Which animal is commonly used for detecting narcotics due to its keen sense of smell?

Dogs are renowned for their exceptional sense of smell, making them highly effective for detecting narcotics. Their olfactory system is more developed than that of many other animals, containing up to 300 million scent receptors compared to approximately six million in humans. This remarkable ability allows dogs to identify a vast array of scents and even distinguish between different types of drugs.

In narcotics detection training, dogs are conditioned to associate specific smells with positive reinforcement, enabling them to alert handlers to the presence of drugs hidden in various environments such as vehicles, luggage, and on people. Their agility and intelligence further enhance their effectiveness in search and rescue or law enforcement operations, cementing their role as invaluable partners in combating drug trafficking.

While cats, rabbits, and horses have their own unique abilities and uses, they do not possess the same level of olfactory prowess or are not utilized in the same context for narcotics detection, making dogs the preferred choice for this purpose.