We sometimes say that Ruby must have some kind of scent hound in her DNA. I know all dogs sniff things, but she REALLY sniffs things. When we're out in the yard, she will immediately start pacing and sniffing, following where squirrels and moles have been (we periodially see those mounds that are the universal sign for mole).
She usually sniffs around the perimeter of the yard. But once in a while, she'll just be wandering aimlessly, then suddenly stop . . . put her nose flat against the grass or flowerbed, and inhale the longest, loudest sniff you can imagine. Seriously, if I try, I can't inhale as long as she can -- that's how long one sniff can be. One of these days she'll inhale a pebble or an insect. Sometimes she'll do that, then paw at the ground, and lo and behold, digs up a peanut (still in the shell) that the squirrels buried. She then eats it, of course.
On Sunday, DH bought her a special toy for her upcoming "Gotcha Day." We keep all but a couple of her toys in the laundry room and take them out one at a time. He didn't want to leave it on the counter in there, since she'd see it with her other toys. So, he put it in the lower cupboard instead. Yesterday she followed me in there when I put something in the washer. She was right behind me, and all of a sudden I heard: "Ssssniiiiffffff!" -- a long, deep inhale. I turn around, and she has her nose pressed hard against that cupboard door where the new toy is. She has never sniffed that before -- she knew something different was in there!
I got her out of the laundry room ASAP and closed the door. We'd like to keep the toy as a surprise until next week. Goofball!