Question about canine sense of smell

Berserker · Post by **Berserker** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:27 pm

Is it that their sense of smell is stronger, i.e. the potency of normal scents is amplified significantly, or is it just that they have a larger range of detection? Lots of comments like "garlic would kill me if I was a werewolf," etc. made me wonder about this. If it was the former, you'd think really pungent odors like garlic, etc. would drive a dog out of the room, but I haven't witnessed it.

Howlitzer · Post by **Howlitzer** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:42 pm

well, i think it's both

they can smell things we can't, but for both reasons, that is....they both have a more sensitive nose, and they have a broader range of detection...

as for garlic and other pungent odors...i suppose it's that they're used to it...but I believe it would still bother them, I have seen pets flinch at a smell before.

And what's to say dogs don't like the smell of garlic?

Aki · Post by **Aki** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:59 pm

Howlitzer wrote:..i suppose it's that they're used to it...?

Would be my guess as well. Despite all the noise in a city people do well enough. It just becomes part of the background. Same for canids and smells, I would think.

RedEye · Post by **RedEye** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:56 am

Canines have a much more developed sense of smell, and more olfactory sensors to provide that sense. In relation to humans, their sense of smell is nearly ten thousand times more keen. Smell is their primary sense, as ours is sight.
So, yes: they do have more smell-nerves than we do, and better ability to process the information they receive.

All ALLIUM plants: Garlic, leeks, onions, etc are hemotoxic to canines: they damage red blood cells. That's why Werewolves avoid Garlic; it may not kill them, but it surely will make them sick.

WereWolfBoy · Post by **WereWolfBoy** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:38 am

Indeed because garlic has a very strong mell to it and it kills me trying to cut it when im cooking with it

MoonKit · Post by **MoonKit** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:54 pm

I know that dogs can also "hold" scents better because their noses are designed so that when they breath out, the breath does not scatter the scent but it is blown down away from it.

Scott Gardener · Post by **Scott Gardener** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:24 pm

It's both stronger and with a wider spectrum. It's the equivalent of a human watching a VCR tape on a 19 inch CRT TV from the mid-1980s, while the dog is watching a Blu-Ray movie in 1080p high definition on a 50 inch plasma.

RedEye · Post by **RedEye** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:17 pm

Scott Gardener wrote:It's both stronger and with a wider spectrum. It's the equivalent of a human watching a VCR tape on a 19 inch CRT TV from the mid-1980s, while the dog is watching a Blu-Ray movie in 1080p high definition on a 50 inch plasma.

When were you at my house? Trouble is that the dog hid the remote and I can only watch my old T.V. unless I want to watch what she wants to watch.
And Fe'a only watches Animal Planet. Bummer.