Olfaction and explosives detector dogs

Dogs are widely considered to have an exceptional sense of smell that has evolved for the detection of odors relevant for their survival and reproduction. A dog’s ability to detect and discriminate odors varies as a function of the importance of the odor. It is not a given that a dog’s ability to detect explosives is as acute as its ability to find and discriminate individual human odors or dog odors. It is important to eliminate the mythology associated with dogs’ noses and begin to understand the science behind the canine ability to detect explosive odors.