How do dogs "see" with their noses? - Alexandra Horowitz

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-dogs...
You may have heard the expression that dogs ‘see with their noses.’ But these creature’s amazing nasal architecture actually reveals a whole world beyond what we can see. Alexandra Horowitz illustrates how the dog’s nose can smell the past, the future and even things that can’t be seen at all.
Lesson by Alexandra Horowitz, animation by Província Studio.

[@artwelve22]

So that means a dog can definitely tell if their owner petted another dog... “welcome home, CHEATER”

[@tomasdelcampo2]

This video wasn’t necessary to realize that

[@arikakarin2323]

Smart boi

[@Amit_Pirate]

I have neighbors in my house and both the families have one dog and when my dad comes home my dog Max smells him like a thousand times just to confirm that he didn't meet any other dog 😂

[@apillow666]

"Why do you smell of the neighbor's DOG?!"

[@heatherbillington4906]

To true

[@mitjakocjancic2205]

A piss-covered tree is a Dog's facebook wall.

[@ibrahinmenriquez3108]

Did you mean... Piss-book? :D

[@vincent4724]

LOL

[@justabitch4671]

Ibrahinm SciMath pissbark

[@justabitch4671]

Ibrahinm SciMath get it “bark”? Like a tree bark and dog barking

[@shayyemini3406]

Mitja Kocjancic lol

[@fakemadereal]

I never knew dogs were 5th dimensional beings....

[@random_person_on_internet]

Ha ha ha lol😂

[@aguas_de_marco]

*dun dun*

[@user-pi1lb4tf2f]

It's not spelled G O D backwards for nothing.

[@you_tube8119]

@@user-pi1lb4tf2f damnn, v both hv the same usernameee

[@downdacourt]

I did not think I could love my dog more than I already do, but I was completely wrong.

[@mikeyd946]

My friends dog is 100% blind but it acts like its not even phased. I am always in awe by its ability to navigate this world! This is why he is so well adjusted!

[@julesoxana3630]

Dogs are awesome❤️ your friends dog sounds sounds so amazing and your friend is an amazing owner❤️

[@tweaker1bms]

I had a blind dog that would be able to escape the house and follow us for miles down a winding mountain road, a road we were driving down mind you! He was able to follow us when we were in a car 😳

[@5LAY3R]

@@tweaker1bmsdamn that’s crazy! What kind of dog?

[@fernandajaor3559]

Dogs are the most beautiful creature on Earth

[@rtrimble]

AGREED!!!

[@balloonomancy3429]

No, they aren't.

[@balloonomancy3429]

No, they aren't. Period. Game over.

[@fernandajaor3559]

Nutella Spoonful Why do you think they're not? What's the most beautiful creature then?

[@balloonomancy3429]

Nothing. Nature is the most beautiful thing.

[@tangerine8345]

I looved this video. Dogs are beyong amazing. My 10 year old rottie passed away almost 2 years ago, and we are still missing her deeply. She was the joy in my home, we were very blessed to have her ❤❤

[@sortagoodish8491]

Do you have a new dog yet? My 11 year old golden retriever is going to be put down tomorrow, so I know the pain - and yeah I know I'm responding to a 4 year old comment, sue me - but I at least have two other, much younger goldens; there are always more dogs, each wonderful in their own way, always coming anew even as our older canine friends pass. I'll miss my old good boy, but he lived a good life, and my younger dogs will stay with me - and in future days when they too pass, new pups will have been born, each to live long and well.

[@sayhey2538]

Nowadays people tend to love dogs more than their family members👍

[@suzanneshelton4798]

Thank you - this made me appreciate the importance of dogs having the opportunity to get outside their own yard and smell different smells. Atticus and I go for a lot more walks now.

[@da_poopoo_dealer3152]

Lol i do this with my cat ill drive around letting her smell out the window for a bit then ill pull over and let her walk around and sniff stuff and even rub her face on stuff to mark it if she wants

[@dstanl]

I read somewhere that when you take your dog out for a walk/sniff, for them it’s like reading the paper. They find out everything they need to know. I always let my dog have a good sniff even if it drives me crazy.

