To your dog, it’s information.
This also explains why sniffing isn’t something you should always rush your dog through.
Sniffing provides mental stimulation and is one of the natural ways dogs explore their environment. Allowing appropriate opportunities to sniff during walks can be enriching for them.
But there was still one question bothering me.
If my dog could learn so much from smells…
Could he actually recognize ME by my scent?
As it turns out, there is some fascinating evidence behind that idea.
Yes, Your Dog Can Recognize Your Scent
This was the part that surprised me most.
We often think dogs recognize us because of our face, voice, footsteps, or appearance.
But scent can be an important part of that recognition too.
Researchers have studied how dogs respond to familiar and unfamiliar odors. In one experiment discussed by the American Kennel Club, dogs exposed to their owners’ scents showed activation in the brain’s caudate nucleus, an area associated with reward and positive expectations.
