The olfactory ability of dogs
Dogs, and in particular those known as K-9, possess a highly developed olfactory system, capable of detecting substances in extremely low concentrations thanks to their more than 300 million olfactory receptors. These receptors are connected to the amygdala, the area of the brain linked to memory and emotions, allowing them to remember aromas and thus detect them again
Specialized training, a result of cynotechnics, enables sniffer dogs, such as those used by the police or in rescue operations, to differentiate specific substances independently of the background odor, making them a particularly sensitive detection tool.
Their high detection speed, being able to inspect large areas or unique buildings in minutes with 99% accuracy, without being affected by variations in humidity and temperature, together with their free mobility, independent thought, learning capacity and working lifespan of approximately eight years, makes them superior to many instrumental analytical methods in detecting the molecules that make up odors.
This is why detection dogs, like police dogs or working dogs, have wide applicability in such important areas as the detection of explosives, drugs, missing persons and even disease biomarkers.