Human beings are known to have five senses that we use every day. This includes the senses of taste, smell, sight, feeling, and hearing. The same is true for most mammals that are in the wilderness, and this would pertain to dogs as well. However, dog senses are known to be much more sensitive than human beings. There are certain dog breeds that have better senses which are superior to not only humans but other animals. Here is an overview of everything you need to know about dog senses and why you should be aware of this if you are a dog owner.
How Many Senses Does A Dog Have?
Dogs have five senses, just like human beings. However, some of them are much more highly elevated than others. For example, a dog can smell a scent that could be miles away. That is why they are often used with the police force to find missing people. Cadaver dogs can smell a dead body that could be buried several feet under the ground, a body that could also be a quarter-mile away. Therefore, their sense of smell is highly targeted and is also beneficial when hunters are hunting. Their sense of smell is also dependent upon the dog’s breed.
Do They Have Any Other Elevated Senses?
Another of their sense that is much better than humans is the sense of hearing. In the same way that they can smell something that is at a remote distance, they can also hear sounds that are simply beyond human hearing. That is why certain whistles and even electronic devices can emanate high-frequency sounds that only a dog can hear and that a human cannot. Because of their ability to hear much higher frequencies, their sense of hearing is superior to ours.
Do They Have Senses That Are Not As Good As Humans?
The eyesight of the dog is often thought to be not as good as human beings. In a simple comparison, it can be shown that most breeds have poor eyesight when compared to not only humans but other mammals. One of the reasons that their sense of smell and their ability to hear are elevated is to compensate for their inability to see properly.
Additionally, dogs will see colors that are much more different from a human being with see. They will often see the world in shades of gray, yellow, and even blue without the proper balance that a human being typically has. Except for colour-blind people, dogs are simply going to have poor eyesight by comparison.
What About Their Sense Of Feeling Or Touch?
One of the unique things about dogs is their sense of touch. It has been shown that virtually every area of the body is extremely sensitive with nerve endings that can feel the world around them. Whether it is a fly landing on the back or the wind blowing gently, they have very fine hairs called vibrissae, specifically in their whiskers, that allow sensitive dog breeds to maximize the sense of feeling.
How Is Their Sense Of Taste Compared To Humans?
From a scientific perspective, when measuring the taste buds that a dog has compared to humans, they have far less than we do. However, they do have the unique ability to taste the air around them. That is why they are often inspired by the aromas that food can produce. However, their lack of taste buds allows them to eat sometimes terrible things without ever noticing how bad it is. This can be detrimental for some dogs, especially if they are willing to eat certain types of plants that you may have in your backyard, which can be poisonous to them.
Overall, dogs have the same five senses that humans do. However, there are areas where they are much more sensitive than ours. This would involve their sense of touch, their ability to smell, and exceptional hearing, going far beyond what a human is capable of experiencing. On the other hand, they have fewer taste buds than we do, and their eyesight is not that good by comparison. Now that you know a little more about the senses that a dog has, you may understand more easily why they do the things they do.
All animals have unique abilities and dogs are no different. Share with us in the comments below your pet’s special abilities. We are all ears. Cheers!
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