Medium to large-sized dogs are used in search/rescue, hunting, etc. becaue of their uncanny ability to sniff out stuff. But what about smaller dogs like chihuahuas, pugs, etc. whose noses are not as big as other dogs? Do they still have that same ability to sniff out smells that we humans can't pick up on?
2006-09-15 07:20:51 · 4 answers · asked by chrstnwrtr 7 in Pets ➔ Dogs
it's not the SIZE of the dog or of the dog's nose that matters, it's the purpose of the breed. beagles are small and have great noses - because they were bred to be trackers. You can usually tell a sniffing dog by long droopy ears - like blood hounds, basset hounds, etc. Those long ears stir up the dust and dirt, exposing more scents for the dog to sniff.
I would imagine any dog has better smell capacity than a human, but dogs like chihuahuas and pugs were bred purely for cosmetic reasons. They weren't bred for their superior scent ability, so they wouldn't have developed a better nose than dogs who WERE bred to sniff. And on top of that, they don't have the demeanor to be good working or hunting dogs.
2006-09-15 07:26:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they can smell things that humans can not smell. If you get a dog with a pushed in face, such as pug, bulldogs, etc. they might have a harder time. Good luck.
2006-09-15 14:24:42 · answer #2 · answered by venus 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, actually Dachsund's were once used for hunting dogs for their smelling ability and being able to get in where the bigger dogs could not.
2006-09-15 15:15:12 · answer #3 · answered by dirtytara 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try hiding a smelly treat from my shih tzu. He'll find it before you even realize he's looking for it.
2006-09-15 16:09:34 · answer #4 · answered by preacher55 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