Dogs have such a keen sense of smell, so why can’t they find a home after being lost?

Sep 11,2024
3Min

As we all know, dogs have a very sensitive sense of smell, and some dogs are even trained to become search and rescue dogs, police dogs, drug detection dogs, etc.

Some dogs can find their way home even if they are dozens of kilometers away from home.

But why do so many dogs fail to find their way home after being lost?

Unlike humans, dogs remember routes by memorizing surrounding landmark buildings.

Dogs mainly find their way through smell.

You can see dogs often peeing on the roadside. In addition to marking their territory, they also leave their own scent.

Once you can't find your way home, use these smells to remind yourself which way is correct.

The dog will use these smells to draw a "map" in his mind. After the smell disappears, the dog will use this "map" to find his way home.

There is only time for walking the dog every day. The dog who follows the owner downstairs obviously does not have the time and opportunity to "mark".

Moreover, there are many disturbing smells in the environment, and the smell left by dog ​​markings does not last long.

Vehicles on the road are very dangerous for dogs. Similar unit buildings have also caused considerable interference to dogs' wayfinding.

Even if you find the right unit building, similar doors on each floor will make the dog confused where to go.

Not to mention, there are dog dealers and dog thieves.

Therefore, in order to prevent the dog from getting lost, the owner must keep the leash when walking the dog! Don’t think that my dog ​​is very good and will not run around. What if it happens?

Close the doors and windows before going out to prevent your dog from sneaking away out of curiosity about the outside world.

Don’t wait until your dog gets lost to remember the importance of a leash~

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