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DOG NOSES: ARE THEY REALLY UNIQUE?

Dec 28, 2023 | By: The PAWtographers

A Collection of Dog Noses

Discover the uniqueness of dog noses with The PAWtographers—capturing every boop-worthy detail in our fine art portraits.

When I faced the possibility of losing my heart dog, Noelle, to acute renal failure back in May, I was devastated. One of the first things I did (after a good cry) was to have a custom, sterling silver charm made of her nose. The mold captured every little bump and groove of her precious nose—I call it my “boop charm,” and I treasure it.

Thankfully, Noelle defied the odds and is on her way to a full recovery. (Fingers crossed for good news in November!) Now, with our other pup, Carmen, facing some heart issues, I immediately got her boop charm made too. These little charms have become a special way to keep a part of them close, no matter what.

Note: if you’d like a boop charm made of your pup, click on the buttom below.

 

Link to Dog Nose Charms

My heart dog, Noelle

Thinking that we had maybe a weekend at most, we took some ussies (selfies together) so that I would have a little something representing our exceptional bond. Thankfully, she defied the odds and is currently doing well.

Silver Nose Charms

As unique as your dog, we love these! Click on the image twice to access the ordering page. (once to get the image to pull up by itself, and then again to access the ordering page.)

Silver Nose Charms

The mold is on the left and the resulting charm on the right. Pretty cool and fairly simple. Click on the image twice to access the ordering page. (once to get the image to pull up by itself, and then again to access the ordering page.)

ARE DOG BOOPS REALLY THAT UNIQUE?

Obviously, I think so! But don’t just take my word for it—there’s some fascinating history and science behind it.

From 1938 to 1992, the Canadian Kennel Club accepted nose prints as a form of identification for purebred dog registrations. While this method was phased out in favor of tattoos and microchips, it wasn’t because nose prints weren’t accurate. The main issues were the readability of the prints and the logistics of storing and using physical prints for lost dog recovery.

Fast forward to 2021, and researchers in South Korea confirmed that a dog’s nose pattern is indeed unique. Their study found that the shape of the nostrils, the length and position of the philtrum (that little line at the bottom of your dog’s nose), and the grooves and beads between the nostrils make each nose one-of-a-kind. These patterns are set by the age of 6 months and remain unchanged throughout a dog’s life.

Nose Scans: The Future of Dog Identification?

As a non-invasive and cost-effective alternative to microchipping, nose scan identification could become the new standard. Imagine if everyone could identify a lost dog with just their smartphone—sounds like a game-changer, right?

There’s an App for That!

In fact, there are already several apps in beta testing that use nose scan technology for dog identification:

  • Anipuppy (South Korea): With 99.9% accuracy, this app allows people who find lost dogs to quickly connect with their owners. It’s designed to address the low registration rates of microchipped dogs in South Korea.
  • NoseID (Japan): This app is being used in Fukuoka City to scan and register all lost dogs at the pet welfare center. The goal is to build a comprehensive data platform for pets.
  • Smart Snout (UK): Set to launch its 2.0 version this year, Smart Snout also boasts 99% accuracy and will soon be available on the App Store and Google Play.

Smart Snout Version 2.0

How this dog nose scanner technology works.

Could It Work in the United States?

With the widespread use of smartphones and our love for tech, this could definitely catch on in the U.S. For those who have concerns about microchipping, whether for health reasons or cost, a nose scan app could be a quick and easy way to identify lost dogs. After all, most people have a smartphone, but not everyone has a chip reader handy.

What are your thoughts?

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