Have you ever opened a snack calmly and turned around to find your dog already watching you? It is not by chance. The dog has the scenting power that is much more exciting than we possibly think.
Phoenix Veterinary Center notes that we human beings have approximately 5 million scent receptors in our noses, whereas a dog could have up to 300 million. And moreover, their brain box can interpret smell 40 times better than us.
This implies that dogs can smell very slight scents and be able to break down every smell into layers, similar to us with hearing instruments in songs.
Other dogs can go an extra mile, and they not only smell the food but also the ingredients in it, whether meat, vegetables, spices, or indeed allergens such as peanuts or dairy products.
Through the years, humans managed to train these impressive noses to find lost persons, detect bombs or hazardous substances in food, or detect viral infections. In this article, you will come across seven different dog breeds that are super odor researchers on four legs.
Dog Breeds That Identify Food Ingredients by Smell
1. English Foxhound
English Foxhounds are fearless, mild-mannered canines that are bred to track the fox to hunt. They have an incredible sense of smell. The most amazing fact is that these dogs can track the scent that is old and are capable of tracking it without being distracted.
Excellent stamina and focus
Frequently used for tracking
Smell the food or scent from long distances
Determined hunting dogs can run for hours to chase; they are the ones that like outdoor adventures, as mentioned by Britannica. They are not oblivious to what is cooked; when it comes to food, they analyze it quickly.
Suppose you cook something with five ingredients; an English Foxhound will sense all of them. With the laser precision and determination of the scent tracks, be it the fox trails or the smell of something in the kitchen.
English Foxhounds are intelligent dogs; they are self-sufficient. They stay on one scent, which makes them experts at separating food smells.
2. Belgian Malinois
Belgian Malinois are often referred to as the superheroes of dogs. One of the smartest dogs, the Belgian Malinois, is also scent-focused, used in the military services, and often seen at airports. These trusting partners lead, as they have the incredible noses used for the research environments as well.
Malinois are powerful at detecting all types of explosives, finding missing people, and are even useful in tracking different types of diseases such as cancer or COVID-19. These dogs can be trained on allergens that include peanuts, gluten, and dairy products.
Smart working dog that sniffs out explosives
They can detect tiny ingredients like nuts or gluten
High accuracy and versatile breed
The smart and high-energy breed requires maintaining health with the daily stimulus, discipline, and challenges in their mind. This fearless dog needs an experienced owner.
3. Labrador Retriever
Friendly, even-tempered, and playful, Labrador Retrievers are an ideal choice of pets, especially in the US. The silly smiles hide the identity of the detection dogs in the canine world. Often work as detection dogs found in airports and public places to find illegal food, drugs, and even electronics.
They can also help in natural disasters. The Guardian mentions Frida, a Labrador who saved more than 52 lives. Labradors are also perfect for finding out the medical conditions of individuals. They have an incredible sense of smell, with which they are good at cancer detection.
Find harmful, spoiled, and food.
Great for service and therapy work
Easy to train
Their favorite thing is to eat, so they smell the food to find what’s inside it. PetMD states that Labs are a healthy breed and have the least number of health issues. Fun-loving pet most suited for the active household. Constant training with positive reinforcement can improve and influence the detection work.
4. Beagle
Small dogs with big noses, Beagles were originally bred to hunt rabbits and small game. They are often seen at US airports. Beagles are amiable and happy dogs that are trained to smell fruits, meat, and other products in the luggage of passengers. They can easily detect the strong odor and also tend to go further to find the ingredients.
Compact body, powerful nose
Great sniffers
Playful and friendly
This playful, inquisitive dog is gentle and patient with the children. The dogs can distinguish between healthy individuals and those affected by the flu, cough, or other diseases. With consistent training, they can improve detection accuracy.
5. Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell Terriers are rather small but high-spirited dogs; they are tirelessly inquisitive. Bred to hunt foxes, these small dogs have a high prey drive and an excellent sense of smell. They can even smell the slightest item of food behind furniture or under cushions.
These terriers are the ones that like digging, exploring new places, and staying there to sniff. The American Kennel Club states that Russell Terriers are alert and lively; they are confident companions that are eager to work.
Bred to be hunters, they possess sharp noses
Determined and curious
They have a higher accuracy rate in tracking and detecting substances as compared to the technology functions. These tiny birds are determined to find the scent. All of these factors indicate that these pups not only build strong relationships but also are dogs with a sense of science.
6. Doberman Pinscher
You can find Dobermans by their sleek bodies, loyal nature, and guarding traits. The highly intelligent breed has good scenting ability, with which they can participate in scent-related or sniffing activities.
Commonly used by law enforcement forces, they are ideal for search and rescue work. Well-trained breeds give signals to their handlers after detecting the prohibited item. It is suitable for them to enhance their performance through effective training strategies.
Strong and very protective
Trained for specific scent detection
Bonds closely with family
They are not only safety providers but also help in the tracking process. Dobermans thrive when they have a strong bond with their trainer. They are quick learners who enjoy the time with their people. They get attached to their family and are highly loyal to them.
7. Bloodhound
Bloodhounds have powerful noses and are so overwhelming that their tracking evidence is even admissible in courts. Bloodhounds can follow old scent paths to track missing people or escaped prisoners.
Their powerful noses can detect scents that are 1000 times better than humans. Unexpectedly good scent work is due to the powerful lungs and breath; they are the combination of strength, sensitivity, and smartness.
There’s truly no match for Bloodhound when it comes to tracking scents. With those long, droopy ears sweeping the ground and that powerful nose leading the way, their whole body seems built for the job, and it shows in every trail they follow.
Super scent detection dogs
They can detect the old scent trails
Determined, patient, and focused
The research indicates that the dogs can diagnose diabetes and other crucial diseases with the power of scent. These detection dogs are adapted to the life of their owners, which makes them ideal pets. With their mild, tolerant, and gentle nature, Bloodhounds are also good at smelling the origin of food.
Conclusion
It is not that the dogs smell more than we do; they take a breath with depth to detect the substances. The research shows that dogs have the tendency to detect the metabolic change and volatile organic compounds released by cancer cells.
These canines on four legs are still a better option than technology, as these detection dogs are used to smelling specific foods and have olfactory abilities.
They not only create a strong relationship with the owners and families, but they also maintain it with trust and affection. It is essential to train the detection dogs with positive reinforcement to enhance their performance in multiple fields.
