When a dog smells another dog’s poo or wee, do they then remember that scent for when they smell it again, or even further know which dog they are smelling if they know the dog?
08.06.2025 06:35
Olfactory Receptors: Dogs have about 125 million to nearly 300 million olfactory receptors, depending on the breed1. In contrast, humans have around 5 million2.
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Social Communication: A pile of dog poo, though unattractive to most humans, can tell your dog a lot. It informs them when the dog responsible was last in the area, whether the dog was in a friendly or unfriendly mood, what food might be lying around, and whether there’s any cause for concern. In most cases, the message is simply territorial, letting other dogs know who’s king of the park. Dogs also share information about the environment with each other. If something scares your dog while it’s outside, it may take a moment to mark that there’s something of concern nearby. This explains why dogs might sniff around, false start, then continue sniffing before pooping1.
Territorial Marking: Going to the bathroom is a very public affair for dogs. For most, it’s all about marking territory. Dogs produce their own unique scent from glands located on either side of the anus. These scents can be found anywhere that dogs go number one or number two. When your dog sniffs around before pooping, it’s like checking social media and reading the local news all wrapped up into one! The locations of poop and scents serve as a map of territories and borders, constantly changing as dogs assess and reassess their surroundings. By sniffing other dogs’ urine or feces, they gain information about local inhabitants and the environment12.
These differences mean that dogs can detect a range of odors—from the mundane to the life-saving—with an efficiency that humans simply cannot match. For example, they can be trained to detect certain diseases, including cancer, by recognizing specific odor signatures in a person’s body fluids5. They can also sense human emotions by picking up on the scent of adrenaline, the “fight-or-flight” hormone5.
Dogs have fascinating behaviors, and their penchant for sniffing before pooping is no exception. Here are some intriguing reasons behind this behavior:
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So, the next time you see your dog engaging in this pre-poop ritual, remember that they’re not just being quirky—they’re navigating a complex olfactory world! 🐾
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Also; it’s important to note the key comparisons between human sense of smell and a canines. The differences below 👇⬇️
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In summary, while humans rely more on vision, dogs experience the world predominantly through their extraordinary sense of smell. It’s a remarkable difference that highlights the unique abilities of our canine companions. 🐶
Jacobson’s Organ: Dogs have a special organ called Jacobson’s organ or the vomeronasal organ, which humans lack. This organ plays a crucial role in detecting pheromones and other chemicals that are important for social interactions4.
Olfactory Brain Region: The part of a dog’s brain that is dedicated to analyzing smells is 40 times larger than that of a human3.
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Sensitivity: A dog’s sense of smell is estimated to be 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than a human’s4. This incredible sensitivity allows dogs to detect odors at concentrations nearly impossible for us to perceive.
Firstly, Dogs have a remarkable sense of smell and can use it to recognize and remember other dogs. When a dog smells another dog’s poop or pee, they can often identify the individual dog’s scent and may remember it. This olfactory recognition is part of how dogs communicate and understand their environment. It’s likely that if a dog has had a significant interaction with another dog, they will remember that dog’s scent when they encounter it again
Discerning Their Own Scent: Dogs are learning how to discern their own scent. This is especially true for young dogs. The information contained in everything they smell is a lot to process, and their talent for understanding that information grows with age. Scenting the area and then being able to read their own scent helps them feel safe and secure. If your dog tends to guard the borders of its yard, it’s an indicator that it has successfully made the area “secure” by marking it with its own scent2.