Over the years, dogs have been able to participate in scent trainings due to their outstanding sense of smell, this has made them to be used to perform varieties of tasks such as drug sniffing and smell detector.

Dogs are used by Enforcement Agencies to detect the smell of drugs due to their highly sensitive olfactory nerves.

However, can dogs smell kratom? There has been a lot of debate on the topic of whether true or false dogs can smell kratom.

In this article, I will shed light on the topic “can dogs smell kratom?” and I will also help you clear the doubts concerning dogs and kratom.

I will like to walk you through some details about this alien-named plant (Kratom)

What is Kratom?

Kratom which is scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa is a tropical tree that originated in Southeast Asia.

The leaves of this plant have healing and psychoactive effects and have been used in ancient days by traditional healers to heal pain and fight anxiety.

Kratom can be consumed in its powdery form or capsule. It can also be brewed into tea.

The reaction of Kratom usually depends on the dosage you use and the physiology of the user. A small dosage will produce a stimulating effect while an excessive dose will produce sedative effects.

Kratom is usually consumed in a capsule state, and it has also been reported to be present in pain-healing drugs.

While this plant is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Kratom is legal in a lot of states.

However, a lot of debates have been raised concerning this plant due to its mild narcotic effects on people who misuse it. This has led to the ban of Kratom in some states which will also be listed in this article.

What does Kratom Smell Like?

The smell of kratom varies depending on the strain and quality of the kratom. But basically, kratom has a musty, earthy smell that mimics the smell of freshly cut grass or green tea.

Some people also describe it as having a slightly bitter or metallic odor.

The distinct smell of kratom is a result of the aromatic compound called terpenes present in it. This compound influences the taste of kratom and also gives it its herbal aroma.

The scent of kratom can easily be detected by dogs due to their superb sense of smell. However, most sniffing dogs are not groomed to always detect and seek out kratom. This is because Kratom is legal and is not a controlled drug.

A sniffing dog will only try to seek out your pile of kratom from your bags if it was trained solely to detect the smell of kratom.

Sniffing dogs are mostly used by police to seek out hard drugs such as:

• Cocaine
• Crystal Meth
• Fentanyl
• Marijuana

Can Dogs Smell Kratom?

The short answer to this question is YES. Dogs can smell kratom. Though, your dog won’t seek out your stash of kratom from your bag unless it has been trained solely in detecting and seeking out a stash of kratoms.

And this is very uncommon because Kratom is legal in most states. Though there are some states where Kratom is illegal.

Some of the states where kratom is deemed illegal include:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Wisconsin
• San Diego
• Sarasota
• Vermont
• Denver
• Indiana
• Rhode Island

While Kratom is legal to be grown and possessed in most states, all these states listed above have imposed laws banning the possession or usage of kratom.

It is very necessary to make findings about the legal status of kratom in some states before going there, this will prevent you from being arrested due to the possession of an unauthorized entity.

Is Kratom Legal?

The Legality of Kratom varies by nation, as well as by state or province. Kratom is legal in the majority of states in the US, although there are a few exceptions. Some states have outlawed the sale and possession of kratom, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Kratom is allowed to be owned in Canada, however, it cannot be imported or sold.

Kratom is allowed to own in the UK, however, it cannot be imported or sold.

In the majority of European countries, Kratom is permitted to be owned, but it is prohibited in a few numbers, including Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Sweden.

To make sure you are aware of the rules in your area, it is best to check with your local authorities.

How are Dogs Trained to Detect Smell?

The incredible sense of dogs has made them learn “scent training” easily. Currently, dogs are now used by policemen and enforcement agencies to help detect drugs and other unlawful things in peoples’ luggage due to their sense of sense.

If you are thinking of scent training your dog, here are some easy and effective steps you should follow:

• Select a dog with a strong sense of smell. Dogs such as German Shepherds, Bloodhounds, Dobermans, and Labrador Retrievers are usually used for scent training.
• Gradually introduce your dog to the scent you want to train him to detect. You can achieve this by placing the scent on an object or area where your dog can easily smell it.
• Encourage your dog to interact with the scent by using positive reinforcement techniques. This involves giving your dog a treat or praising him when he fetches the object that has the target scent. Doing this often will make your dog associate the scent with a positive experience.
• Once you notice that your dog is getting familiar with the scent, change the location of the object and make your dog locate it by using his instinct of hunting.
• If you notice that your dog is now proficient at locating the location of the object, change the location to a more challenging location, this will help increase the difficulty of the training and also enable your dog to learn better.
• If your dog is now perfect at detecting the scent, the next thing you should do is to teach the dog to always alert you either by making sounds or barking anytime he detects the scent.

Overall, you should know that “scent training” is quite challenging and it requires patience and consistency. If your dog is not able to learn quickly, you can decide to employ a professional dog trainer that will help you “scent train” your dog.

Final Thought

Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, and they can easily detect varieties of scents.

The answer to the question “Can dogs detect kratom?” is YES. However, not all dogs will alert you after smelling a stash of kratom, this is because they haven’t been trained to do so.

It is also necessary to make findings about the legal status of Kratom in some states before going there with a stash of kratom. This is because kratom may be deemed illegal there.