What smells do dogs like best? Tips and Tricks

8 Smells That Dogs Love

Some scents are pleasant to canines because of their effect. Your dog may not know why he likes vanilla. A study published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science found that it had a calming effect on rescue dogs that crosses the line between breeds. The pups barked less and engaged in less activity that is typical of stressed animals.

The same study found a similar effect with coconut. The dogs also slept more, an excellent way to recover from stress. The interesting thing about the data is that humans received similar health benefits from the scent and consumption of this tropical tree. You and your pet are definitely on the same page. It certainly doesn’t hurt that coconut tastes good, too.

This one is something you should keep in mind when you’re training your puppy. Another study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science showed that dogs were more likely to interact with toys scented with the soothing scent of lavender. That’s helpful to know when trying to teach your pet to play with his chewie and not the furniture.

It’s essential to understand that the scent is in the nose of the detector. What repels us is sometimes a magnet for the canine sniffer. Take rotting stuff. While you’re likely to run, your dog will probably roll around in it. The reason isn’t clear. Your pet may use it to mark himself or maybe hide his scent from potential predators. All we know is that it stinks!

Smell or olfaction is your dog’s keenest sense. It takes over when he can’t see his prey. He will still pick up its scent. It only seems natural that your pooch would love the smell of his quarry, too. He’ll know if rabbits are in the area long before you do. Put it down to the hunter in your pup.

The sensitivity of your dog’s sense of smell comes in handy when meeting his canine friends. Not only does he find out who’s in the neighborhood, but he also gets a full dossier on each one. He’ll figure their sex, age, health status, and more from a quick sniff. There is a valid evolutionary reason for it. Knowing the lay of the land gives him a competitive edge by assessing potential threats and opportunities.

Ginger has calming effects on humans. It can settle down a queasy stomach, which we all appreciate. It can also have similar health benefits for canines. This aromatic root can ease stress and help your pet relax in stressful situations. We think anything that can help our canine companions cope is the cat’s meow.

This one may not come as much of a surprise were it not coupled with a difference in brain activity in dogs. Researchers found that detecting the scent of a familiar human showed a heightened response in the caudate nucleus, the part associated with positive experiences. After all, it makes sense since you’re the one who feeds him and gives him treats.

Study shows that dogs are more likely to interact with and be interested in the scents of lavender, blackberry, blueberry, peppermint, linalool, and rose

What smells do dogs like best?

What smells do dogs like best?

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How many of us love dogs, yet went it comes to living with them, how often do we really try to take their perspective? It’s easy to know what they like, especially with snacks, but do you know what smells they love and which ones they hate?

Knowing this might not only enrich and improve their environment but also get them to love you even more.

Think about it. The human sense of smell is a lot less sensitive, and yet when you encounter an odor you can’t stand, who knows if you will puke, pass out or run away.

An experiment was recently carried out on 14 dogs of different genders, breeds, sizes, and ages to better understand what odors might attract and deter them. During the experiment, 33 different fragrance oils were presented to them, some of which include peppermint oil, sage oil, tangerine oil, rose oil, lime oil, basil oil, blackberry, melon, and meat. To do so, dogs were entered into a room (size 2.4m x 3.6m) where the dog handler would unleash the dog and let them walk freely for 30 seconds. Each time a dog entered the room, 4 different samples were present. Over 8 days, each dog undertook 40 trials.

The authors of the study found that the odor of food (i.e. meat) was usually preferred by the dogs over the other smells. Their results also suggest that dogs might find lavender pleasant, while also finding blackberry, blueberry, peppermint, castor, linalool, and rose interesting to smell.

One reason why dogs might be attracted to plant-based smells, as the authors suggest, is the fact that they can protect against parasites and help with self-curing.

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Their Dog Food

What smells do dogs like best?

Most dogs start to hover close to their humans near mealtimes, and the smell of their food being prepared is enough to make most dogs salivate with anticipation.

What smells do dogs like best?

It’s true: Your dog can pick up on smells that can tell them how you’re feeling. They can pick up on hormones like cortisol and adrenalin, which let them know you’re feeling stressed or fearful.

The 7 SCENTS Dogs HATE The Most

Dogs have a significantly more developed sense of smell than humans do — theyre equipped with millions more scent receptors, which they use to detect predators, prey and companions. While dogs typically prefer certain smells, this isnt as specific as one particular aroma that is universally appealing — rather, there are different types of smells that canines generally gravitate toward.

Generally, dogs prefer smells that humans do not — particularly, the smell of rot. Theyre attracted to odors that humans typically find unappealing, like the smell of a decomposing animal carcass, an open garbage bag or a pile of rotting leaves. In fact, dogs appreciate these smells so much that they wont just seek them out — theyll roll in them, covering themselves in the odor so that it lasts for hours.

Dogs prefer foul smells not just because it satisfies their apparent tastes, but also because it has practical use. As reported by canine specialist Dr. Stanley Coren in Psychology Today, dog preferences for foul smells — and their habit of covering themselves in them — may be rooted in their wild nature. Wild dogs roll in odorous substances like feces, rotten plants and dead animals as a way of disguising their own scents, allowing them to stalk prey without being detected as easily. While your pet doesnt share those concerns, the behavior itself is so deeply rooted that he may be unable to resist a roll in the smelly stuff.

Luckily, bad smells arent the only kind that dogs prefer. For example, domesticated dogs demonstrate a recognition of and preference for smells associated with their owners. They may prefer gnawing on a dirty pair of underwear over a chew toy, or curling up on a pile of laundry over sleeping in their own bed. This is because dogs prefer the familiar smells of their pack — for a wild dog, this means the smell of other dogs that they know and trust, like family members. In the home, it means their owners.

There is one particular smell that virtually no dog can resist: food. Dogs are natural hunters, and even a pet is naturally drawn to the aroma of food — especially meat. Whether you are grilling a steak, carving a turkey or opening up a fresh can of wet dog food, it triggers your dogs olfactory senses and tells him that there is a meal to be had nearby. While your dog doesnt necessarily prefer the smell of just any food — he wont likely salivate when youre chopping up basil or peeling garlic cloves — meat is a consistent favorite among canines.

Tom Ryan is a freelance writer, editor and English tutor. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English writing, and has also worked as an arts and entertainment reporter with “The Pitt News” and a public relations and advertising copywriter with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.