Consequently, dogs have an olfactory sense 40 times more sensitive than that of a human. Consequently, dogs have an olfactory sense 40 times more sensitive than that of a human. In some dog breeds, such as bloodhounds, the olfactory sense has nearly 300 million receptors.The large, long pendent ears serve to prevent wind from scattering nearby skin cells while the dog's nose is on the ground; the folds of wrinkled flesh under the lips and neck—called the shawl—serve to catch stray scent particles in the air or on a nearby branch as the bloodhound is scenting, reinforcing the scent in the dog's memory and nose. However, not all agree that the long ears and loose skin are functional, some regarding them as a handicap.