How Do Dogs Know The Difference Between A Man And A Woman?

[Suetheramble]

Rescue dogs are sometimes advertised "not happy around men"

[Zacs-Master]

Possibly because they've been mistreated by men.

[jomifl]

dogs have an acute sense of smell....

[EDDIE51]

We smell different and dogs can pick that up.

[Kassee]

How can anyone tell the difference between a man and a woman, it is difficult sometimes.

[jomifl]

If I can tell the difference between a man and a woman by smell I'm damn sure a dog can.

[grasscarp]

I was watching deal or no deal today. One person with a box looked and spoke like a man but had long hair and female name. Dog probably would have probably smelt if she was a she but I am unsure.

[pixie373]

Someone similar on Only Connect today. OH convinced she was a man!
Dogs also recognise people by sight and prefer higher voices.

[askyourgran]

Possible that they have been mistreated by a man or youth. Some are not happy around children because of the noise and clumsy tail-pulling etc.

[Gizmonster]

I'd like to know how dogs would interpret my ex step father.
He (she) has had the full op (including everything cut off down below) and is now on female hormone tablets for the rest of her (??) life.
I can just imagine the look of confusion on the dog's face ........

[woofgang]

Giz, she would smell female, no confusion at all.

[Gizmonster]

.... but what exactly is it that they smell - is it the hormones, the perfume, or something else ??
She (and I use the term loosely) will still prob have male hormones (I'm guessing on this) .... and at the end of the day she is/was a male ..... very confusing if you ask me !!

[Buenchico]

Scientific studies have shown that most humans (who are blindfolded) can tell a man from a woman simply by smell. Given that a dog's nasal sensitivity is anywhere between one thousand and ten million times*** as sensitive as a human's, it's hardly surprising that they can do the same!

***Source:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/dogsenses.htm

[Sam1960]

their nose knows

[Sam1960]

well .... that went down like a lead balloon !!

[Buenchico]

I'm reminded of Hylda Baker's catchphrase, Sam. ("She knows, you know").

Oops! I'm giving my age away again ;-)

[jno]

looks like the Noes have it, Sam

[Sam1960]

remember it well Buenchico.......lol

[woofgang]

Giz, you have said yourself that she is taking female hormones and will have had one of the sources of male hormones removed.

[pixie373]

That's assuming dogs can *only* smell hormones. You can't actually change your sex (just gender). All the cells and chromosomes will be the same as they were pre-op.

[seekeerz]

Becos they're cleverer than we are....simple !