Top Ten Dogs with Best Sense of Smell

A friend, a companion and a protector- dogs are all of this and more. If you have a dog as part of your family or if you see a police dog or even a street dog, there will be one thing common to all of them; one thing they are well known for- their sense of smell.

But did you ever wonder who among the many dog breeds top the chart when it comes to the sensitivity towards smell? Here is a list of ten dog breeds that have the sharpest sense of smell.

1. Bloodhound

With 300 million receptors for smell, the bloodhound tops the list of dog breeds with the best sense of smell. Their ears and thick folds around their head trap the scent. Their sense of smell gets enhanced by their large and widely open nostrils. These alert and tenacious workers are dedicated pets and can be the most trusted for one's security.

2. Basset Hound

This breed with the French origin gets its name from the word bas meaning low. Dogs from this breed walk with their nose close to the ground while their long ears trail alongside their heads aiding them with their smelling ability. Another noticeable aspect is the dewlap, the skin below his chin which helps in trapping the smell.

3. Beagle

These smaller hounds with their carefree attitude have an extremely good sense of smell. These dogs go after the smells in the air around them and even the scent trails on ground. All such factors make Beagle a popular choice among security personnel.

4. German Shepherd

Without doubt, this is among the most well- known dog breeds, especially among the police forces world over. One major reason behind their popularity is the numerous scent receptors they possess, all 225 million of them.

5. Labrador Retriever

The Labs are used for various purposes and thanks to their sharp sense of smell, they are a hit while detecting a bomb or following people when needed. These are counted among the best protectors and their olfactory senses account for the biggest reason why they are so reliable.

6. Belgian Malonois

This breed of dogs is not very aggressive but thanks to their agility and light weighing body, they are used by police and security personnel alike. Their sense of smell is an advantage as they are bred with a training to detect bombs.

7. Coonhound

These natural hunters possess an extraordinary sense to detect smells even in most difficult of terrains.

8. English Foxhound

As the name suggests, this breed is known for hunting down the fox. These dogs can persistently follow any trail and prove successful.

9. German Shorthaired Pointer

This specie is known for following the ground smell with his big brown nose. The uses for these dogs again are immense and are mostly used for investigation purposes.

10. Pointer

Known among the bird followers, this breed of Pointer has a deep muzzle. What helps him in tracking the winged creatures is their nostril which is wide open and makes them smell-sensitive.

Though this list ends here, there are innumerable species of dogs and each of them possess good sense of smell.