These dog breeds possess the best sense of smell

It’s no secret that dogs have a particularly amazing sense of smell. From airports to police squads to search and rescue, we use dogs all the time to help us sniff out what we are looking for.

Dogs use their sense of smell to help them paint a picture of the world around them. They have scent memories, emotional scent readings, and more! Check out this article to learn more about how your dog uses their sense of smell.

However, even though all dogs have an amazing sense of smell, did you know some dogs are known for having highly trained noses?

Here are some dog breeds that have the best sense of smell:

Bloodhound

While this dog may have the appearance of a droopy old dog, it is famous for its impressive nose. As one of the most commonly used dog breeds for police dogs, this breed has saved countless lives by sniffing out missing people and criminals.

Nicknamed “sleuth hound,” this dog has over 230 million scent receptors that help it track miles and miles of terrain to find what it’s looking for. Since this breed has the strongest smell of any dog in the world, they are often not trusted off-leash because when it wants to follow a smell, it will.

Beagle

Though this dog may be small, its ability to sniff out anything is almost unmatched. This breed is often used to sniff out explosives, contraband, and even cancer!

This breed is often used in airports to sniff passengers’ luggage and when it is on a scent trail, it will often let out barks that can be heard for miles.

German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is a very versatile sniffing dog. You can often find them on search and rescue scenes at the site of an accident. However, they are often found working in law enforcement. Their impeccable noses are perfect for sniffing out drugs and explosives, making them a top pick for police dogs.

They are extremely loyal so they will often be at the side of their human at all times and are highly motivated by the need to please, making them extremely hard workers.

Golden Retriever

America’s golden child, the Golden Retriever, is known for being one of the best dog breeds for domestic life, as well as for being a seeing-eye or therapy dog. However, they are also a valuable addition to a contraband detection team or search and rescue! Many Golden Retrievers were dispatched to ground zero to sniff out people hidden within the rubble.

Labrador Retriever

This dog breed has a knack for being a hunting dog, as well as sniffing out drugs, bombs, and other contraband. The mixture of intelligence and eagerness to please in this breed makes them exemplary working dogs.

They are often tasked with search and rescue, but the fact that this breed makes for an amazing family dog, they are often trained to be hunting dogs to retrieve things like ducks or birds for their favorite humans!

While dogs known for having strong sniffers can often come with a lot of energy and stubbornness, with training and lots of stimulation, they all make for loyal and affectionate family dogs. You just might want to keep them on a leash!