Dogs in general are very sensitive to scents, in comparison to people, but there is some significant variation among different dog breeds.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a good sense of smell. It is thousands of times more sensitive than a human being’s and average compared to other breeds of dogs. Cavaliers accompanied their owners on hunting trips in the past, so these dogs developed a strong olfactory sense. At the same time, respiratory issues related to being flat-faced can hurt their ability to smell.
Dogs’ Sense of Smell
On average, a dog has about 15 times more receptors in its nose and mouth than a human to perceive odors. Compared to people, a much bigger portion of their brains is dedicated to smells to interpret the information they receive via the olfactory system. So, an average dog’s sense of smell is probably beyond imagination for human beings.
A dog’s sense of smell is a few thousand times more sensitive than ours, according to research.
The sense of smell is mostly complementary for us since we rely on seeing and hearing more. It is different for dogs:
- Dogs can sense if you are stressed or anxious by smelling you
- They can recognize another animal after being separated for years just by smelling them
- Puppies can recognize their moms by scent when placed between a couple of mama dogs.
It is worth noting, however, that dogs’ sense of smell is not as outstanding as the sense of smell of wild animals or even domestic cats.
Different Dog Breeds and the Olfactory Sence
The historical role of the dog and how the animal lived with people affects the acuity of the dog’s sense of smell. In other words, the breed matters.
Dogs that have been hunters, rescuers, and guard animals have the most sensitive olfactory sense, even in comparison to other domesticated dogs.
On the other hand, brachycephalic, as well as decorative lap dogs never had to rely on their sense of smell that much. They are still more sensitive than people but not nearly as sensitive as other dogs.
The Cavalier’s Sense of Smell
The Cavaliers’ sense of smell is standard compared to other dogs.
The dogs of this breed are not as excellent in smelling things as German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, labradors, or even beagles. However, they are still good enough to be decent hunting partners – they can track and retrieve very well.
Brachycephalic syndrome, if it is significant and affects your dog pet’s ability to breathe, could adversely impact the Cavalier’s sense of smell. Some dogs are still sensitive to scents, despite being flat-faced.
To Conclude
A Cavalier’s sense of smell is quite good for dogs unless is significantly impacted by the flat shape of their nose, and it is great in comparison to human beings.
If your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is going to assist you on hunting trips or be your hiking companion, your dog will likely learn to pick up scents better with practice.
