Prioritizing Scent: Your Dog’s Nose Knows
A dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than that of a human. Did you know that dogs have 100 million sensory receptor sites in their nasal cavity while humans only have 6 million? That is a huge difference! Your pup uses their sense of smell to learn the personality, mood, health, and age of other dogs. They also use their sense of smell to not only identify other dogs in passing, but also to learn about dogs who have left their scent on nearby trees and sidewalks. A study conducted by Biagio D’Aniello, an Italian scientist, showed evidence of dogs having the ability to detect our moods through scent. Dogs have such a strong and specific sense of smell, they can detect a single substance at one part per trillion. To paint the picture, this is equal to a dog being able to smell a single drop in 20 Olympic-sized pools.
Sniffing is considered small talk when meeting a new person and is key to helping a new dog feel content and calm at Dogtopia. We keep dogs’ incredible scent abilities in mind as we keep them safe, healthy, and happy while in the playroom.
- The first time a dog enters a Dogtopia daycare might be overwhelming. If a dog appears to be sniffing the lobby or evaluation room, we allow them to continue exploring and familiarizing themselves with the space. This gives dogs the opportunity to learn about the other daycare dogs prior to meeting them in the playroom.
- Dogs may need a little bit of extra time to get comfortable at Dogtopia. This may mean they need to sniff a Canine Coach’s hands or legs for a longer amount of time.
- Anxious dogs may attempt to soothe themselves through means of scent. Canine Coaches are trained to keep a close eye on excessively sniffing dogs to keep an eye out for signs of stress and anxiousness.
- Dogs can identify illness in other dogs with scent. If a dog seems to be receiving a disproportionate amount of sniffing from other dogs, it may be an indicator the dog may need to schedule a vet visit.
- Pet parents may be concerned about their dog learning negative behaviors and taking them home, such as relieving themselves in the playroom. We’re happy to report that this is not true. Dogtopia playrooms smell like dog parks. This encourages dogs to relieve themselves inside the playroom, however, a dog’s home environment smells much different. With two entirely different scents, your dog will recognize one as a play space where it is okay to relieve themselves, and the other as their home where it is not allowed. Therefore, your dog will not go to the bathroom in your house.
Dogs love to smell and socialize with other pups at Dogtopia daycare! Who knows, maybe they will even meet their BFFF (Best Furry Friend Forever)! With the holiday season quickly approaching, Dogtopia daycare can help socialize your dog to remain calm around larger gatherings, small children, and other dogs.
Interested in Dogtopia daycare? Find a location near you!
