A dog’s sense of smell is truly remarkable. Depending on the breed and individual dog, they have 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger sense of smell. They have 100 million olfactory cells in their nose compared to a human’s paltry 5 million.
In addition, the part of a dog’s brain used for processing smell is about 40 times larger than the part people use. It makes their nose one of their superpowers.
Not only can dog sniff out their owners from great distances or when they have passed trail hours or even days ago, but dogs can also sniff out an incredible number of things, including narcotics, disease, and impending medical conditions like low blood sugar levels.
However, even when a dog gets a whiff, how long exactly do they remember scents? How good is their long-term memory compared to the seconds of short-term memory they have? Turns out, they remember scents for ages, even forever!
In this blog post, we’ll look at how long exactly a dog will remember you, even when you leave.
Also Read: Why Does My Dog Smell Like Fish?
How Long Will Your Dog Remember Your Scent?
Depending on how long your dog has been with you, some dogs will remember their human scent forever. It depends on how long they have bonded with you and how much time your dog has spent apart from you.
For example, if you took a rescue home to foster for a few weeks, then your foster went to his or her forever home and you didn’t visit for several years with no contact, the dog might not react as strongly to you when you finally visit.
This is because some dogs have long-term memories of about two to five years, especially if they haven’t had strong emotional ties with the human.
In contrast, if you’ve had a close relationship with your dog for five years and had to give your dog up, it is unlikely that the dog will ever forget your scent.
The theory is that dogs are more likely to detect and follow the scent of their owners because they’ve spent time together. The longer someone stays with their dog, the stronger the bond is between them and the dog will recall that person’s scent better.
While a dog’s short-term memory varies between 5 and 30 seconds, its long-term memory can last forever. In addition, a dog’s ability to remember distinct smells is clearly related to its memory span, as they use a noteworthy part of its brain for processing smells.
Think of it as something like a “smell library”, similar to an image library for we humans. While humans are primarily visual people, dogs go by their formidable sense of smell way more than their visual capabilities.
Are Some Dogs Better At Remember Scents?
While all dogs are fantastic at scents, some are better than others, which is why some are commonly used as sniffer dogs for explosives and contraband.
Certain breeds that are remarkable at sniffing out things and processing them include the hunting breeds like the Bloodhound, Beagle, Coonhound, and Spanish Water Dog.
Brachycephalic breeds like the Pug, Boxer, and Bulldog have much shorter snouts and pick up less scent than the dogs with longer snouts and more olfactory receptors.
When Might A Dog Forget You?
Just like people, some dogs are more forgetful than others, especially when in their senior years. One condition that are like human dementia is Cognitive Dysfunctions Syndrome (CDS).
CDS is a progressive disease that affects a dog’s mental abilities. The symptoms of CDS can include disorientation, confusion, sleep disturbances, and changes in behavior. While the exact cause of CDS is unknown, It can be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
CDS can cause your dog to wake up and feel disoriented, forgetting where he is. Or, the condition can also cause your dog to forget your scent, commands, tricks. The dog can also forget the other things that he normally would easily remember.
There is no cure for CDS but with proper management of the symptoms, you can still help your dog enjoy the rest of his days.
Medical Alert Dogs
Many people are familiar with guide dogs, who help those with visual impairments navigate the world. However, fewer people are aware of the vital role that medical alert dogs can play in the lives of those with invisible disabilities.
Someone especially trained medical alert to dogs to help people with disabilities. These dogs are usually paired with people who have seizure disorders. We can also train them to help those with diabetes, autism, and other conditions.
Medical alert dogs can sense when their owner is about to have a seizure and will provide them with warning signs, such as barking or pawing at them.
These dogs have an incredible sense of smell and are trained to remember each scent, what it means, and when to alert their owners.
Final Thoughts
Dogs are incredible at remembering all individuals, not just you, based on their scent. When a dog first meets you and takes a whiff, they are unconsciously inspecting you. They are storing your scent in its “scent library”.
Even after months of no contact, and you see the dog again, it is highly likely that they will remember you. Our furry friends have an uncanny ability to remember the people they meet. Even if they only see them once in a while.
This is especially true of the people who take care of them daily, like their dog walkers and their regular groomers. Dogs form strong bonds with these people, and they are quick to remember their faces and their scents.
However, dogs also have a good memory for other people they have met, even if they don’t see them very often. So, if you’re wondering if your dog will forget you after a long trip away, don’t worry. Chances are, they’ll remember you just as well as they did before you left!