Evaluating effects of aging on dog olfactory performance

Aging is a dynamic process across a dog's lifespan, with age-related changes impacting how dogs function in their companion and working roles. However, the impact of aging on key sensory modalities, such as olfaction, is not well understood. The current study aimed to characterize age-related changes in canine olfactory abilities via an adaptation of the Natural Detection Task. Data were collected on 65 dogs aged 5 years or older, with 44 dogs completing all components of the task. We found age-related decrements in olfactory performance, but only under certain conditions and with differential effects as a function of training level. Age also affected whether dogs completed the entirety of the task, indicative of non-olfactory (e.g., physical or motivational) factors. Additionally, dogs completed the Cylinder Reversal Task (CRT) to determine whether olfactory changes were correlated with cognitive changes. We found no age-related changes in CRT performance and no significant associations between cognitive and olfactory task performance. These findings indicate that dogs' olfactory capabilities decrease with age but, critically, training experience may have protective effects against age-related declines, and effects may only be apparent under certain conditions. Future studies should continue to consider olfaction when studying aging impacts upon the dog.