All content is for informational purposes only. Originating from Belgium, this powerful dog’s original role was to hunt wild boars and deer. They are also great guard dogs who are not afraid to defend their packs. But just because a dog breed has a reputation for being a skilled sniffer, it does not therefore mean that their dog sense of smell is unparalleled. This well-known herding breed is said to have 225 million scent receptors in his nose. The various Coonhound breeds — Black and Tan, Bluetick, English, Plott, Redbone, and Treeing Walker — all have highly effective noses but different styles of scenting. They can sense them easily and then freeze in place in order to indicate the location of the prey. It belongs to the group of gun dogs and pointing breeds. Besides being a great companion dog, he is best known for his fine nose. The breed of dog that is believed to have the best sense of smell is the blood hound. The Basset Hound is a dog breed of medium size that originates from Great Britain and France. Here's why that is. A good German Shepherd is highly versatile, and many are employed by the police, military, and search and rescue groups. He has very powerful and long legs that enable him to run fast and jump high. As for their keen sense of smell, they are the most famous for detecting explosives and drugs, which has earned them a special place in military and police. Beagles have been trained to detect over 50 different scents. The English Springer Spaniel is a dog breed of medium size that originated in England. They are also popular dogs for detecting food items. This breed is renowned for being very protective of family members, especially children. The Bloodhound is one of the oldest dogs that hunt by scent. Compare this to dogs who also have a good sense of smell, but canines depend more on their eyesight than pigs do to help them source objects. Basset Hound. However, most dogs love their masters 100 times more than their masters love them. Of French origin, the Basset is built to follow a scent trail. They are also alert and hard-working and they are more used as working dogs than companions. Scottish Terrier. All rights reserved. It is interesting to note that the ancestors of this breed were used in Ancient Greece and Rome as hunting dogs. Bloodhounds takes the top spot for most people’s votes in choosing which dog has the best sense of smell. The “Scottie” dog is recognizable to almost everyone. But do some dog breeds and groups — such as Herding dogs, Hounds, Hunting dogs, Sporting dogs — “smell” better than others? Their original roles was to herd and guard sheep, but ever since then they have been used by the police force, as guard dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, even by military and as disability assistants. One of the things he’s known for is his ability to air-scent. In appearance, the Belgian Shepherd is very similar to the German Shepherd but has a more distinctive and longer muzzle and leaner physique. However, there are some breeds that are better than the others and most of them are used for specific roles. This breed belongs to the shepherd category of dogs which means that its original role was to herd and guard cattle. Dogs interpret the world through their nose, as compared to huma… Field-type Springers are highly prized by hunters for their good nose, which is liver-colored or black with broad nostrils. English Springers have been trained to detect such diverse odors as explosives, narcotics, fake currency, bee hives, and human remains. Their sense of smell is amazing and they can detect explosives and drugs. But, have you ever wondered which breeds have the best sense of smell? Since his original role was to snuff out prey and game, it is no wonder that his sense of smell is so powerful. Their medium size is no obstacle and they can be seen at airports, helping the security during their controls. The... #2. This Spaniel also loves to please his master and he can also be a good family dog. Labrador Retriever (Photo Credit: Shutterstock). He might be one of the smallest of the hound breeds, but the Beagle has just as many scent receptors as the German Shepherd. With that said, some places are better than others for dogs to get this kind of information, which is why dog owners might have noticed their dogs sniffing at the mouths, armpits, groins, and shoes of strangers. The German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) is a dog breed of medium to large size that originated in Germany. There are many famous search dogs that managed to sniff out hidden weapons and explosives. He is sometimes even referred to as only the “bird dog” because his primary prey is birds. Affiliate Disclosure: Evolve Media LLC, and its owned and operated websites may receive a small commission from the proceeds of any product(s) sold through affiliate and direct partner links. Regarded as the best breed for smelling, bloodhounds are large-sized dogs that are known to have 300 million scent receptors. Most people know that dogs have an exceptional sense of smell, but how do they rate among other animals? #1 Bloodhound Designed to track, this #1 pup with the best sense of smell will search til they find their query, which is why they make great hunging dogs. That unfortunately means that this breed does not go well with cats. Labrador Retriever America’s darling also happens to be one of the dogs with the best sense of smell. Their stamina made them great companions for hunters who would follow them on horseback. To sum up, we have covered 10 dog breeds with the best sense of smell. Thanks for reading and if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comment section below. He’s low to the ground — hence his name, from the French word bas, meaning “low” — and his long, heavy ears sweep the ground, bringing scent upward to his powerful nose. Nowadays he is mostly used as a hunting dog that can also compete in sports. Let us look more closely at the bloodhound which was formerly known by a number of different names such as St. Hubert Hound, Sleuth Hound, Chien de Saint … The Scottish ... 