Since dogs are able to find lost people through their sense of smell and locate drugs at airports are they?

Fear is an abstract concept - not something you can smell. However dogs can probably smell the chemical changes our bodies undergo in the physiological experience of fear.

Everyone gives off a scent. The dogs can sense a change in our body's chemical/hormonal levels. When we are afraid our bodies release endorphins, and the like when we have other emotional reactions. When we are sad; the same is true. Dogs have such good noses that they can even find dead bodies that have been buried for years. They are called cadaver dogs.

If you are afraid of a dog it isn't necessarily reacting to your scent, but your body language/posture. Don't act afraid of the dog. I would say to just ignore it, and pretend it isn't in the same room. By not paying attention, and avoiding eye contact with the dog you will feel better, adn the dog will as well.

Yes they r able to smell fear but don't be scared i have dogs and when i walk by someone that looks scared i stop the dog and let the person walk or if they say hi i let them pet him.

Im not sure of the cancer thing, Sorry!

And don't be scared!!!!!!!!!

Your body language tells them you have fear. Your sweating confirms it.

Yes, they CAN smell the cancer and drugs---however they have to be trained to look for it. The average dog smells tons of things and it's just a normal day for them.

I wouldn't say smell fear

Dogs are good at reading body language. Dogs know when people are scared and will take advantage of that, because something confidednt is the boss of something that isn't. Its like sharks reading the electrical signals scared people send out. Except dogs wont rip your limbs off and drown you with thousands of teeth :)

Dogs are very observant of their people.

well, in a way they can... dogs read body language and pick up on it very well... when you are scared your body lets out a different scent and the dog senses this...

The caner sniffing is underway... still in trial, but I haven't heard much else

Yes they can sense your fear. Do you want to work on overcoming your fear?

Oh yes! There are certain chemicals that are released and our sweat glands become overactive when we are frightened and dogs pick up on that.

ADD:

And yes - there are cancer sniffing dogs. Very true!

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/01/01...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/06/60minute...

fear itself doesnt have a smell

the dog may be able to sence that you are uneasy tho.. they may be able to smell the changes in hormones/endorphines that your body releases.

All animals can sense when their adversary has lapses of aggression or feel fear. That's how they survive.