We all know that dogs have a super sense of smell. Some have 220 million or more olfactory receptors, compared to a puny 5 million for humans. But do some dog breeds and groups – such as Herding dogs, Hounds, Hunting dogs, Sporting dogs – “smell” better than others? Here are our picks of the canine best smellers.
10. Pointer
Hunters admire the Pointer for their bird-finding ability and say they have the best nose of all the pointing breeds. They have a long, deep muzzle with wide-open nostrils which they use to seek out their feathered finds, making them one of the breeds with the best sense of smell.
9. German Shorthaired Pointer
Like their cousin the Pointer, the German Shorthair has outstanding scenting and trailing ability in the field. Holding their large brown nose low, they follow ground scent intensely, unlike the Pointer, who runs with their head up. In fact, a German Shorthair named Google works in Costa Rica scenting out jaguar scat to help researchers study the species.
8. Coonhound
The various Coonhound breeds — Black and Tan, Bluetick, English, Plott, Redbone, and Treeing Walker — all have highly effective noses but different styles of scenting. Some have “hot” noses, meaning they work best on a fresh trail, while others are said to be “cold-nosed,” able to follow an old, or “cold,” trail with little trouble.
7. English Springer Spaniel
This popular sporting dog comes in two types — field-bred and show-bred. Field-type Springers are highly prized by hunters for their good nose, which is liver-colored or black with broad nostrils. Moreover, English Springers have been trained to detect such diverse odors as explosives, narcotics, fake currency, bee hives, and human remains.
6. Belgian Malinois
Commonly employed by police and military forces and as search and rescue dogs, this breed is well known for their keen sense of smell. Among the breed’s talents is the ability to sniff out explosives, prostate cancer, and cheetah scat.
5. Labrador Retriever
The Lab is the most popular breed in the United States. Besides being a great companion dog, they are best known for their fine nose. Furthermore, Labs are found working in many scent-related jobs, from arson, drug, and bomb detection to search and rescue.
4. German Shepherd
This well-known herding breed is said to have 225 million scent receptors in their nose. Certainly, one of the things they’re known for is their ability to air scent. Rather than keeping their nose to the ground, they cast about for human scent that is carried by the wind. A good German Shepherd is highly versatile, and many are employed by the police, military, and search and rescue groups.
3. Beagle
They might be one of the smallest of the hound breeds, but the Beagle has just as many scent receptors as the German Shepherd. Many of the merry little hounds follow air and ground scent. The Beagle’s scenting ability makes them popular not only with hunters but also with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which employs the dogs to detect contraband (especially food items) in airports. Beagles who have been on the job for a while have a 90 percent success rate and can recognize nearly 50 distinct odors.
2. Basset Hound
Of French origin, the Basset is built to follow a scent trail. They are low to the ground — hence their name, from the French word bas, meaning “low” — and their long, heavy ears sweep the ground, bringing scent upward to their powerful nose. The loose skin beneath their chin, known as a dewlap, helps to trap the scent, keeping it easily accessible as they work. According to the American Kennel Club, the Basset is second only to the Bloodhound in scenting ability.
1. Bloodhound
This giant hound has 300 million scent receptors — more than any other breed. They are famed for their man-trailing abilities and are so reliable their evidence is admitted in court. Bloodhounds can not only follow a scent on the ground, but they can also air scent. Like their cousin the Basset, they are built to be the perfect tracking dog, with a large, long head; a nose with large, open nostrils; long ears that sweep the scent upward from the ground; and a cape of loose skin around the head and neck to trap and retain the scent. Last but not least, the Bloodhound’s stamina and persistence make them a superior trailing dog.
Want to know more about specific dog characteristics? Visit the DogTime Dog Breed Center for more information.
