OK, here is something I've been wondering about recently. Sometimes when Pongo is sleeping next to me I'll suddenly become aware of a wave of "doggy smell"- not unpleasant (to me at least) and not a fart (!!!) just a waft of warm happy dog. It is not mud or anything foreign, it is just him. It is a definite "wave" of scent, a sudden strong waft. And I think there are several slightly different variations on the smell. Do dogs communicate by purposefully giving off different smells to each other to suit their mood? It would make sense, considering how reliant they are on their noses - but I don't think I've ever heard it described as such. This really is as if he is emitting a wave of scent in his sleep / dreams. Has anyone else noticed the same or heard anything about it? (I am now expecting lots of posts about the various stenches that our pups bring into our houses, but you know that is not really what I mean...... )
I haven't noticed anything like this with Coco, no. I do love the smell of Coco, but I have to bury my nose in his fur and sniff to get it. I may not get the wave because he's not full Lab. Scooby was quite a "smelly" Labrador dog. He always smelled rather doggy to me - not very nice, but a smell I think I got used to. Sometimes stronger than others. I don't think I've noticed variations in the odours. Belle was like Coco. No waves of smell, but bury your nose in her coat and inhale and it was exquisite. Look forward to other responses here.
No full Labs here either so no smells. Hattie always smells lovely and I like to bury my nose in her fur. I haven't noticed any smells from Charlie unless he is of course wet. Pongo is a mystery! x
Quinn has no smell, even when wet. She usually smells like my perfume/laundry detergent (from laying on clean sheets or me cuddling her!) or nothing. OH and I both like her smell. I notice that her male dog cousins have more of a "doggy" smell to them...I sometimes think age brings on a more distinct smell as well! Or maybe what they eat?
Harley smells more 'doggy' after being wet, but apart from that I haven't noticed different smells really. It is interesting though as to if they can emit different smells which could account for how other dogs approach them??
I hate the smell of dog - whenever I smell other people's dogs I'm like But I love the smell of Stanley. He has a dog like smell, but it's different somehow. (The smell that comes out of his bum is also different - but NOT in a good way).
None of mine smell, wait that's because my sense of smell doesn't work properly Oh who has an extra special sense of smell says yes they do have a doggy smell obviously sometimes but he can tell if they are sick or teething and stuff like that. He says when they are sleepy and calm their smell almost quietens. He can always tell when I'm about to migraine because I smell different apparently . I think the dogs must smell my smell changes post chemo too. They are always strangly attentive and gentle. I know they sense/ smell fear excitment they respond physically why wouldn't they give off a smell too?maybe they smell differently when the are content or relaxed I'm sure they smell differently when they are scared.
I've had other people's dogs react to me in a positive way, I always think they can smell my dogs but maybe they can smell my dogs are happy too?
Dexter isn't very pungent but he does had a dog odour that is stronger when he is wet. Other than noxious gas smells we do notice a different smell regularly ,like a rusty ,foisty smell and this is when his glands are full ( sorry Rosie xxx) It took me a while to work this out as he's our first dog and I'd heard such horrendous tales of the smell when glands are expelled or emptied I didn't make the connection....as this isn't particularly strong or offensive ...it's just a really good indicator that it's time to take him to the vet.
I love the smell of dog, especially when they are all warm and cosy , I even like the smell of wet dog too ! I do get paranoid about the house smelling though , always asking non dog owners if they can smell the dogs , they say no, but then I think they are just being polite !
My ferrets used to smell in their sleep like you're describing. I think because they always got quite hot sleeping. You'd always know when they'd just woken up because they smelled different. Can't say I've noticed it with the dogs, other than Shadow's popcorn feet.
It's an interesting thought, but I haven't noticed any particular 'doggy smells', other than the usual Ones... A few months ago I was stewarding in a newly-opened room at a National Trust property when a visitor walked into the room and said, "I can smell dog!" Quick as a flash, I shone my torch on a dark corner of the wall nearby where a large graffiti sketch shows a crouching dog on a lead, although the person holding the dog is unclear. Afterwards, though, I was left wondering whether there were traces of dog on my snuggly duvet coat, even though it wasn't my dog-walking one!
Popcorn feet! I love burying my face in Indie when she is curled up like a bean asleep because I love her smell, and I was trying to describe it to OH who can't smell it and the closest I could get was 'toasty dog paws'...perhaps it's the same smell!
There are some studies that suggest a link between the hormone Oxytocin, and the relationship with our dogs. This maybe why dogs are being used increasingly to help people in stressful situations, for example courtoom assistance dogs. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...bb8a6fc65bc_story.html?utm_term=.be1ebb3ef9ad When I am feeling anxious or particularly stressed, and in need a good nights sleep. I take Benson upstairs to bed, his warm chocolate happiness really helps me relax. He adores coming to bed,just loves it! To him it is a very special treat. Pretty sure he floods the bedroom with lovely. happy oxytocin.
But on second thoughts OH smelt of toasty dog paws too the other day - perhaps a generic 'hairy creature' smell rather than dog smell
Another interesting study...which also touches on the relationship between wolves and people...wolves being raised by humans and not therefore as pets. An experiment with 30 dogs and their humans to examine differences in oxytocin levels before and after a period of intense bonding/interaction (petting, gazing into your pets eyes) Oxytocin levels increased significantly but NOT in the cohort including wolves. Not something easy to do I guess, staring deeply into a wolves eyes, but that is open to discussion in terms of emphasising the differences between domesticated dogs with retained juvenile traits, and wolves Further increases where also noted when a nasal spray containing oxytocin was administered. They didn't include the wolves (for obvious reasons..) in the second phase of the study. More details here: http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2015/04/how-dogs-stole-our-hearts
Vanilla has a bit of a smell. Her feet smell of Doritos/corn chips, which is kind of wierd. Rest just smells good, apart from when certain things happen. Her wet smell I don't find bad. A few years back we went out wine tasting with some friends. One of the wines tasted, my wife says 'tastes like wet dog'. Had no idea what she meant, friends felt embarrassed standing by the lady serving. This did not click until we got Vanilla and she came out of the sea all wet.... Now makes perfect sense..
The foot smell is apparently from yeast or bacteria My OH loves that smell. my lab has a lovely smell, not doggy at all, nor strong, but just warm and delicious. When he came back from staying at daycare when we went on holiday, he smelled VERY strongly of dog. But at home with us he doesn't. As far as waves of smell, haven't noticed that :/
