A new study, “Interspecies transmission of emotional information via chemosignals: from humans to dogs (Canis lupus familiaris),” in the journal Animal Cognition, confirms what many have known. Dogs do smell human fear using chemosignals and they, too get scared. A dog’s nose is an organ that’s evolved to be an incredibly sensitive to odors.
Source: The Bark, November 15, 2017.
Dogs put their noses in all sorts of places, many of which we find disgusting or offensive but that’s what it’s like to be a dog and we must accept that’s how they sense their world. Not allowing dogs to sniff can be seen as a form of sensory deprivation. It robs them of vital information they need to navigate their surroundings. Information including odors from the mouth, ears, and other areas of the body. And yes, those very special private parts of other dogs, other animals, humans, plus pee, poop, and a wide variety of stinky stuff they crave and savor that we find utterly revolting.