Do Dogs Have Taste Buds? 

It may seem that dogs will eat anything they get their mouths on! However, some dogs are “picky” and eat only certain foods. How do dogs determine what tastes “good” to them? This leads to the question, “do dogs have taste buds?” Please continue reading to learn more about our discoveries.

Research has concluded that dogs have taste buds. Taste buds allow dogs to taste things, which may play a role in decreased appetite or picky eating. We discovered that each taste bud has its own job. The taste buds can sense all tastes if the flavor happens to be strong enough. Researchers state that sour and bitter taste buds are located in the back of the tongue, while salty and sweet taste buds are found toward the front. Interesting, right?

Dogs have taste receptors that attract meats and fats because their ancestral diet comprises meat. Interestingly, dogs also have taste buds that are fine-tuned to water. There are unique taste buds on the tip of a dog’s tongue that react to water as they drink it.

You may wonder if any foods taste “bad” to dogs. Dogs typically avoid bitter, spicy, salty, or sour foods. This is not bad, as many foods may be toxic to dogs. This makes sense, as many chew-deterrent sprays have a bitter taste to them. This teaches our four-legged friends not to chew on certain things.

Yes, dogs have taste buds, and a lot is involved. Next time you feed your dog a new treat or food, try to identify their feelings after tasting it. This could very well mean that their taste buds are hard at work!