The Science Behind a Dog’s Fantastic Sense of Smell

In a clip from the John Downer Productions/BBC/PBS series Pets Wild at Heart, the elegant voice of David Tennant explains the science behind a dog’s fantastic sense of smell. They also reveal how a dog’s olfactory physiology works using specialized Schlieren photography, which captures fluid flow in slow motion.

Specialised filming technique known as Schlieren photography shows how smell not only plays a part in searching for food in the dog world but also in romantic liaisons.

How Dogs Smell
Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.