Fri, 29 Aug 2025 16:32:40 -0700WeeblySat, 16 Aug 2025 19:46:36 GMThttp://www.juliakneeland.net/blog/do-dogs-remember-the-smell-of-homeIf you’ve ever watched your pet’s nose twitch in the breeze, you already know that dogs experience the world in ways we can barely imagine.

Their sense of smell is so powerful that it can pick up scents from miles away. But here’s a question that sticks at every pet owner’s heart: “Do dogs find their way home using that incredible nose?”

Picture this: your curious pup wanders a little too far. Streets blur, strangers pass by, and suddenly, home feels like a memory. But somewhere in that mixture of new smells, there’s one scent that stands out. The scent of safety, love, and familiarity. Can a dog find his way home just by following that invisible clue? Or does it take more than memory to guide them back?

In Julia Kneeland’s Jig Gets Lost, we see this question come to life through Jig. He is a little city dog whose adventure leads him far from home. While Jig’s journey ends with his family finding him, the story sparks a deeper conversation about how real-life pets use scent to find their way back. Let’s explore the science and heart behind finding their way home.

The Science of Scent Memory
Dogs have up to 300 million scent receptors, compared to our mere 5 million. This means they can remember and recognize smells for years. Even if a dog gets lost in a busy city or a vast rural area, the scent of their home, family, or favorite blanket can become a hope. For lost dogs rescue teams, understanding this is key. They often place familiar items outside to guide pets back.

Can Familiar Scents Lead to Home?
The short answer is yes. Dogs lost and found stories often confirm it. A home’s unique smell is a combination of its people and the environment. Can a dog find its way home without any visual cues? Absolutely. The scent may fade over time or be disrupted, but many pets are capable of following faint clues across incredible distances.

The Emotional Power of Scent
For a dog, scent isn’t just information. It’s an emotion. That’s why finding way home is as much about love as it is about navigation. The smell of home carries comfort, belonging, and security. When missing dogs are reunited with their owners, it’s often the scent that triggers that tail-wagging explosion of joy.

What Pet Owners Can Do
If your dog ever gets lost, you can boost their chances of finding their way back by placing worn clothing, their bed, or even a food bowl outside. These items release familiar scents into the air, creating a trail that your pet can detect from a surprising distance. Lost dogs rescue organizations often use this method as a first step.

Jig’s Lesson for Real-Life Pets
In Jig Gets Lost by Julia Kneeland, the little dog’s journey reminds us that adventures can be exciting, but nothing beats the smell of home. While Jig relied on his family to find him, countless real-life pets depend on their noses and their humans’ help to return. It’s evidence of the unbreakable bond between dogs and their people.

Final Thoughts
So, can a dog find his way home by smell alone? In many cases, yes. But that doesn’t mean we should leave it to chance. A dog’s nose may be remarkable, but it’s the love and care of their family that truly leads them back where they belong.

]]>Thu, 04 Feb 2021 19:47:44 GMThttp://www.juliakneeland.net/blog/the-importance-of-children-readingWhen my son was in early elementary school he hated reading!  It broke my heart because I loved to read.  We had always read aloud to him.  But unfortunately, he had a teacher who only focused on the rules of Phonics.  After doing pages of Phonics worksheets, he simply did not want to practice his reading.  Finally, I decided to pay him to read.  I know how unprofessional of me!  But I made him a deal.  I told him I didn't care what he read and that included his favorite Garfield books.  For every book he read I paid him twenty-five cents.  He felt that was a good deal and he started to read.  I held up my end of the bargain and paid him for each book he read.  It did not take long and he was reading and enjoying it! 
I truly believe that children need to experience the joy of reading and not just learn the mechanics.  Finding a good series can definitely make a difference.  I wrote my Jig series with my grandchildren in mind.  I wanted them to have an opportunity to enjoy their early reading experiences.  Also my hope is that other emerging readers will be captured by the different adventures of Jig! ]]>