Dogs are able to hone in on one specific smell (a familiar person, animal, pee marked tree) and follow it for long distances. They rely on overlapping circles of familiar scents to find their way back home, much like we can rely on cell phone pings on towers to find specific locations. 7 апр. 2016 г.
Can dogs smell their way home?
Dogs are well known for their ability to backtrack to a beloved home — or person. Most animal behavior experts attribute their navigating ability largely to a hypersensitive sense of smell.
Do dogs have a sense of home?
Dog Sense of Smell and Scent Markers Every time you take your dog on a walk in your neighborhood, he gets more familiarized with the sights, sounds and smells distinctive to your house and the streets around you. And every time your dog takes a step, he leaves behind a distinct scent from his paw pads.
How far away can a dog smell its owner?
Under perfect conditions, they have been reported to smell objects or people as far as 20km away. You might be interested to know dogs are not the only great smellers.
What are dogs looking for when they smell?
The chemical aromas identify gender and mood, and even communicate what a dog likes to eat. By simply smelling, a dog can determine if a new friend is male or female, happy or aggressive, or healthy or ill.

Below are two helpful articles on a similar topic 👇
How many miles can a dog find its way home?How do animals leave trails behind them?