Dogs have a remarkable sense of smell—they can detect smells that humans cannot even perceive. Research has consistently proven that they can be trained to detect substances like narcotics and explosives and diseases like diabetes and cancer [1].

But, can dogs smell edibles, considering the THC has been fused with other ingredients into food?

If you’re anxious about drug-sniffing dogs at airports or worried about what could happen to your dog if it finds your edibles stash, stay tuned. We’ll reveal everything about your dog’s powerful sense of smell and whether consuming edibles around them is safe.

How Potent Is a Dog’s Sense of Smell?

Dogs’ olfactory systems are very advanced—their sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times more powerful than that of humans. A dog can detect scents at concentrations as low as one part per trillion, meaning a dog could identify a drop of a substance in a swimming pool the size of an Olympic one [2].

Their snoots are so powerful that they can distinguish between the individual elements of a scent, making it possible for them to detect THC even when combined with other ingredients and baked [3].

Their extraordinary sense of smell is a combination of several biological traits:

Brain power: The brain part that analyzes smell in dogs is around 40 times larger than the corresponding area in the human brain relative to the total brain size.
Specialized airflow: When dogs sniff, a certain amount of air flows into their olfactory receptors, whereas the rest is used for respiration. This allows them to continuously analyze smells without experiencing breathing interruptions.
Millions of olfactory receptors: Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors. To put this into perspective, you only have around 6 million. As such, dogs have an impressive capacity to detect even the weakest of scents.

Can Drug-Sniffing Dogs Detect THC in Edibles?

Many individuals assume that the baking associated with gummies or brownies masks the scent. And, they’re not entirely wrong.

The processing may suppress the skunky aroma, but the THC and other compounds still release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that drug-sniffing dogs are trained to detect. They go through rigorous training to be able to detect a variety of scents using methods like scent imprinting, real-life scenarios, and behavioral reinforcement.

What’s more, some detection dogs are specifically trained to recognize cannabis products like concentrates, oils, and edibles. They can smell scents from up to 12 miles away, depending on wind, the odor concentration, and the dog’s scent-hunting experience and training.

Overall, dogs don’t necessarily smell cannabis as a whole, but rather spot the chemical elements unique to it, such as cannabinoids and terpenes. One can conclude that baking edibles change the scent molecules of THC but don’t remove them entirely.

Can Pet Dogs Detect THC in Edibles?

Drug-sniffing dogs undergo training to be able to spot THC, but what about regular pet dogs? The answer depends on breed, exposure, and curiosity.

Let’s take a closer look:

Olfactory abilities: Pet dogs have a naturally powerful sense of smell. They may not be trained to recognize THC, but they can spot unusual scents in their surroundings and edibles are no exception.
Food motivation: Police sniffing dogs identify THC with the help of reinforcement and rewards whereas pet dogs are naturally drawn to the scent of food ingredients in edibles like peanut butter, chocolate, or other tasty ingredients. They may not spot THC as a separate scent, but will still be able to sniff out the edible.
Scent retention and memory: Dogs have an extraordinary ability to remember scents. If they’ve been exposed to edibles before, they will associate a certain scent with it and react to it in the future, especially if paired with familiar food.

Why Do Dogs Smell Edibles?

In addition to cannabis, edibles contain numerous other food ingredients. Though they may suppress the skunky smell, it doesn’t mean that dogs won’t react to them.

Here’s why:

1. THC has trace odors

When cannabis is baked into cookies or brownies, THC doesn’t lose its odor as It continues releasing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that dogs can trace.

2. THC is a fat-soluble cannabinoid

THC is a fat-soluble cannabinoid that binds easily to fatty substances like butter, chocolate, and oils and remains detectable to dogs even after baking.

3. Masking doesn’t remove scents entirely

Scent masking is often used to hide the weedy smell of cannabis in edibles by adding ingredients like citrus, mint, or cinnamon. However, this doesn’t remove the scent entirely—it’s still present in traces detectable by dogs.

Effective Tips to Use Edibles Responsibly Around Dogs

Edibles can pose a serious risk to dogs if they accidentally ingest them. THC is toxic to pets and can be life-threatening.

To ensure your furry friend’s safety and well-being, especially if you consume edibles regularly, here are a few practical and effective tips for responsible use:

Store the edibles in airtight containers. Keep the containers in high, locked cabinets and out of reach to dogs.
Dogs are curious creatures by nature and paired with their strong sense of smell, they may try to snatch the edibles from your hands or off a table. So, avoid consuming edibles in their presence.
Recognize the signs of edible ingestion in dogs and take it to the vet ASAP. The symptoms of THC toxicity are drooling, vomiting, lethargy, loss of balance, and unusual behavior.
Make sure every member of your household who consumes edibles knows the importance of keeping them away from dogs’ reach and share best practices to ensure safe edibles consumption around dogs.

Final Thoughts

Dogs have an impressive sense of smell that makes them great at detecting THC, even when it’s infused into edibles. Therefore, though edibles may be a discreet option to consume cannabis, trained police dogs can still pick up on them, making them a risk in places with restricted cannabis use.

If you’re a pet owner, ensure your dog’s well-being by storing edibles out of reach to prevent accidental ingestion, which can be harmful. Take the proper precautions to continue responsible edible use without endangering your furry friend’s well-being!