#212 Dogs know things we don't—they just can't tell us.

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Ever wondered why your dog suddenly stops to intensely investigate a seemingly ordinary drainpipe or tire? The mystery behind these peculiar canine behaviors reveals a fascinating truth about how our four-legged companions experience the world.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
We all know that dogs explore the world through their
noses.
So quite often when we're outand about with our dogs and they
stop to sniff some randomobject, we might think well, you
know, that's weird.
But usually it's not weird atall.
Does your dog sniff drainpipes?

(00:23):
A drainpipe isn't just a pipe,it's a collection point where
wildlife has passed.
Raccoons, possums, maybe evenstray cats have passed through
these pipes, leaving aninvisible scent trail.
That sticks to the damp edges.
And be careful with this one.

(00:44):
That sticks to the damp edges.
And be careful with this one,because some rodent might
actually be living in the pipeas your dog is investigating it.
And what about those gradedstreet drains?
They pull in runoff water mixedwith scent from everything that
washed across the pavement andthe yards.
To a dog, that grate is aconcentrated sampler of the

(01:09):
whole neighborhood.
And is your dog a tire sniffer?
Tires hold on to all kinds ofresidue Oil, food scraps,
roadkill, animal scent from theroads that they've rolled over.
When your dog leans into a tire, they're not being odd, they're

(01:36):
sampling a compressed record oftravel.
Even those flat patches ofgrass can grab your dog's
attention.
Those are often bedding spotsfor deer or rabbits and the
leftover scent can feel strongand inviting enough that your
dog wants to roll in it,especially if he decides he
wants to take the scent home.
And those random pauses in themiddle of the road while you're

(01:58):
trying to cross the street whereyour dog just stops to smell
the asphalt, it could be whereanother animal once stepped,
left behind a bit of urine orjust brushed past the area,
non-existent or faint to us butclear to a canine nose.
And has your dog ever woken upfrom a deep sleep and just

(02:22):
immediately started barking?
Yes, their noses really arethat good.
Dogs can detect the faint scentof a passing possum, stray cat
or even a shift of air carryingwildlife odor, all while
sleeping inside a closed-uphouse.
And their ears may catch tinymovements long before we notice

(02:47):
them, like you know, a possumwalking across the deck To them.
It's not random, it's a validalert.
So the next time you look atyour dog and think well, that's
weird.
Remember, dogs live in ascent-first world.
When they stop and sniff orbark out of nowhere, they're

(03:11):
responding to real signals, justones that we're not aware of.