Canine Smell Preferences—Do Dogs Have Their Favorite Scents?
Agata Kokocińska,
Martyna Woszczyło,
Silvestre Sampino,
Michał Dzięcioł,
Mikołaj Zybała,
Anna Szczuka,
Julita Korczyńska,
Iwona Rozempolska-Rucińska
Affiliations
Agata Kokocińska
Institute of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Martyna Woszczyło
Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq. 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
Silvestre Sampino
Department of Experimental Embryology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Postepu 36A St., Jastrzebiec, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
Michał Dzięcioł
Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq. 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
Mikołaj Zybała
Ethoplanet Ethological Centre of Training and Consulting, Owocowy Sad 53/3 St., 05-500 Piaseczno, Poland
Anna Szczuka
Laboratory of Ethology, Department of Neurophysiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Pasteur St. 3, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
Julita Korczyńska
Laboratory of Ethology, Department of Neurophysiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Pasteur St. 3, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
Iwona Rozempolska-Rucińska
Institute of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland
The available evidence on dogs’ scent preferences is quite limited. The purpose of this study was to verify the canine response to selected odors that may also be preferred by humans. The experiment was performed using 14 adult dogs (10 female and 4 male) of different breeds, body size, and age (1–14 years). During the experiment, dogs were exposed to 33 odor samples: a neutral sample containing pure dipropylene glycol (control) and 32 samples containing dipropylene glycol and fragrance oils. The dog was brought to the experimental area by its handler, who then stopped at the entrance, unleashed the dog, and remained in the starting position. The dog freely explored the area for 30 s. All dog movements and behavior were recorded and analyzed. The methodology of observing the dogs freely exploring the experimental area allowed us to determine the smells that were the most attractive to them (food, beaver clothing). Our study shows that dogs interacted more frequently with the scents of blueberries, blackberries, mint, rose, lavender, and linalol.
