In the modern age, we often take our domestic dogs for granted. They’re usually seen as companions to keep our loved ones happy and entertained, but many breeds have long lineages that give them some pretty incredible traits – notably an amazing sense of smell.
Some breeds can pick up on a single drop of blood in an Olympic-sized pool or follow a scent trail that’s been cold for days. Their olfactory senses dwarf the feats of our own due to their unique anatomy and centuries of selective breeding.
These breeds are more than just your typical pets; they have a long history of solving crimes, saving lives, and even being advanced in science.
Bloodhound
We had to start this list with the bloodhound, which might be the most iconic sniffer among all breeds. They are the undisputed kings of canine scent tracking and have over 300 million scent receptors.
Their physiology might look strange, with their droopy skin and ears, but these play an important role in catching scents and funneling them right to their nose, which means they can pick up on scents that are days or weeks old.
They are so accurate when finding a scent that they can be used as part of evidence in court, playing a crucial role in the justice system. Bloodhounds can even be used in wildlife conservation, sniffing out endangered species by tracking their droppings and helping researchers find their populations.
Basset Hound
Basset hounds look similar to bloodhounds but can be distinguished through their wrinkled faces, long ears, and short legs. Much like the bloodhound, their physical features are all in the name of maximizing their effectiveness at catching scents.
They have over 220 million scent receptors, which means they can follow scent-trails for miles without ever losing focus and accurately folling the trail.
Their already low stature makes it easier for them to keep low to the ground, meaning their nose is naturally close to the ground as they move, making them great trackers. Basset hounds have also been used in truffle hunting, and can be trained to find rare fungi that can be worth a small fortune.
Beagle
The beagle may look like an ordinary dog, but they compete with basset hounds when it comes to their amazing scent catching abilities. They have 220 million scent receptors and have a history of working in airport and border security where their olfactory senses come in handy.
They can be trained to look out for various illegal items, including agriculture contraband, invasive species, and narcotics. Research and public accounts have also suggested that beagles may be able to detect early stages of illnesses such as cancers and diabetes in humans.
This means they could potentially save lives just through their noses, making them an incredible canine that could be the key to the future of early illness treatment.
German Shepherd
The German shepherd is one of the most iconic breeds around the world, but many probably don’t think of their noses when they think of notable features. German shepherds are praised for their intellect, versatility, and application in many different careers. Their sense of smell makes them amazing in police, military, and search-and-rescue work.
While many breeds track scents on the ground, the German shepherd are amazing “air trackers,” meaning they can pick up on changing scents just caught in the wind.
They have such a sensitive nose that they can tell the difference between identical twins just based on their smell. The breed can even be trained to detect changes in emotion like stress, fear, and changes in blood sugar, which all have scent components to them.
Bluetick Coonhound
The Bluetick Coonhound are an amazing breed capable of picking up scents that have been left cold for hours or even days. They have a lineage in nocturnal hunting, meaning their noses can pick up scents in challenging areas even in the middle of the night.
Once they’ve picked up on a scent, they make a deep, melodious bark to alert their handlers even from far away. They also have unmatched endurance, meaning they can track a scent for hours without taking a break.
Blueticks can be adopted in conservation work, where they can track shy or endangered species to even in dense forests among other scents to help researchers study vulnerable populations.
Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is a dependable breed that is used by elite military forces and police units around the world, and for good reason. They have incredible noses that are refined to the point they they’re sometimes a preferred pick over German shepherds for sniffing out explosives and narcotics.
Malinois have an intense and unyielding drive, meaning they can focus on the task they’ve been trained for in high-stress environments without hesitating.
These traits make them great for disaster zones or crowded places like airports where there are many “distraction scents.” Their speed, agility, and amazing scent receptors mean they are starting to be used in pioneering roles, such as detecting diseases in people.
Labrador Retriever
Labrador retrievers may be the most popular and recognizable dog on the planet. They are loving family pets, but most families don’t know just how incredible their domesticated labs are at picking up on scents. They are an adaptable breed that is used in everything from therapy to search-and-rescue roles, where human health and safety are the biggest priority.
They are an easy breed to train, and their gentle nature makes them ideal for sensitive roles. They can be trained to detect a number of items, such as narcotics, explosives, and even medical conditions.
Like some other breeds on this list, they can be trained to find endangered animal droppings to help monitor wildlife populations without encroachment.
German Shorthaired Pointer
The German Shorthaired pointer have a long history dating back to the 1600s where an adaptable hunting dog was needed to help hunt mammals and point birds.
They have amazing scent receptors and trailing abilities which mean they can be used to find animal dropping in habitats to help in conservation, like tracking jaguar populations in Central America.
This specialized approach to conservation lets scientists gather DNA and ecological data without having to come into contact with the animal, putting their lives unnecessarily at risk and risking the startling of the species. The future could see an increase of this technique, potentially aiding in the survival of many endangered species across the world.
English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel is an amazing breed that combines agility with a powerful nose, making them an amazing breed for detecting dangerous items in airports such as narcotics and explosives.
They have unmatched focus, meaning they can track these scents in busy and crowded places. They were originally bred to flush out game for hunters and have now been used in modern security careers.
The Springer Spaniel is a unique breed that can be used in search-and-rescue missions where a smaller stature helps them get into spaces that their handlers can’t, aiding in finding missing people under debris. They can pick up on even faint human scents after natural disasters have interfered with the trail.
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