Smells That Bother Dogs

A dog's most developed sense is its sense of smell, thousands of times more sensitive in dogs than in humans. This is an incredible gift, but sometimes also a curse, whenever it has to sniff one of the smells dogs can't stand.

We shouldn't forget that even the part of their brain dedicated to identifying scents is forty times bigger in dogs than in humans. With over two hundred million scent receptors... our dogs are actually extremely sensitive to overly strong or harsh smells.

The Smell of Vinegar, Simply Unbearable

Vinegar has a very sharp smell that lingers in the nasal receptors for quite a while, which is excessively bothersome for our dog's nose.

While it's true vinegar is often used (diluted in water) as a dog shampoo thanks to its properties against fleas and ticks, it's also true it's better not to use it, since dogs despise its intense smell.

And it doesn't matter if we mix vinegar into the dog's shampoo even diluted in water — even if we rinse thoroughly, it'll detect the smell.

Mothballs

Mothballs help protect our clothes against moths and other insects, which is why many people put mothballs in their closet.

That said, mothballs give off a very harsh smell that irritates dogs' scent receptors, making them one of the smells dogs hate.

As if that weren't enough, it doesn't matter if our dog doesn't smell inside our closet, since the mothball smell will linger on our clothes even if we don't notice it. Needless to say, mothballs are poisonous to dogs.

Cleaning Products

Most humans are somewhat obsessed with cleanliness — we need to keep our home clean to prevent bacteria and/or bad smells from spreading. That's why while cleaning, we use very harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.

Among the smells dogs can't stand are the cleaning products we typically use. For them, these are extremely strong, irritating smells they hate.

We should keep our dog away while cleaning at home, since we could irritate its sense of smell. It'll be enough to have another family member take it for a walk while we clean.

Tobacco

This isn't a joke, since tobacco smoke affects both smokers and non-smokers who stay in the same room as a smoker — known as passive or secondhand smokers.

Tobacco smoke greatly affects our dogs, since it's an unpleasant, sticky smell that lingers for hours or even days on our dog's skin, clothes, or fur.

Dogs hate the smell of tobacco, and rightfully so — there's no more unpleasant smell on the planet than a smoker's. If you smoke, consider checking your health and quitting.

Citrus

I personally love the smell of lemon — I even have some lemon essential oil to use around the house from time to time — but... does my dog like the smell of lemon? The answer is a clear, resounding NO.

Every dog hates the smell of citrus like lemon or tart orange. They can't stand it, since it irritates their nostrils. So if you're going to peel a lemon or orange, keep your dog away at that moment.

Nail Polish Remover

It goes without saying how strong nail polish remover's smell is — it's a sharp, penetrating smell, very unpleasant for most people and animals. Dogs, in particular, hate the smell of nail polish remover.

This type of smell can linger for hours in their scent receptors, irritating them and causing itching/burning. That's why we should avoid using it around our dogs.

Pepper or Spicy Food

Some heartless, unpleasant people sprinkle ground pepper near their homes to keep dogs from sniffing around the area. This is because, as dogs breathe in the air, they also inhale pepper particles, which irritate their sense of smell.

Pepper or spicy foods would rank among the top smells dogs can't stand, since it doesn't just irritate them — it causes them pain. Remember, dogs should never eat spicy food, or they'll suffer serious diarrhea.

Alcohol

In any of its forms, alcohol is a repulsive smell hated by dogs, whether it's rubbing alcohol used to treat wounds or drinking alcohol found in liquor.

Dogs hate the smell of alcohol because it's as irritating as cleaning products — they simply can't stand it.

Never treat your dog's wound with alcohol, and don't let it smell it either, since it'll sneeze and feel its nose irritated.

Colognes

Have you ever thought how nice your dog would smell if you put a bit of cologne on it? Well, don't try it, because dogs really hate the smell of any perfume or cologne.

What seems like a pleasant, enjoyable smell to us seems overly complex and intense to them — not actually pleasant at all.

Never put cologne on your dog, and if you truly love it, avoid wearing it yourself when you're about to play with it or spend time by its side, since dogs despise it.