[@user-my8qj]

But why would that drive you crazy?

[@eyglo89]

@@user-my8qj It can drive you crazy bc it's very time consuming, just a 10 min walk for you alone can be double the time with a dog. Always stopping and sniffing/peeing, sometimes we only take 2 steps and then they stop again like it's the most important sniff they will ever have. I do allow my dog's to stop this often, when I take them out it's for them, I try to not combine me doing stuff and taking them with me and walk there. If I'm walking for the exercise I will choose a path where they can run free and I don't need to stop this often. I call these slow walks Nosebook 😅 but if someone was standing over me while I was on Facebook or other social media I would also try to read/see everything at once

[@Garbeaux.]

I’ve always thought dogs and humans have a symbiotic relationship that makes up for each other’s strengths and weakness. We work together in a mutually beneficial partnership. Some have argued we wouldn’t have started civilization without the help of dogs.

[@Chorum28]

I knew my dog was special.

[@innovacionservicioded2038]

OMFG BEST COMMENT EVER

[@kevinren2044]

i was ur 100th like lol

[@boobatherapper2595]

Give them daltonian glasses😎😎

[@toreshi]

Watching this with my dog :)

[@rolandviado]

lucky7 same

[@caninebroccoli9543]

How good of a boy/girl/non binary is she/he/they?

[@ATBZ]

:)

[@Viridiana_0]

same :)

[@choco8970]

Same

[@eldash2801]

They are so perfect, we dont deserve them at all 💕 And now people can hurt them, is beyond my understanding.

[@kevobrando95lx44]

The little air vortexes caused by the exhaling makes the quick sniffing sensible

[@adamstriebel7815]

CRAZY HOW LUCKY WE ARE to be able to access all this knowledge. I LOVE me some TED-Ed! Alexandra's book is great too!!!

[@joshuarosen6242]

The point about time is what fascinates me about this. I can see my dog can smell the recent history of where we go. It would be really interesting to know what that feels like.

[@MichaelMiller-rg6or]

My dog drives me crazy sometimes, my home wouldn't be the same without him

[@RandomCanEHdian]

I think this video helps me explain to myself why my dog has such an obsession with the window near her couch always being open.

[@thiagomoutinhoramos]

That's why dogs are SO adorable

[@SilverSugarwings]

God has blessed us with such wonderful creatures :) 💙

[@thatoneguy7451]

if they had thumbs and a bigger brain, they’d pick up a knife and kill us

[@professoreg3801]

@@thatoneguy7451 you’re thinking of cats dude

[@KrzysztofKotarba]

I use public transport... I don't want to have such a good smell like dogs.

[@MrMysticphantom]

holy crap i knew the differences would be complex.... but not this complex... this is amazing

[@ElectricIguana]

I fell in love with the animated dog in this video

[@bayla2011]

What a beautiful study! The animation was great too- quite child like. Thank you for sharing!

[@ljre3397]

I know this is 7 years old but this is a really good video. Thanks if you’re still listening.

[@achalsood3705]

All this sniffing power and my dog still struggles to find the treats I hide for him. My dog is a little derpy but I still love him very much.

[@brokensunnier4098]

What a wonderful lesson! I have a gluten detection dog and this is a great explanation of how he can do what he does! Thank you to all who made this!

[@animatrix1490]

I feel like this is part of why people (including myself) like dogs. They can literally sense our emotions and respond to them.

[@Cayleona]

That animated dog was absolutely beautiful! And thanks for this video :)

[@nonsibicunctis]

Great presentation - simply explained, attractive graphics, entertaining & informative. Good one. AAA

[@marieindia8116]

I cant tell you how much I love this video. I have recommended it to several people.

[@judypa38]

Interesting: I live where there are deer. I noticed I won't see a deer if I am outside working. If I stay inside all day, sometime during the day I have a family of deer hanging out in my yard. I had seen cougars and wondered how the deer avoided the cougars; then I learned deer smell other animals and they know who the predators are. There was a couple of times peoples dogs would run over to me and let me pet them; the owner would say: my dog doesn't let others pet them. My favorite animal story: I was really tired one day and fell asleep sitting up on the couch. My friendly dog, was acting chaotic and really wanted my attention - I got up because he was acting so weird and followed him, he took me to the door and I saw a mans hand reaching for the door knob and I noticed the door wasn't locked. I locked it, and the man said, sorry wrong house. My dog knew- he smelled or sensed danger.

