Page 114 - JRT Magazine - 2023 Issue 2

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Candace Lundin, DVM (USA)

Do dogs have favorite scents?

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12121488

Dogs have an acute sense of smell; therefore, age (1–14 years). Dogs were exposed to 33
strong scents may be intense and not pleasant for odor samples and control (placebo sample). Each
them. Yet, canine cosmetic products (shampoos, dog was brought to the experimental area by
conditioners) often have strong fragrances its handler, who then stopped at the entrance,
designed to appeal to the dog’s owner, rather unleashed the dog, and remained in the starting
than to the dog. position. The dog freely explored the area for 30
seconds. All dog movements and behavior were
When dogs have a choice for what goes on their recorded and analyzed by an evaluator. It was a
coat, they seem to prefer intense, animal-derived double-blind study with neither the handler nor
smells, such as feces or carcasses! evaluator knowing where the various scents were
located.
Scientific studies related to canine smell
preferences are limited and so a recent study was The study showed that dogs interacted more
performed by using 14 adult dogs (10 females frequently with the scents of blueberries,
and 4 males) of different breeds, body size, and blackberries, mint, rose, lavender, and linalol.

114 | A Worldwide Magazine for the Jack Russell Terrier / Russell Terrier • Issue 2/2023