--- title: "Scientists: Trained Dogs Can Smell Coronavirus" description: "Researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany, have found that dogs are able to sniff out the coronavirus with an astonishing accuracy. During tests, they found that eight dogs from Germany’s Bundeswehr could correctly identify the coronavirus 94 percent of the time after only being trained a week, as Bloomberg reports. “We think […]" date: "2020-07-28" modified: "2020-07-28" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/scientists-trained-dogs-can-smell-coronavirus" categories: - "Developments" - "Health & Medicine" - "Medical" - "Pathogens" - "Viruses" tags: - "coronavirus" - "covid19" - "dogs" --- # Scientists: Trained Dogs Can Smell Coronavirus ![A team of German researchers have found that dogs are able to sniff out the coronavirus with an astonishing accuracy after only a week of training.]() *\Image: University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover\* Researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany, have found that dogs are able to sniff out the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 with astonishing accuracy. During tests, they found that eight dogs from Germany's military could correctly identify the presence of the coronavirus 94 percent of the time after only being trained a week, as [*Bloomberg* reports](). "We think that this works because the metabolic processes in the body of a diseased patient is completely changed," Maren von Koeckritz-Blickwede, a professor at the university, said in a [video statement]() posted by the university on YouTube. "We think that the dogs are able to detect a specific smell produced" by the metabolic process. Despite dogs being used to sniff out a variety of contraband substances and even explosives at airports and other locations, "people have not really realized the potential a dog could have to detect diseased from non-diseased patients," argues Holger Volk, head of the small animal clinic at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, in the video. The researchers suggested that the dog sniffing method could be employed in "public areas such as airports, sport events, borders or other mass gatherings," according to the video's caption — but only in addition to existing lab testing. The COVID-19 samples were completely randomized, so neither the dog handlers nor the researchers knew which samples were positive and which ones weren't. In other words, the researchers guarded against the "[Clever Hans" effect](), in which animals appear to be solving complex problems, but are actually taking cues from their human handlers. ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()