[@tsueberm]

One big difference not really made clear in the video is, that we humans are limited to distinguish one smell at a time (try it out - you can one smell one thing at a time). While dogs do not have time limitation. As they can smell many things at once, the comparison is rather about one colour at a time vs. seeing a full 3d vision.

[@ADEehrh]

dafreergdf That may be cause their face is almost all nose. Long live fido!

[@AdnanAhmed]

Great voice over for the dog.

[@teke735]

Amazing information, delivered wonderfully! Quite a few questions answered for me. Kudos!

[@deadblasterjs]

Ted ed dogs don't see in black and white you know... They see a lot less colors but they do see colors Human beings have 3 cones of color receptors in our eyes Dong only have 2.. Mantis shrimp has 12 receptors :D

[@FunnyLittleFrog]

And how do these receptors/cones make each thing look different? Just curious

[@siyacer]

@@FunnyLittleFrog 3 different cones means 3 different primary colors. Less cones means less colors, because there's less colors that can be made by combining with the primary colors.

[@thatoneguy7451]

Dogs see blue and yellow, but don’t see green and red; green and red looks like just gray to them.

[@random_person_on_internet]

@@thatoneguy7451 means color blind peoples also have 2 cons instead of 3😄😆😂

[@random_person_on_internet]

Looks like world is always very colorful for mantis shrimps :D

[@youwantmyname9208]

Dogs could sense your emotions, sickness or your genetic even if you didn't even know you had it! Dogs smelling ability is so amazing

[@jalajarmenon8680]

Genetic?

[@NguyenMinh792]

Genes

[@hrrawr]

It's been a long time since I've learned so much in less than 5 minutes!

[@danielparra9271]

This is amazing! thanks.

[@ha8008]

the animation is so cute i love it

[@gowasnoga]

dogs are awesome

[@ronmecredy]

I always find it funny when other dog owners comment about how my dog is probably smelling their pooch when she greets them

[@domenica1976]

this is amazing. Thanks for sharing!!

[@ArjunShenoy]

Didn't know there is so much !! Thanks for the share TED-Ed !!

[@yeaijachoudhury7100]

dogs are love💖.... the bestest greatest friendliest creature of all time 💖💙💚💛💝💜

[@50zezima]

dogs do not see like that, they are red-green colorblind by default. that means that they still see vibrant yellows and blues

[@xivwords5448]

Too poo not totally rg color blinds. The rods and cones

[@rafiasruti9430]

This doggo is way too cuteo😍

[@diwesta]

This dog art is really cute

[@adrianapibai4500]

Thanx Alexandra Horowitz for your contribution to science, especially to our knowledge and interaction with dogs. Regards from Buenos Aires.

[@elizabethlancaster6695]

awwww i wanna hug my little buddy now like always love you Yoda and Jaxxy

[@studmuffin4785]

Hahahahahaahaha @2:36 and her voice is so serious loool- funny yet educational :)

[@o001857]

I love the narration by Pen-Pen Chen.

[@ronque23]

Watched this while my dog lay on my lap, right before he’s sniffing around even though I’ve got no treat for him. Great bonding video!

[@kellytozarindamasceno6709]

I liked the animation, simple and cute!

[@bassinblue]

I'm watching this video and looking at my cat like ''see? Why can't you be like that?"....he just crapped on my bed.

[@rolandviado]

David Harrison OMG!!! 😨

[@siyacer]

Potty training time

[@christosvaid4454]

Wrong animal pet

[@lara_xy]

Love the animations as always!

[@vjnikm8730]

Animation is awesome...hope u make each video like this only....and dog look so sweet...I'm definitely gonna adopte one soon...

[@Simonmallink9]

fantastic love it .. Will be using it as a training aid at our academy ...