2. He does along with children, but considering his size he should be always supervised around toddlers. He is not often used as a detection dog but he can easily snuff out anything he has been trained to find. It is common knowledge that all dog breeds possess an incredible sense of smell which is better than ours. To get an impression of just how impressive a dog’s sense of smell is here’s a fun fact. This breed is known as very active, strong, determined and agile. Labs are found working in many scent-related jobs, from arson, drug and bomb detection to search and rescue. © 2021 All rights reserved. Other dogs with great noses include the beagle and the Labrador Retriever. Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the permission of DogsAholic. Beagling is an activity named after this breed because the Beagle mostly hunts hare. Commonly employed by police and military forces and as search and rescue dogs, this breed is well known for his keen sense of smell. While all dogs have keen sniffers, Nappier says, "hound breed dogs have the best sense of smell." 9 German Shorthaired Pointer. 3. The most famous Beagle is probably Snoopy, a dog character from the comic ‘Peanuts’. Yes, the bloodhound is and has long been the dog breed with the most sensitive sniffer. A Dalmatian would have a keen sense of smell, but was not breed specifically to enhance its scent receptors. Nowadays, this breed is used as a working dog due to his scenting ability. Like his cousin the Pointer, the German Shorthair has outstanding scenting and trailing ability in the field. People have known for millennia that a dog’s sense of smell is very different than ours. Similarly, a dogs sense of smell is far greater than a humans sense of smell. Best Dog Breeds for Families: Top 4 Picks for Family... What Breed Is My Dog: How to Determine the Breed of Your... 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He is famed for his man-trailing abilities and is so reliable his evidence is admitted in court. He can be a great companion and family dog as well since his nature is mostly docile. American Staffordshire Terrier. Your Best Friend Needs You Dogs are also known for their loyalty, which is probably why they are mankinds most beloved pets. His stamina, sense of smell and intelligence make him a great working dog who can hunt even smallest animals. The Beagle’s scenting ability makes him 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. However, it is known that this breed can often suffer from ear and eye problems which can be contributed to their droopy physique. German Shorthaired Pointer (Photo Credit: Shutterstock). The Bloodhound is famous for being able to discern smell over great distances, even if the scent is a couple of days old. The others have roles such as search and rescue dogs or dogs that need to detect explosives, food, drugs, illegal foods and even people. Some of them are hunting and gun dogs while the others work with the police and military. Nowadays he is often used as a detection dog due to his amazing tracking instinct. His stature might me medium but he can handle the rough terrains just as well, which is one of the reasons why he is taken with mountain rescue teams in order to find missing persons. That is how they got their main name “Pointers”. The loose skin beneath his chin, known as a dewlap, helps to trap the scent, keeping it easily accessible as he works. Some have 220 million or more olfactory receptors, compared to a puny 5 million for humans. Dorman points out that sturdy working dogs like German Shepherds and Labradors also rank high in their smelling abilities. He got named Pointer due to the posture he makes after noticing the prey. Speaking of his temperament, the GSP is described a good companion dog that is also an affectionate family member. The Pointer, also known as the English Pointer, is a dog breed of medium to large size that originated in England. He needs lots of exercise because of his high energy levels and he loves running, mushing, bikejoring and hunting. Which breed are you interested in the most? 2. So what could be a reason that these breeds are sought after? , too GSP is described a good reason one of the canine best smellers ever since middle. Known not only can this pup track scents through the air the 1830s great! Comment section below being loving, friendly and affectionate nature families because get... Are not afraid to defend their packs this breed and they are known for his! Please his master and he loves running, mushing, bikejoring and hunting s a... Employed by the police and military members, especially children hunt by.. 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