Because barking and excessive activity are typically signs of stress in shelter dogs — not to mention being undesirable behaviors in the eyes of many adopters — the study concluded that exposure to the odors of vanilla, coconut, valerian, and ginger has the potential to reduce stress in shelter dogs.
Anxiety Relief
Lavender is most known for its calming properties… not just for humans, but for dogs as well. Sometimes our groomers will rub some lavender oil on their hands when handling a dog that is particularly nervous about being groomed. Breathing the lavender helps to reduce their anxiety and stress.
Studies have shown that the reward center of a dog's brain lights up when they can smell their favorite person. That means your scent makes them happy and calms them down.
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.
This outdoor exercise is good for their health and helps them to work off excess energy. It also gives them an opportunity to engage in their natural instincts, including sniffing the world around them—and this is why we should let them stop and smell along the way. "Dogs were born to sniff!
As any pet parent with a high-energy pup knows, active dogs need lots of exercise. You might think physical exercise is the only way to release your dog's extra energy. Walking, jogging, or playing with an active pup is a great place to start.
As with humans, exercise can be a great stress reducer. Physical activities like walking or playing fetch help both you and your dog release tension. It is also good to provide your dog with a safe place in the home where he can escape anxious situations.
Lavender is toxic to dogs, especially when consumed. However, the scent can also cause respiratory symptoms in some dogs because they have a stronger sense of smell. Both the lavender plant and essential oils can be dangerous for your pet.
Diluted lavender oil is generally considered safe for topical use on dogs. Lavender essential oil is extremely potent. Just like for humans, pure lavender essential oils should not be applied to the skin or ingested. Instead, they should be mixed with a carrier oil.
Lavender oil can be safe for dogs as long as it's used properly. “Some lavender essential oils will need to be diluted before they are considered safe,” Dr. Bonk said. “Using too strong of a concentration of lavender oil or too much can lead to lavender poisoning or skin irritation.”
The dog breeds that are more likely to have this problem are the German Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Jack Russell Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Toy Poodle, Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, and German Shorthaired Pointer.
Allow your pup ample time to completely relax and settle, then you can reward them with attention, some calming rubs, or a special chew toy they can enjoy that encourages them to stay calm. Rewarding them at the right time in the right way will help them learn faster what acceptable behavior is!
Interactive toys can exercise your dog's brain by letting them chew, lick, sniff, and explore. Toys such as KONG, activity flip boards, and puppy puzzles are perfect for mental stimulation. In addition to simple interactive toys, you can also try out high-tech gadgets such as the Furbo Dog Camera!
The sense of smell is indeed what this post is about, and whether some scents can act to calm or relax dogs who are in stressful situations. The bottom line is yes, according to a study done by Jonathon Binks et. al. (2018, The behavioural effects of olfactory stimulation on dogs at a rescue shelter.
At the top of the list? Citrus. Most dogs can't stand the taste and smell of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. Here's why — plus, how to use their dislike of citrus to your advantage.
Our dogs know our smell, and they love it. New scientific research proves that your fragrance is your dog's favorite. Neuroscientist Gregory Berns and his team at Emory University's Center for Neuropolicy used advanced brain-imaging to demonstrate dogs recognize scents even when the source isn't present.
Many essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang ylang are straight up toxic to pets. These are toxic whether they are applied to the skin, used in diffusers or licked up in the case of a spill.
Absolutely. Your pal's got one powerful sniffer that's five times more sensitive than your own, so chances are if you can sniff it out, so can Spot. But even though your dog can smell eucalyptus — whether it's from the tree itself or through an essential oil diffuser — it doesn't mean they should.