[@ItBeHayley]

dogs are just amazing

[@_charlotteevee_]

The dog in the video is so cute!

[@jujudizzle]

Super cute and informative! Thanks :D

[@youdontknowme55517]

amazing video! love it

[@juliusgoze1380]

Maybe it should be "how do good Bois smell good food"

[@B.Thull-Dawid]

Sehr schön, super umgesetzt, ich bin begeistert!

[@idkwtvr4844]

In English, we can directly describe how things look (ex: this is green), or we can say that it looks like something else (this looks like an apple). There are a lot fewer direct description words for smell, and we usually describe smells by saying what something smells like. This is because most humans do not rely on the sense of smell as much as sight, so we have more descriptive words for sight. However, dogs have a relatively strong sense of smell and worse eyesight, so if they had a language, I can’t help but wonder whether they would have a lot more words to describe smell that we humans will never be able to understand. (Just imagine a dog being like “your apple smells green”)

[@mikestoneadfjgs]

Great video!!

[@aryensujjan]

TED Ed you are just amazing

[@dipro001]

AWWW this dog is SO CUTEE! I want to give it a hug ^_^

[@gatorchomp3371]

amazing, great video!

[@Miyao05]

This is why I love dogs. Just another amazing facts about them

[@1127jim]

They should do another one on dog hearing. My dog can hear the UPS and FEDEX truck long before it passes near the house.

[@Lena-ld1qc]

Have long wondered the same thing. My uncle's guard dog, who stays in his front yard, starts welcoming me when I'm almost a block away whenever I go visit them. I can hear him bark like crazy and I know he can't see me. Though, I've always thought he could smell and not hear me, cus he does not bark for strangers when they're that far, but he does bark for me and my brother.

[@MNobass]

so nice! I love it!

[@jackjohn4882]

My dog could tell if I had bought chicken for dinner way before I was even close to the house's gate.

[@lavapop1900]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video

[@noahsmit5663]

so helpful

[@goldenhorn15]

What a wonderful video! My dogs never cease to SNORT me, when I have been away from the house. I love dogs so fking muchly :)

[@isabellahaddad8091]

At first I thought it wasn’t highlighting the human olfactory bulb but after a hot second I realized it was a tiny speck almost as thick as the line and that’s how small it is

[@shawoo]

Please let dogs sniff and don’t yank on their leash while you walk them. Sniffing time is their time

[@holly3905]

Fascinating!

[@morkwa]

fire hydrants and trees are kind of a dog "foursquare". they're like "sniff-sniff, let's see who checked in here?"

[@weird.silence9548]

We watched this in school! Great video!!

[@Cristinact]

Loved it, loved it!!

[@emilyhancock3456]

SO cool!

[@TommyAndGracie]

My chihuahua has radar smelling and hearing! : )

[@genesisonaroll1040]

That dog is sooooo cuteeeee

[@irislioness]

AMAZING!!!

[@dominikakoodynska3357]

how amazing!! 😍

[@1018Stacey]

Wow, your video was very well done. I learned a lot even though we do not have a dog but, many cats instead.

[@trentigalaxy]

i love my dogs sponge nose

[@danilovilela1784]

After watched this video I undestand my dog better and see the things as its point of view. Thanks for that! Grat job

[@PortsladeBySea]

Fascinating! 🐶❤️🐶

[@SandyBoyko]

Amazing indeed!

[@damienhagedorn8990]

When it called landmarks like fire hydrants and trees aromatic bulletin boards it reminded me of something my grandmother would say about dogs taking their time to smell those areas she would say they're reading the newspaper

[@Ayan44]

i love dogs

[@liamarelia]

Awesome!🐶💛

[@hsaqib8995]

Thank you for sharing :)

[@karinbridge]

Excellent

[@brenna3048]

Me ha encantado siempre quise saber por que mi perro sabia la hora de llegada del trabajo gracias.!!!

[@gsantoscms]

What a fascinating video. As a fellow dog lover, Thank you! Something else I have always wondered is why do they lick humans so much?

[@valentinascollo4454]

Imprecionante!