Dogs’ sense of smell is often considered incredibly powerful. Whether it’s drugs, illegal tobacco, or other contraband, nothing escapes the keen noses of sniffer dogs. (And yes, even the beef jerky you brought from abroad might get sniffed out and confiscated! Sigh) But here’s the thing! We also hear about so many lost dogs, both in China and the United States, every day. If dogs’ noses are so incredible, why can’t they sniff their own scent or their owner’s scent and find their way home? Aren’t their noses supposed to be amazing?
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Dogs’ Sense of Smell
Smell is the result of a neurological process: scent receptors in the nose gather information, which is then transmitted to the brain through the olfactory nerves, creating the sense of smell. A dog’s nose has about 40 times more scent receptors than a human’s, and their sensitivity is anywhere from 40 to 1,000,000 times stronger than ours (depending on the breed). Dogs can also detect many things that humans can’t smell. Through selective breeding and specialized training, police dogs can perform tasks that humans often cannot, such as drug detection, search and rescue, and more.
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It’s Not Just About Smell
The reason some dogs can find their way home is not only due to their sense of smell, but also because they create a mental map of their surroundings. Dogs collect their owner’s scent, the smells of things along their journey, and various visual landmarks (of course, what they consider landmarks). This map is stored in their minds, and if they get lost, they can often use their sense of smell or visual cues to reorient themselves and find their way back. However, this depends on the dog having a concept of “home.” Some dogs may consider a specific “location” as home, which explains why many dogs get lost when their owners move to a new place—they’re trying to find the old home. On the other hand, some dogs view their “owner” as home, which is why many stray dogs never get lost—they always follow their owner.
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The Ultimate Reveal!
So, it seems like dogs not only have amazing noses, but also impressive brains. Why can’t they still find their way home? First, while smell is a key factor in guiding dogs back home, scents don’t stay in one place—they move. Under ideal conditions (cool, humid, tree-covered, with no wind), scents can last up to 3-4 weeks. However, in most urban areas in the U.S., smells typically last for only 3 days. In densely populated areas, like in China, where there are lots of cars and people, the scent will fade even more quickly.Additionally, most dogs do not have the mental capacity to form a clear mental map. Urban landscapes are complex, and environments change rapidly. Each time a dog goes for a walk, they encounter different information: the route, the people, the other dogs, and many places they can’t explore. All these factors make it nearly impossible for a dog to remember the route back home.Even more importantly, when dogs get lost, they don’t just make their owners anxious—they panic and feel anxious too. Realizing that their familiar companion is gone, and suddenly losing the familiar environment around them, causes stress and confusion. This anxiety doesn’t make them stop and think about how to get home; instead, it causes them to run around in panic, which only makes it harder to find their way back.
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What to Do If Your Pet Goes Missing
If you’re in the U.S., make sure to microchip your pet. Besides registering with local Animal Shelters and Humane Societies, don’t forget to place a missing pet ad in the local newspaper. These ads are usually free (some charge only a small fee).If you’re in China, make sure to put an ID tag on your pet, and always keep your dog on a leash when walking them—never let go. If your pet gets lost, immediately post on Weibo for help, but also remember to go out and search the area where they were last seen. After all, if the pet hasn’t run far, your scent can still provide some comfort and help guide them back.
So, to prevent any accidents, always keep your pet on a leash when you go out—leash, leash, and more leash. Never let go!
