Dogs are certainly so much more than their fluffy exterior and best friend persona. They have the ability to assess our physical and emotional behaviour, just by using their nose! The ‘superpower’ they are most known for is their smell, and their ability to sniff out diseases like cancer.
According to the NPR, the olfactory capacity of canines are so advanced that they are able to sniff in parts per trillion. With the right training, this unique genetic advantage can be used to sniff out diseases like breast cancer, skin cancer and bladder cancer by their use of more than 100 million scent receptors.
Dogs are even able to help people suffering from PTSD by providing companionship. In a 2020 research article, PTSD service dogs are said to be trained to detect a war veteran’s physical signs of anxiety and stress. These dogs are also able to interrupt anxiety and panic attacks throughout the day or night.
The action of playing with dogs can also raise the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the body. This form of joy is usually the core reason why those who struggle with mental conditions consider adopting dogs as pets.
Humans have also used the distinct ability of a dog’s smell to hunt animals, detect drugs and find missing people.
In a 2006 study, five dogs were trained to detect cancer based on breath samples. Once their training had ended, these dogs were able to detect breast cancer with 88% accuracy, and lung cancer with 99% accuracy. This study was conducted across all four stages of the respective diseases.
Some of the dogs who boast the best sense of smell are Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds, Beagles and German Shepherds.