Secrets of a dog’s nose
A dog’s sense of smell is much more sensitive than that of humans. To see the difference, let us look at the numbers. Humans have about 5 million olfactory receptor cells spread over the area of 5–7 cm2 of olfactory epithelium. A domestic dog has from 70 to 230 million cells on the area of about 150–170 cm2, depending on the breed. A domestic cat has from 60 to 65 million cells. The olfactory bulb in dogs has up to 40 times more surface area than in humans [1,2,3]. Since we, humans with only 5 million cells, can smell so many scents, how is it with dogs?
The sensitivity of the sense of smell in dogs is used, inter alia, in osmology (a branch of forensic technology dealing with securing, storing, and examining human scent traces with the use of specially trained dogs) and in detecting traces of drugs or explosive substances. Dog noses also have a great predisposition to detect diseases, such as prostate cancer [1], melanoma [2], lung cancer [3], epileptic seizures, and hypoglycaemia [4,5].
Sniffing
Another property of the dog’s nose is its adaptation to sniffing. Breathing and sniffing separate into two distinct pathways. This means that dogs are able to keep scent in their nose even while breathing. When they exhale, the way they expel air through the slits of their nose enables them to capture new scent molecules and detect more substances during sniffing. During inhalation, the air passes through the upper part of the nasal cavity reaching a special porous bone structure, which deposits and accumulates scent molecules, preventing them from being blown out during exhalation. During exhalation, air travels through the lower part of the nasal cavity [12,13,14]. Interestingly, dogs use each nostril separately for smelling, transmitting information to separate hemispheres (left nostril corresponds to the left hemisphere, and right one – to the right hemisphere). The smell of food and other pleasant and affiliative scents are inhaled with the left side, while the smells of danger (adrenaline, vet odour) and new, unfamiliar substances are inhaled with the right side [7].
Olfactory coding
Olfactory coding is a process whereby information about olfactory stimuli is coded. It refers to all cognitive processes involved in the perception and recognition of a scent, and the formation of negative or positive emotions. From the human point of view, the latter, occurring in the amygdala in the brain, plays a crucial role: owners, trainers, or behaviourists can use scents in everyday life – in therapy, at work, playing, and resting.
Therapeutic scent
Olfactory training is a strong physical and mental effort for your dog. It is an extremely important therapeutic tool with a variety of uses. It can be used in hyperactive dogs, dogs with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety disorders, or simply to fight against boredom. You can use traditional forms: tracking, tracing, or a free play and fun, such as “hide & seek” (hide a treat or toy and let your dog seek it), or use scents in a number of other ways. Research has shown that dogs respond very well to the smell of lavender. It has a soothing effect on them. An experiment investigating the effects of lavender on dogs’ travel behaviour found that dogs spend significantly more time resting and sitting and less time moving and vocalising [15]. Another study conducted on dogs at a shelter has shown that they become calmer when the scent of lavender or camomile spread in their environment. Furthermore, the less frequent vocalisation was observed. By contrast, peppermint and rosemary had a stimulating effect on dogs [16].
Classical conditioning
You can use this knowledge in everyday life. For example, you can sprinkle your dog’s bed with lavender oil or combine oil massage with relaxation training using classical conditioning. Lavender oil is used as the conditioned stimulus while relaxation massage serves as the unconditioned stimulus. After a few sessions, the scent of lavender will become associated with relaxation, producing the conditioned response of relaxation in your dog. Let us recall how we know it. The experiment conducted by Russian scientist, Ivan Pavlov, measured the intensity of dogs’ salivation. In the first stage, he gave the dogs food causing salivation, a normal physiological reaction. Food was the unconditioned stimulus causing the unconditioned response: salivation. In the second stage, he rang a bell before he gave food. After a number of repeats, it turned out that the dog salivated at the sound of the bell alone, i.e. an initially inert stimulus (the conditioned stimulus). The conditioned stimulus (the bell) became associated with the unconditioned response (salivation). We can use this knowledge in relaxation training: we can make the scent of lavender (in place of the bell) become associated with a relaxed state (in place of salivation).
