Nose work for dogs: 5 unique jobs only a canine can do

Did you know that dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses? Humans only have 6 million. This means that dogs have a sense of smell that’s forty times better than ours. 

There are specific jobs where humans’ noses just don’t cut it. We need the particular scent sniffing powers of furry friends. 

So, what jobs require this ability? Check out these five unique jobs to learn more about nose work for dogs.

Detection dogs

Nothing gets past the nose of working dogs. Detection dogs are the ultimate detectives. These dogs can sniff out plenty of substances, such as drugs and explosives. And it doesn’t stop there — dogs can detect cancer and high blood sugar levels too!

These dogs usually work in airports, police stations, border crossings, schools, music venues, and even private residences. They make sure no one is hiding something they shouldn’t.

If you think that your business or home could benefit from one of these mystery-busting canines, have a look at these services. 

Scent lineup dogs

Imagine the scene where suspects are lined up for identification for committing a crime. However, rather than a visual identification by a human, a suspicious dog with a nose full of the criminal’s scent comes to figure out “whodunnit.”

These expertly trained dogs use the scent left on a piece of evidence and match it to suspects’ scents. During tests, dogs have scored a 95% accuracy rate. This impressive figure has led the testimony to hold up in many European court systems.

Truffle foraging dogs

Truffles have a beautiful, rich scent and are an expensive and sought-after ingredient. The mushroom is so challenging to find that rare varieties can cost more than $2,000 per pound! 

What’s the best way to locate these rare mushrooms when they are at the ideal ripeness? Bring in the sniffing superheroes — doggies! With such a good sense of smell, trained dogs can locate these prized mushrooms. 

There’s even a Truffle Dog Championship where these pups can show off their skills.

Anti-poaching dogs

Conservation of endangered species is more critical now than ever, especially with poaching on the rise. In Africa, rhinos are mainly under the threat of extinction due to poaching. However, elephants, cheetahs, and lions are targeted too. 

Dogs make up an integral part of the anti-poaching teams in countries throughout Africa. Their incredible sense of smell is used to track poachers, and their fearless courage and powerful strength assist in apprehending the criminals.

Military working dogs

If you add all of the above dog jobs (except for truffle hunting) together, what do you get? A full-rounded military dog. Dogs who work in the military perform similar duties to police dogs but usually are located in war zones and disaster areas.

Their duties in the military range from being a detector to a tracker and a scout. They also perform search and rescue duties. 

Usually, these phenomenal pups are German shepherds, Dutch shepherds, or Belgian Malinois.

The incredible impact of nose work for dogs

Seeing dogs at work is impressive. They are intelligent, capable, and brave. And the impact of nose work for dogs is undeniable. Dogs are criminal-busting, poacher-tracking, avalanche-saving heroes. And they can find truffles too!

Meet Pipit. English springer spaniel tackles big job protecting endangered birds