Mold dogs are highly trained canines that use their extraordinary sense of smell to locate hidden mold in homes and buildings. Instead of seeing mold, they smell it—more precisely, they detect microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs), which are the gassy byproducts released by actively growing mold. These compounds have a distinct scent signature that mold dogs are trained to recognize, even when the mold is not visible or accessible.

Dogs used in this work are typically chosen from breeds known for their olfactory strength, like hunting or tracking dogs. Their noses are estimated to be 30,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than a human’s, with working dogs like search-and-rescue or narcotics dogs ranking on the higher end of that scale. Their ability to detect these faint odors makes them incredibly useful when mold is suspected but not easily found with tools or visual inspection.

Mold dogs are part of a larger family of scent detection dogs that save lives and protect communities. Dogs are successfully used to detect bombs in airports, locate survivors after natural disasters, alert to seizures or drops in blood sugar, and even sniff out diseases like cancer and COVID-19. Their track record in professional service environments reinforces just how accurate and life-saving scent detection can be when done correctly.