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Monday, November 24, 2014

Eyes or Nose?

I find it fascinating to spend so much time in the woods with a different species, a dog. We humans rely very heavily on our sight to "scan" the world around us. For dogs, it is undeniably different. I've seen Shyla walk right past all sorts of wildlife - deer, elk, grouse - who were standing still downwind of her. She didn't see them with her eyes, and the wind was taking their scent away from her. This was one example last summer. She didn't see this grouse!
Because we humans are so visually oriented, we tend to focus on the eyes of our dog friends when we look at them.
But, perhaps their portraits should look like this to emphasize which sense is most important to them!
Sometimes I wish that I could "see" the world through a dog's nose for just one day!
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19 comments:

  1. TexWisGirlNovember 24, 2014 at 1:06 PM

    very cute. :)

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  2. ValNovember 24, 2014 at 1:10 PM

    I have often said the same thing KB! Love when my girlz get a hit on some interesting smell.

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  3. Brian's Home BlogNovember 24, 2014 at 1:20 PM

    Indeed, the nose knows!

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  4. UnknownNovember 24, 2014 at 2:13 PM

    I've heard people say that dogs can smell a whole landscape in the same way that we can - and pick out the individual scents that make up the scene. I'd love to experience that...I think!

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  5. zoepheedogsNovember 24, 2014 at 2:29 PM

    I think it would definitely be interesting to experience what dogs do with their noses!

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  6. DukeNovember 24, 2014 at 3:38 PM

    I'd love to have that experience too, KB!

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  7. Dachshund NolaNovember 24, 2014 at 5:13 PM

    That bird is so neat! I find it funny to watch Nola because she hardly ever noticeably uses her nose - she's always watching and seems to rely more on that.

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  8. SullyNovember 24, 2014 at 5:52 PM

    all ya gotta do is close your eyes and sniff it's real easy if you have a big snooter like mine.

    Aroo to you,
    Sully

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  9. Bella Roxy & MacduiNovember 24, 2014 at 6:22 PM

    We've never seen a grouse. That is one weird lookin' bird!

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  10. Taffy November 24, 2014 at 7:07 PM

    I was told by a dog trainer once that when we walk into a room we can say "I smell stew cooking." When a dog walks in they smell carrots, peas, green beans, etc. He said they smell each ingredient, not "stew".

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  11. houndstoothNovember 24, 2014 at 8:34 PM

    So true! I've seen Küster stop and look really surprised a lot of times when his "victim" suddenly appears at the end of his trail. It always cracks me up, but he gets so caught up in the world of scent that he forgets to use his eyes.

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  12. bichonpawzNovember 24, 2014 at 9:09 PM

    Great shots!

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  13. The Daily Pip November 24, 2014 at 9:19 PM

    I know, I would love to experience the world through a dog's nose just for a little while. Must be amazing!

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  14. Tweedles -- that's meNovember 24, 2014 at 9:21 PM

    Wouldn't it be sooo very exciting!!
    And we would have the happiest nose and eyes in the whole world!
    love
    tweedles

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  15. The Adventures of the LLB GangNovember 24, 2014 at 9:35 PM

    So very true!

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  16. TarynNovember 25, 2014 at 12:00 AM

    LOL! The only problem being that what their good strong noses consider a good smell and what we would aren't the same! But it sure would be interesting. I know I can always tell when a deer is near me due to the smell, but certainly not the fox. And dogs can follow a scent from previous days. It really is amazing!

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  17. Mary HoneNovember 25, 2014 at 7:44 AM

    Torrey smells stuff on our walks, that I never even see until she chases them.

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  18. Two French BulldogsNovember 25, 2014 at 9:30 AM

    For flat noses we got pretty good sniffers. How did you miss that bird? Bet it taste like chicken
    Lily & Edward

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  19. MurphyNovember 25, 2014 at 10:24 AM

    It would be an interesting experiment! Mom says I have eyes like a hawk when it comes to spotting a bird cuz I chase them all!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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