Canine olfaction

Canine olfaction refers to a dog's exceptional sense of smell, which is significantly more powerful than humans'. Dogs possess around 300 million scent receptors in their noses, compared to about 5-6 million in humans. Their olfactory system detects and distinguishes a vast array of odors, enabling them to track smells over long distances, identify specific scents, and even detect health conditions. This heightened sense is essential for their roles in search and rescue, detection work, and tracking. Overall, a dog's nose is a highly sensitive and sophisticated tool honed through evolution and training.