Dogs and their fine noses: a phenomenon with benefits and fun

Dusseldorf. Dogs have sensitive senses. When we don't hear anything for a long time, they turn their ears and raise their heads. They are even more superior to us when it comes to smelling. Dogs are being used as support devices more and more often and in more and more areas.

A dog's nose is greatly superior to the human sense of smell: While we have around five million olfactory cells, dogs can have well over 200 million, depending on the breed and nose shape. The area of ​​the brain responsible for smelling is also much more specialized in dogs. Not only can they perceive much finer smells and nuances, but they can also determine the direction from which a smell comes. The speed and frequency with which smells can be picked up and analyzed are also many times higher than in humans.

How is dogs' sense of smell used?
When used, a “basic distinction is made between whether dogs are supposed to work out a trail, i.e. follow a track, or pick up a scent that they indicate when they recognize it,” describes Jennifer Tschipang. The dog handler has the Animal Assisted Interaction & Coaching training facility (TIC) founded and trains dogs there with the “Your Sniffer Dog” offer. For tracking or mantrailing, following the scent trail of a specific person, the animals need a reference scent to follow. All the dogs need is the few odor particles in the air or on objects after the person they are looking for has passed by. The dogs are trained to concentrate on an individual smell and to block out all other impressions. At the beginning these are small search tasks in a limited space – for tea bags, for example. Then larger search areas and additional smells are added as distractions. If the dog finds the object or person, it gets a reward. In the end, it's about finding the target even under adverse conditions and showing the dog handler important information during the search. This training usually lasts two years. The leader is also trained because he or she has to draw the necessary conclusions from the dog's behavior: humans and animals only work as a team.

Specialization in certain smells
Dogs have a good olfactory memory and can remember around 15 different smells. If they notice one of them, they react and report it to their handler. “As the scope of the tasks increases, errors can also occur. That’s why specializations definitely make sense,” says the expert. Some dogs are experts for one or a few solid smells – for example for explosives, drugs or data carriers, but also for certain living beings. Bed bug detection dogs help combat these pests. Species protection detection dogs help in construction projects to find out more quickly whether protected species still live in the relevant area. And if people are generally searched for after an avalanche or an earthquake, appropriately trained dogs can track people down even without a reference smell.

Nose work: Is every dog ​​equally suitable?
Rescue dog in the mountainsThe sense of smell is well developed in all healthy dogs because they use it to constantly inform themselves about their surroundings and communicate with other dogs using scent markings. “Depending on the breed, however, there are fluctuations that need to be further investigated. Dogs with long snouts are previously thought to have a much more pronounced sense of smell than four-legged friends with short noses. Scientists are discussing whether the far greater influence could be the varying degrees of motivation to search,” explains Tschipang. “In some fields it makes sense to look for particularly suitable breeds, for example a hunting dog like the Cocker Spaniel for hunting or an obedient, hard-working Malinois for police work. Then the training promises the greatest possible success. When it comes to independent dog handlers, such as rescue or reporting dogs, there are now many different breeds and also mixed breeds.”

Search games offer fun for dogs and owners
Every dog ​​owner can and should try out sniffer dog tasks, the expert recommends: “It is a species-appropriate activity that can strengthen the bond with the owner. And basically all dogs that are healthy and fit, regardless of their breed, are suitable for leisure activities.” For example, there are simple search games in which you first let the dog sniff the object you are looking for, then hide it and look for it lets. But you can also practice searching for people privately by hiding and finding another person. If the dog and owner enjoy it, more can develop from it. Several German clubs and associations are members of the International Rescue Dog Organization (IRO), which train for use in volunteer rescue dog teams: www​.iro​-dogs​.org. Mantrailing is now also widespread in dog sports. Those interested can search for clubs with a corresponding offer here: www​.dvg​-hun​de​sport​.de.