Presentation Details
| Comparing and validating methods to measure dogs’ olfactory thresholds Connor T.Lambert, Glenna N.Cupp, Sarah A.Kane, Andrea C.Medrano, Paola A.Prada-Tiedemann, Edgar O.Aviles-Rosa, Nathaniel J.Hall. Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA |
Abstract
Olfactory detection thresholds can provide insight into the ecology, evolution, and behavior of a species. In dogs, olfactory thresholds are especially relevant for improving odor training and identifying behaviorally relevant chemicals for detection work. However, the methods previously used to examine dogs’ olfactory thresholds are varied and often lack controls or external validation. We aimed to (1) compare three threshold procedures to determine which yields the lowest (i.e. most sensitive) olfactory thresholds in dogs, (2) evaluate potential confounds of these methods, and (3) validate our methods via a reference odor used in previous studies of dog olfactory thresholds. We found that a descending blocked procedure provided the lowest threshold values, and that these thresholds are within the range of previous research. Our control tests found that our measured olfactory thresholds were not driven by fatigue or sensory adaptation. Ultimately, we have identified a valid method for assessing dog olfactory thresholds that can guide future work to understand olfactory ecology and evolution in dogs and better identify behaviorally relevant chemicals for detection work.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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