What Smells Do Dogs Hate

Humans have 5 million olfactory cells in the nose. Dogs have 300 million. As such you can deduce that dogs have a much better sense of smell than humans. We all know that dogs love a lot of smells. But they don’t like it all. What smells do dogs hate? There are a lot of options. Not all dogs are the same so some will hate a specific smell while others can tolerate or even like it. Below we will see 10 most common smells most dogs simply hate.

10 Most Smells Do Dogs Hate

1. Ground Spices

Let’s start with the first point right here. What smells do dogs hate? Well, they hate ground spices. Most if not all dogs will hate paprika, chili powder, ground mustard and so much more. These are included in many dog repellents out there so you can see how much your dog will hate the ground spices. You can spread these in your garden and a dog will refuse to go there or dig. Don’t blow the spices in his face. The particles will irritate his nose which is painful.

2. Hot Peppers

All types of hot peppers are annoying to dogs. They don’t know about tingling sensation in nose and mouth as we do. This is completely unknown to them. When they smell hot peppers, they get that sensation hence this is very annoying for them. Usually, you can hold hot peppers close to his nose and a dog will run away.

We must add that you must not include hot peppers in your dog. It can irritate his nose, cause respiratory issues and so much more. Do not use a solution that contains hot pepper spray directly on the dog. 

3. Vinegar

Dogs hate the smell of vinegar. Sadly, humans hate it as well. This is a cheap solution that you can use in some cases. The bad thing is that it smells bad, even for us. Vinegar is safe for dogs and it is not toxic in any way. You probably have some of it in your kitchen. 

4. All Citrus Fruits

All citrus fruits are something your dog will hate. The skins of these fruits are commonly present in dog repellents or owners can place these on the ground in an area where they don’t want the dog to urinate. You can make spray if you like. It is something that dogs don’t like and they will do everything they can to avoid the smell. 

The oils from the lemon skin or other citrus fruit can cause skin irritation in the nose. Once again, if you want to use this option as a repellent you must be very careful.

5. Mothballs

As you probably know, mothballs have a bad and strong odor. Dogs hate this smell and they will try to avoid it as much as they can. Sadly, mothballs are toxic for dogs and for humans. Always keep them out of reach and hide them from your dog or small children. As long as the smell is present in the room, your dog won’t go inside. This can be useful if you want to keep him away from specific things or rooms in general. 

6. Household Cleaners

All dogs hate the smell of household cleaners. This happens because most of them contain ammonia or chlorine. These have strong scents and dogs can’t tolerate that kind of a smell. You probably have a dog who will leave the room as soon as you start cleaning. Now you know why. Others will avoid getting inside the bathroom as much as they can, due to the same reasons. There is no need to add that household cleaners are toxic for dogs and humans. Products that contain ammonia are even more dangerous. Dogs who inhale ammonia will end up with burns inside their respiratory system. 

7. Rosemary or Mint

Dogs hate the smell of many fresh herbs. Rosemary and mint are the best examples. The smell is too strong for them and far from appealing. As the result, most dogs will hate these smells and they will run away as far as possible. Keep in mind that most dogs do hate these smells but not all. Some don’t have any problems with these smells. This is the explanation why dog repellents with these smells don’t always work. 

8. Beauty Products

Hair spray, all nail polish products and so much more are an issue for a dog. These all contain strong chemicals hence dogs will hate the smell. Some of these have smells humans hate as well. In addition, some of these products can cause strong fumes that can hurt your dog. 

9. Alcohol

Dogs hate alcohol as well. An interesting fact is that a higher concentration of alcohol will make the smell much stronger and therefore make this ‘’repellent’’ stronger. You must not rub alcohol on your dog, spray on his skin or anything similar. It is bad for dogs and can cause a lot of issues. A safe way to use it as a repellent is only to add it on the cotton balls and place these in the room.

10. Perfumes

All perfumes and actually most cologne will have odors that dogs hate. This happens due to the fact they contain alcohol, chemical compounds, and essential oils among many other ingredients. Dogs hate these smells, period. You can even have a dog who will refuse to come to you when you put perfume on you. Now you know why. 

The Final Word 

What smells do dogs hate? As you can see, they hate a lot of different smells. In general, very strong and ‘’powerful’’ smells are something dogs can’t tolerate. They have a very strong sense of smell so these aromas and scents are far more intensive for them. Keep in consideration that your dog may hate other smells as well or he can even like some of these. Not all dogs are the same, despite the fact you may think that.