The nose of a dog is amazing. As a matter of fact, olfaction (the process of smelling) is the dog’s primary sense. We mere humans will never understand how dogs perceive and interpret smells. The dog’s sense of smell is one thousand times more sensitive than our own. While we have 5 million olfactory receptors in our nose, the dog has over 220 million! It boggles the mind!
So be patient with your dog when you’re on walks with him. He is experiencing what you or I can’t even imagine, and he’s using mental energy in the process. Dogs need mental exercise, too! Let him enjoy the aromas, but keep an eye on what he’s sniffing, too. Keep your dog away from feces of all species, especially the canine variety. Certain worms and contagious diseases such as Parvo could be lurking in that poop. Also, watch out for other objects that your dog may want to pick up that would be better off staying out of his mouth. But do let him sniff. It’s what dogs do!
Here’s a poem from a pocket-sized book entitled I Could Chew on This And Other Poems By Dogs. It was given to me as a gift, and I probably would have missed it otherwise. It is an enjoyable read that gets us humans thinking about the way dogs view the world. Can You Smell That? is one of my favorites from the book.
by Francesco MarciulianoI smell the air
I smell the dew
I smell that rock
I smell your shoe
I smell the leaves
I smell a slug
I smell the dirt
I inhale a bug
I smell the grass
I smell the grass
I smell each and every
Blade of grass
I smell a butt
Oh hey, it’s Lou!
I smell frustration
Oh hey, that’s you!
I sniff, I snort, I even snuff
And with every scent my nose does sing
But you say quite sharply
It’s been two hours
So let’s smell what the next foot
Of our walk does bring
By Helen Verte
Dog and Puppy Trainer Fort Lauderdale Broward County
