More dog detectives – smelling what we wouldn’t want to

I’ve noticed that my dog loves smells that gross me out – the worse it smells, the better he likes it.

This is inconvenient when, for example, he wants to get into my garbage cans. But it’s a trait that comes in handy for people who train some working dogs.

Take Scott Reynolds and his dog Sable, a German Shepherd mix. Sable’s specialty is sniffing sewage. In particular, he can detect E. coli bacteria.

Sable & Scott Reynolds

A Lansing, Michigan environmental company uses the pair to clean up water supplies. Sable is faster and more precise than standard lab tests: he can tell immediately whether contaminants are in the water, and he can lead Reynolds toward the source of the leaks.

Scott Reynolds, who rescued Sable from a Lake Odessa shelter, emphasizes that he takes good care of his dog to make sure he isn’t harmed by his work: consultations with vets, regular blood work, and a bath “at least once a day.”

That’s good for Scott’s nose, at least. As for me, I’m glad to know that far from finding it burdensome, Sable probably loves the smells that are his stock in trade.