Smart Dogs Communicate with Breath: Pheew!

Sniff... Sniff... Ah, so the food's behind the tree

(Image: Kristi Miller/Newspix / Rex Features)

They may not be as discerning as a Michelin Guide, but dogs decide where to look for food by sniffing the breath of others.

When tasked with finding a hidden treat, pet dogs heed the advice of another pup that has faced the same challenge.

Such behaviour is common in the animal world. Rats, gerbils, chickens and monkeys are just a few of the creatures known to direct friends and family members to a nearby meal via scent or sound. Chimpanzees tap the shoulders or glare at other chimps while leading them to a treat; the cunning apes also sometimes employ misinformation to keep a food stash secret.

Perhaps most famously, honeybees tell their hive-mates where to find nectar via elaborately choreographed "waggle dances".

Such evidence suggests that domestic dogs should also learn where to find food by communicating with their fellows, yet evidence has been tough to come by.

Dogs are scavengers and a psychologist at the University of Florida in Gainesville says; "It would seem to be advantageous for them to pay attention to where another dog finds a titbit and go after it."