The knowledge of scents can also be used for grooming. As you know, most dogs do not like bathing. If you choose unscented products or products with lavender, you will not cause any additional stress to your dog. If you use lavender, you can even reduce stress.
Scents are also helpful if you want to discourage your dog from certain behaviours. For this purpose, preparations with a strong citrus note, commonly known to be very unpleasant for dogs, are typically used.
Olfactory communication
From the scientific point of view, smell is a key sense for dogs, indispensable in social contacts. They use smell as a primary means of communication, i.e. for exchange of information within the species. If you try hard to hide your dog’s smell with another smell, intense and pleasant to you, you may make your dog feel less comfortable. Dogs having an odour they do not like will try at all costs to get rid of it, for example by rolling themselves in another scent, the one which is more pleasant for them (and not necessarily for human). Therefore, when grooming your dog at home, remember to use unscented cosmetics or those with lavender if you want to provide a sense of emotional comfort for them.
Due to the huge differences in olfactory perception between macrosmatic animals (i.e. with an exceptionally well-developed sense of smell, such as dogs and cats) and microsmatic animals (with insignificant role of smell, such as humans), what you find pleasant can be a nightmare for your dog’s nose. Having this knowledge, you can consciously decide what scents you want to surround your dog to influence its welfare and well-being [17].
Agata Maria Kokocińska – Kusiak
etolog, zoopsycholog, trener zwierząt
- Cornu JN, Cancel-Tassin G., Ondetb V., Girardetc C., Cussenota O., Prostate Cancer Olfactory Detection of Prostate Cancer by Dogs Sniffing Urine: A Step Forward in Early Diagnosis. European Urology, February 2011, Volume 59, Issue 2, Pages 197–201 Platinum Priority
- Pickel D, Manucy GP, Walker DB, Hall SB, Walker JC, Evidence for canine olfactory detection of melanoma. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2004, 89, 107–116
- Can trained sniffer dogs detect cancer in humans? Tadeusz Jezierski*, Marta Walczak, Aleksandra Górecka
- Canine scent detection of human cancers: A review of methods and accuracy. Emily Mosera, Michael McCulloch, Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2010) 5, 145-152
- Dogs As a Diagnostic Tool for Ill Health in Humans, Wells, Deborah L, PhD. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine; Aliso Viejo18.2 (Mar/Apr 2012): 12-7.
- Marchlewska- Koj, A., Feromony ssaków – ich rola w fizjologii zachowaniu., Kraków 2011
- Siniscalchi M., Olfaction and the canine brain [w:] Canine Olfaction Science and Law. Advances in forensic science, medicine, conservation and environmental remeditation. Edited by Jezierski T., Ensminger J., Papet L.E.,
- Barton R.A. Embodied cognitive evolution and the cerebellum. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2012 Aug 5; 367(1599): 2097–2107.
- Jia H., Pustovyy O.E., Waggoner P., Beyers R.J., Schumacher J., Wildey Ch., Barrett J., Morrison E., Salibi N., Denney T.S., Vodyanoy V.J., Deshpande G., Functional MRI of the Olfactory System in Conscious Dogs. Plos/ONE, 9(1),
- Doucette W., Milder J., Restrepo D., Adrenergic modulation of olfactory bulb circuitry affects odor discrimination. Learn Mem. 2007 Aug 3;14(8):539-47. Print 2007 Aug.
- Beaver Bonnie V., Canine behavior: insights and answers, Elsevier Health Sciences, 2009
- Tajemnice Psiego umysłu. Stanely Coren, 2005
- Oczami Psa. Alexandra Horowitz, 2013
- Why Do Dogs Have Such a Great Sense of Smell? Ashwinscienceabc.com, dostęp: 1.09.2017,
- Wells DL. Aromatherapy for travel-induced excitement in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006 Sep 15;229(6):964-7.
- Graham L., Wells D.L., Hepper P.G., the influence of olfactory stimulation on the behaviour of dogs housed in a rescue shelter. Applied Animal Behaviour Science Volume 91, Issues 1–2, May 2005, Pages 143-153
- Olfaction in animal behaviour and welfare. B.L. Nilsen. 2017