Why you smell just like perfume to your dog: Odour of familiar human lingers in animal's brain where it triggers emotional response

  • Odour lingers like perfume in dogs' brain, triggering an emotional response
  • Our scent acts on the part of a canine brain linked with reward
  • Findings could improve the way animals who assist wounded war veterans or disabled people are selected

By Daily Mail Reporter


A new study has revealed the smell of a familiar person to a dog, lingers like perfume in the animal's brain

A new study has revealed the smell of a familiar person to a dog, lingers like perfume in the animal's brain

If your dog looks pleased to see you – it is probably because it loves the particular way you smell.

The odour of a familiar human apparently lingers like perfume in the animal’s brain – where it triggers an instinctive emotional response, research published yesterday reveals.

Our scent acts on a part of the canine brain associated with reward and the strongest reactions are produced by humans that pets know best, say scientists in America.

Gregory Berns, of Emory University in Atlanta, said: ‘While we might expect that dogs should be highly tuned to the smell of other dogs, it seems that the “reward response” is reserved for their humans.

'When humans smell the perfume or cologne of someone they love, they may have an immediate, emotional reaction that's not necessarily cognitive.

'Our experiment may be showing the same process in dogs. But since dogs are so much more olfactory than humans, their responses would likely be even more powerful than the ones we might have.

'It's one thing when you come home and your dog sees you and jumps on you and licks you and knows that good things are about to happen.

'In our experiment, however, the scent donors were not physically present.

 

'That means the canine brain responses were being triggered by something distant in space and time. It shows that dogs' brains have these mental representations of us that persist when we're not there.' 

The university’s experiment - the first of its type - involved 12 dogs of various breeds who underwent brain scans while five different scents were placed in front of them.

The scent samples came from the subject itself, a dog the subject had never met, a dog that lived in the subject's household, a human the dog had never met, and a human that lived in the subject's household.

Researchers believe the study could improve the way dogs are selected to help war veterans and disabled people

Researchers believe the study could improve the way dogs are selected to help war veterans and disabled people

The familiar human scent samples were taken from someone else from the house other than the handlers during the experiment, so that none of the scent donors were physically present.

The results showed that all five scents elicited a similar response in parts of the dogs' brains involved in detecting smells. Responses were significantly stronger for the scents of familiar humans, followed by that of familiar dogs.

The findings, which were published in the journal Behavioural Processes, showed that dogs reacted strongest to the scent of a familiar human even when they were not there.

Pets trained as help or therapy dogs showed greater brain activity than the other dogs in the test.

Researchers say the findings could improve the way animals who assist wounded veterans or disabled people are selected.

The comments below have not been moderated.

When I went on holiday for a month my dog transferred all his affection to my son, who took over his care, and when I came home the dog's face was a real picture. It said as plain as could be "But..... I thought you'd died!"

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Or you simply smell like your dog ?

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That tittle woolly dog looks extremely pleased to see the cameraman!

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Since my little dog has become blind, she wants to lick me more, I think it helps her find me and gives her comfort. Don't worry, germaphobes, I keep myself, food and home very clean.

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What's the odour that upsets Staffordshire Bull Terriers Jack Russels and a whole host more Please let me know I walk in fear of these dogs and their irresponsible owners.

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jethro`s right..when a dog smells fear it used to be the signal for the pack to stand guard or fight..as there is no pack, ..only its owners family as a substitute pack..if it detects fear from yourself it`s guard or fight mentality kicks in..if you go near a strange dog and it growls it`s protecting..if a dog barks and you shout at it to shut up the dog actually thinks you are also barking at the same thing

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Neville, jack russells are little dogs with big dog syndrome I have had two for nine years now they love a bark and a growl but have never tried to bite anyone its their reputation that is scary

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No one-- I mean NO one -- gives a " welcome home " like a dog. It really is a Cheerleaders welcome -- Flags waving ( tail wagging ) ) Music ( Howling ) and gymnastic dancing ( jumping up and down ) and kissing on both cheeks ( Wet muzzle on your face ) . I feel like hero returning from Afghanistan every time I come home.

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When my dogs are let into the living room at night with us when kids in bed, they rub their bodies and heads all over the sofa where the kids have been all day. Its either the kids scent they can smell or all the food and drink spilt over the course of the day!

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Or they want to reclaim the sofa when the kids leave. They want to exercise their authority. There may be some competition between your dogs and your kids....well the dogs think so.

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Rubbing the smell of the kids onto their coats..they now smell like the kids and expect the same attention as the kids from the leader of the family pack...you

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You know when you need a wash/bath when a dog sniffs somewhere private !!!

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Dogs should be trained not to do this. It's rude to guests and is totally unacceptable.

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How the hell do the scientists know that ? Was one of them a former dog in a past life ? The only time my dad dog smells me is when i have been near another dog or cat..... OR FOOD the greedy little MUTT !

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Cats as well,felines are highly intelligent.

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Absolutely!!

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True,my cat will only come near myself my son and my staffie she refuses to acknowledge anybody else that walks in my house

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