Someone on my FB page asked, “Does this mean that dogs literally see odors?”
What a great question! The answer is — could be! Based on what we know about synesthesia in humans, it is entirely possible that (some? all?) dogs may experience odors as visual experience. Or, flipped the other way, does a visual stimulus produce an odor?
Synesthesia is entirely possible, just as it is humans.
I don’t see odors, but I do see music as colors, and specific instruments produce sounds that have specific colors. Example – French horns make green music; some brass instruments are red music in varying shades. Some words also have a strange combination of shape/feel to them.
I used to think everyone did this. But then again, lots of stuff that happens in my head turns out not to be happening in everyone’s!
In depth read — https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hearing-colors-tasting-shapes/
Recommended book: The Man Who Tasted Shapes by Richard Cytowic (been around for quite a while, easy to come by a cheap used copy) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47475.The_Man_Who_Tasted_Shapes
Do you have any experience with synesthesia? Do tell!