For the last few weeks I have been covering some basic yet very important canine needs and explaining how keeping these needs satisfied helps a dog be calmer and social.
In this last week of the canine needs series, I will discuss a dog's need to use its nose. That very large appendage located between a dog's eyes that extends anywhere from one to five inches further than ours is an incredible - no, I will use the word miraculous - series of scent receptors that are tens of thousands of times more sensitive than ours. To get an idea how powerful that is I will use the analogy of our vision. It's like what humans can see at one-third of a mile, dogs can see more than 3,000 miles away and still see it clearly. They can catch the smell of one rotten apple within two million barrels! Dogs possess up to 300 million olfactory (scent) receptors to our six million.
The part of their brain devoted to analyzing odour is 40 times larger than ours. The design of their nose is no accident. Those notches at the side help hold on to a scent. When a dog exhales, the spent air exits through the slits at the sides of their nose, which creates a swirling effect. This swirl allows them to continue taking air in through the front nasal holes and taking in odour as well. There is also a fold of tissue just inside their nostril which separates the functions of breathing for oxygen and sniffing for odour. These nasal designs allow a dog to sniff for odour continuously while breathing for oxygen at the same time. Dogs are also able to move each nostril independently and thus focus their mental energy on each nostril independently to fine tune the location of a particular scent. Almost like the eyes of a chameleon. Isn't that the coolest design ever?
No wonder my dogs hung around the kitchen on Thanksgiving. Not only could they smell the turkey, but also the yams, the carrots, onions, celery, the salt, pepper, every single one of the spices in the stuffing, the open bottle of wine, the butter, the apple pie, etc.
This incredible ability is not exclusive to hounds, which are typically associated with intense sniffability, but all dogs. If a dog has a nose, it smells its way through this world. This is also why a dog can't help itself while out on a walk - it has to stop and smell the roses or whatever is around.
Given the amazing anatomical design of their nasal cavity and the amount of brain devoted to sniffing, locating and interpreting odour, it is fair to say that smelling is probably our dogs' greatest need and the one they are given the least opportunity to express.
Most dogs get some degree of nasal satisfaction by sniffing and investigating odours on walks. But they never really use that tool to its full potential. Surprisingly, for some dogs, this can lead to behavioural issues resembling hyperactivity, impatience and lack of self control. They need to use their brain through their nose. All that scent-devoted thinking and processing of scents always calms a hyperactive dog. They develop focus and impulse control. The best way to satisfy that nasal need is through scent work.
Scent detection work includes area searching or tracking. These are two completely different ways of utilizing a dogs ability to locate, indicate and follow a scent. Now we are not talking about searching for contraband or lost people, but rather teaching the dog the same methods of detection but instead of drugs they are finding treats, or aromatics. Instead of locating lost people they locate articles of clothing. Although in some of my advanced recreational tracking classes, dogs are locating people strategically hidden in the forest. Fun!
Participating in a structured training program is the best way to teach a dog to focus its scenting ability and use its nose to its full potential. But if taking a class is not your thing you can take a few treats and hide them around your home or in the yard and let Fido follow his nose and find them at his leisure.
Regardless, giving your dog the ability to exercise its nose should be made a priority.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her via her website k9kinship.com.
