are not just there to make them appear adorable; rather, they drag scent particles to their nose and keep them intact till the dog reaches the source of the smell.
3. Basset Hound
If you’re already too impressed by the tracking abilities of a Bloodhound, let me introduce you to the Basset Hound, a dog with sad eyes but an exceptional sense of smell. They also make loyal companions.
They are capable enough to sniff out a smell and track the source of it on the toughest terrain and in the most accurate manner possible, complemented by their 220 million scent receptors.
AKC mentions they have short legs, but have you ever thought what the use of their tiny legs? They keep them close to the ground and collect the scent. Their floppy ears further help the nose get the scent particles.
A combination of an outstanding sense of smell and low-slung bodies makes them a great choice for search and rescue missions.
Bassets are high on scent intelligence, Britannica praises. They can distinguish between two sources of smell, no matter how closely they resemble.
4. Beagle
If you have a Beagle in the house, you’ll notice it constantly wags its tail!
For that reason, you may be inclined towards not taking it too seriously!
Well, if you think this is just another nonchalant, fun pet, you’re wrong. Beagles have as many as 225 million scent receptors, making them some of the most incredible sniffing dogs out there.
This dog can easily detect illegal food, plants, and other contraband items in airports. I am sure a criminal hates no one more than he hates a Beagle.
Actually, they are scent hounds! Their ability to smell so well stems from their breeding. They are phenomenal at small game hunting.
The only issues that you may encounter owing to this dog’s sense of smell would arise during training. The dog can easily be distracted by a smell, and this may delay the training process.
5. English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniels are hardcore workers. They have strong working ethics and would do absolutely any given task with great dedication and commitment.
They also have strong smelling senses and the ability to showcase phenomenal performance in scent-based roles.
Most commonly, they are used to detect drugs, explosives, and even certain medical conditions. For explosives detection, they are phenomenal.
At home, they are loyal dogs that would love to play with your kids and have a good time.
6. Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels have keen noses that make them some of the best scent detectors out there.
They are high on intelligence, which augments their detection accuracy. They can easily distinguish between the two kinds of scent trails, no matter how much they resemble each other. This is mainly owing to their olfactory system, which is highly developed.
They are of a smaller size and have great agility, which makes them phenomenal for various tasks involving speed. With their natural drive to track and follow scents, they are rightfully used for detection tasks in high-profile missions.
7. Labrador Retriever
Labs are great sniffers! They utilise their nose to dig out the hidden odours, and then alert you when the odours are detected. They come on top of the best dog breeds for wildlife detection.
Used as hunting dogs and search and rescue dogs, they have been known to detect drugs and prey with great accuracy.
They are so good at detecting that even cancer cells don’t get spared from them. A difficult cancer diagnosis that even doctors are unable to make, this dog does it accurately and fast.
8. German Shepherd
With a powerful sense of smell and high trainability, the German Shepherd is an excellent choice for various tasks, including law enforcement, search and recovery, and even corpse detection. Initial training is effortless, as the dog is not only intelligent but also eager to learn new skills.
For bomb sniffing and detecting, there is no canine better than this one.
This dog has a great work ethic and performs exceptionally well even in high-stress situations. This is the primary reason it is the main choice of police and military for detecting explosives. With its 225 million scent receptors, give this dog some drug samples and it would distinguish between them easily.
Despite being a fabulous drug detector, this dog is a great choice for your family life as well. It would add a lot of love and happiness to your home, turning into your kids’ best furry friend.
9. Bluetick Coonhound
The Bluetick Coonhound has a cold nose. Well, that doesn’t refer to the temperature of the nose! Rather, the dog can detect and sniff out smells even if the scent is days old! The dog, using its exceptional olfactory senses, will still be able to follow trails and locate game effectively.
They are known to detect scents that have lingered for extended periods, which lets them track scents over vast areas. This way, tracking prey gets easy for them, and they can even hunt badgers at long distances.
They were originally bred to hunt raccoons.
These Coonhounds have great stamina and are built for endurance, which is why they are the first choice for hunters going for hunting games on difficult terrains.
Conclusion
Some dogs sniff and are really blessed with an acute sense of smell, and are known for their phenomenal olfactory receptors. With proper training, they perform well at detection work and are a good asset for the police forces.
For complex tasks in the outdoor spaces, they perform with high accuracy and great precision. Their strong sense of smell sets them apart from other dog breeds and makes them valuable in search and rescue operations.
