Olfactory ability is central to many canine roles, from search and rescue to medical detection. Yet, despite centuries of selective breeding, the relative contribution of genetics, training, and environment to scent detection ability remains debated. In this large-scale investigation published in Scientific Reports, Attila Salamon and colleagues examined whether breed or functional breed group better predicts dogs’ natural scent detection performance.
Using the Natural Detection Task (NDT)—a test requiring no prior scent training—the researchers assessed 527 dogs (484 included in final analysis) across multiple breeds. Dogs were categorized into groups based on traditional selection purposes: olfaction, cooperation, or both. They were tested for their ability to locate hidden food, with success rate and search time recorded as primary indicators of olfactory performance.
Contrary to expectations, breed group classification was not a significant predictor of detection success. Instead, individual breed differences emerged as the strongest determinant. Border Collies, originally bred for herding, outperformed many breeds traditionally associated with scent work, such as Vizslas, Retrievers, and Bloodhounds. Conversely, Beagles—a breed long associated with olfactory specialization—located hidden food faster than Border Collies and several other breeds.
The study also linked higher Responsiveness to training personality scores with greater olfactory success, while higher training levels surprisingly correlated with slower successful searches, possibly due to more deliberate or methodical strategies. Traits such as Activity/Excitability, attention-deficit scores, and owner reward styles showed no measurable influence.
Overall, these findings indicate that breed-specific traits and individual variability play a larger role in canine scent detection than generalized breed group labels. The authors note that environmental and experiential factors likely interact with genetics to shape olfactory performance, underscoring the complexity of predicting scent detection success across different dog populations.
By introducing the NDT as a low-training, naturalistic method for evaluating dogs’ olfactory abilities, the study provides a valuable framework for future research into the biological and behavioral foundations of scent work in dogs.
Source: Salamon, A., Miklósi, Á., Zsiros, L. R., Kovács, T., Kubinyi, E., Andics, A., & Gácsi, M. (2025). Breed differences in olfactory performance of dogs. Scientific Reports, 15. Published January 21, 2025.
