Did you know your dog has a nose print ?

Just as no two humans share the same fingerprints, no two dogs share the same nose print. The bumps, patterns and creases are unique to each dog. Look close enough and you might see something looking more a like the cracks of a dried saltpan. But the tip of the nose is only the beginning of the scent process for a canine, which far out-performs our sense of smell. It is their spongy membranes inside the nasal cavity, which separates breathing from smelling. On the outside, the alar fold either side of each nostril opens allowing more air into the upper section of the nasal passages.

When researching this wonderful feature I happened to see a person had tattooed the image of their dog’s nosepad (pointillism style) onto their arm. I even saw pictures of pendants and charms that had been made from a mold of a dog’s nose. I’ve got to be honest that it didn’t appeal to me but you can check it out for yourselves. Being such a sensitive part of the body, I can’t imagine squishing anything against my dogs nose unless I needed to.

Rumour suggests nose prints have been used a form of identity as far back as the 1930’s in Canada however it hasn’t caught on in the rest of the world yet. And unless there is a central database the method is not yet complete. It might be used as the ‘go to’ way to identify your dog as ‘your dog’ in the future, but for now in we are still relying on the microchip.

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)