5 Things That Dogs Smell That You Can't

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are pros at hiding, making them tough for us to find, but not for dogs! With their amazing noses, dogs can sniff out even a single bed bug, and they can even tell the difference between live bugs with active eggs and dead ones. Their small size and agility let them explore spots we’d never think to check, like electrical outlets, stuffed animals, carpets, or deep in the bedsprings. Once a dog detects bed bugs, a trained exterminator can double-check the area and handle the infestation.

Training dogs for bed bug detection has become a popular, natural way to tackle pests. The only U.S. facility accredited for this training is the National Entomology Scent Detection Canine Association (NESDCA), where dogs and handlers learn together to make a top-notch team.

(credit: https://naturaldogcompany.com )

Diabetes Assist Dogs

Diabetes Assist Dogs are life-savers for people with diabetes. These dogs are trained to pick up on a specific scent in the air when their person’s blood sugar is dropping fast. They’ll “alert” their person by nudging or pawing to let them know it’s time to check their levels and eat something to avoid hypoglycemia. These dogs can even be trained to bring juice or glucose tablets, grab a phone, or get help from someone nearby.

They wear a special backpack with pockets for medical info, emergency contacts, and sugar sources. If someone finds their person acting oddly or unconscious, this backpack shows it might be a medical emergency and helps them know what to do.

(credit: https://can-do-canines.org/our-dogs/ourdogs/diabetes-assist-dogs/ )

Whale Poop

From street dogs to whale poop hunters! In 2001, researcher Sam Wasser realized that while human researchers could smell whale poop on the ocean surface, they couldn’t always find it. So, he thought, why not use detection dogs?

That’s when Fargo, a Rottweiler, joined the team to help scientist Roz Rolland locate whale scat for her research on whale health and reproduction. Since then, other street dogs, like Tucker, have joined the crew. Tucker, a lovable mutt found wandering Seattle, might be nervous around kids, but he’s a superstar in the field, sniffing out samples to help study and protect marine life. Read more about Tucker´s story here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/meet-dogs-sniffing-out-whale-poop-science-180958050/#s6R5L9sKTDK6QlkK.99

No single breed is best for this job. The crew includes everything from cattle dogs and shepherd mixes to even a Chihuahua mix. But they all have a few things in common: they’re energetic, love playing ball, and work seamlessly with their handlers, who are by their side 24/7.

DVD Detection

Lucky and Flo, two black Labradors, made history as the first dogs trained to detect optical discs by scent! Sponsored by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), these dogs help find DVDs, especially in places where counterfeit DVDs are common. While they can’t tell if a disc is fake or real, their nose for polycarbonate discs helps law enforcement find DVDs hidden in places like shipping hubs and warehouses.

They even assisted in Malaysia, where they successfully sniffed out a bootleg DVD operation and became so famous that DVD pirates reportedly put a bounty on them!

(Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_and_Flo)

Cancer Detection

Dogs are also stepping up in the fight against cancer. Studies show that certain cancers, like lung and breast cancer, have a unique smell detectable by humans—but only in later stages. Dogs, however, can detect these smells early on, which could mean lifesaving intervention.

These “cancer-sniffing” dogs are giving people hope by helping spot cancer before it’s too late, leading to early intervention and possibly a lifesaving discovery.