Amazing Dog Senses
There are so many things to love about dogs. They're loyal, cuddly, and always happy to see us. But what many people don't know is that dogs have some pretty amazing capabilities.
Dogs are amazing creatures, and part of what makes them so cool are their incredible senses. From catching a scent of a missing person to hearing sounds we couldn't fathom, a dog’s experience of the world we share is entirely different than ours. Whether you're a pet guardian or dog nerd here are five fascinating facts about the incredible senses of our furry friend.
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Amazing Dog Senses - 5 Fun Facts
Dogs have an incredible sense of smell. Sniffing is important for all dogs as it has physiological benefits and slows down their heart rate.
Hearing a broad spectrum of sounds both high and low, a dog can hear 4x more than we can.
While a dog can’t see the colors of the rainbow, they have wider peripheral vision than we do and are great at catching movement in low light.
Dogs have fewer taste buds than humans but can taste water.
Whiskers play a vital role in helping dogs navigate and understand their environment through touch.
Dog Sense of Smell
When it comes to your dog’s sense of smell they are scent-sational! With 300 million scent receptors and the part of their brain dedicated to analyzing smells a dog’s nose is 40 times more powerful than yours. (And you thought you were good at identifying flavors in wine!) A highly trained dog can find missing people, identify diseases like cancer, diabetes, covid and even stop contraband at the borders.
But smell is important to all dogs, not just highly trained ones. Sniffing for all dogs! Scientists Cristina and Aurélien Budzinski, looked at the physiological benefits of sniffing. They found that long sniffs slows down a dog's heart rate (Dog Field Study), just like when we take deep breaths. Sniffing is good for their health, so indulge your dog with extra time on walks to smell the roses aka the ground, the curb, and the hydrant.
Dog Sense of Hearing
A dog’s incredible sense of hearing enables them to hear sounds which range from 40 hertz (hz) up to 40, 000 hz. That's four times more than what we can hear! So rather than be quick to dismiss your dog for issuing a warning bark for something you can’t see, give them hearty thanks in appreciation for their keen sense and dedication as your faithful watchdog.
As a proud dog mom to dogs with both floppy and erect ears, I can attest that those with erect ears are particularly sensitive to noises. All those herding dog guardians know just what I mean!
Dog Sense of Sight
Our dogs have two cones in their eyes unlike humans that have three cones making sight a key difference between our species. For starters, people can see far more colors and detail than dogs. But this doesn’t mean your dog can’t see color - they can see blue, yellow and shades of grey. My dogs can pick between and yellow and blue object and so can yours in one fun trick training session.
Another significant difference in dog sight is their wider peripheral vision and ability to catch movement in low light. It's no wonder why my Ginger never misses when catching a treat and is an excellent critter hunter.
Dog Sense of Taste
Most dogs tend to be the opposite of fussy, expressing a ‘get in my belly’ attitude when it comes to food. With just 1700 taste buds compared to our 9000 plus taste buds, a dog eats by crushing and swallowing not by chewing. However much like us, our dogs use their noses to determine whether something is worth tasting. That's why smelly treats make great rewards for training.
Surprisingly, dogs can taste water - unlike humans. My dog Chip was refused to drink tap water in Tampa, but now he happily laps up the taper water in Bergen County. It's unclear if it was Chip's sense of smell or taste buds that aided in his decision, but I must agree - Tampa tap water just didn't taste right.
Dog Sense of Touch
Probably the least relatable sense between dogs and humans is a dog’s sense of touch. This is because dogs don’t pick things up with their paws like we do with our hands. It’s the dog’s whiskers that help them navigate and understand their surrounding environment.
Whiskers are so sensitive they provide a dog with information about size and speed of objects based on airflow - all without ever actually coming into contact with the thing. Can you imagine being able to cross the street with your eyes closed, relying solely on your sense of touch? A dog's remarkable sensory skills are truly unfathomable.
Conclusion
Although we share the same 5 senses as our canine companions, sight, sound, smell, touch and taste are uniquely different for humans and dogs. Thinking about those differences, embracing them and celebrating them gives all of us an alternative perspective and better understanding our best four-legged friends.
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