Approximately how many olfactory sensor cells are contained in a German Shepherd's nose?

• A. 50 million
• B. 220 million
• C. 2 billion
• D. 120 million

Answer: (B)

A dog’s ability to smell comes from the large number of olfactory receptor cells in its nose. German Shepherds have about 220 million of these olfactory sensor cells, which helps explain why they’re so skilled at tracking and detecting faint scents. That high count, along with a big olfactory bulb and highly folded nasal structures that increase surface area, gives them sensory power far beyond human smell. The other numbers don’t line up with what’s typical for dogs: 50 million or 120 million are lower than what most working breeds have, and 2 billion would be far too high for the canine olfactory system. So 220 million is the best approximate figure.