If you’ve ever lightly spritzed a perfume, used a strongly scented shampoo, or tried a fragranced grooming product on your dog — only to watch them shake, sneeze, or move away — that reaction isn’t fussiness.
It’s communication.
Dogs experience the world through their noses first and foremost. And what smells mild or pleasant to us can feel intense, uncomfortable, or simply too much for them.
As many UK vets explain, a dog’s sense of smell isn’t just sharp — it’s central to how they understand their world.
At DotDotPet, we believe good pet care starts with listening to what dogs are telling us — especially when the science supports it.
Dogs’ Noses Are Far More Sensitive Than Ours
A dog’s sense of smell is extraordinarily powerful. It’s widely accepted by veterinary professionals that dogs can detect scents at concentrations far lower than humans, thanks to the structure of their nose and the way their brain processes smell.
To put that into perspective, imagine being able to detect a single teaspoon of sugar dissolved into two Olympic-sized swimming pools.
So while a perfumed shampoo might seem “lightly fragranced” to us, to a dog it can feel overwhelming — and in some cases physically uncomfortable.
Alice Potter Chief scientific office at RSPCA:
“Dogs don’t experience scent as background information. Smell is their primary sense, and strong odours can be intrusive rather than pleasant.”
When a dog pulls away from a strong smell, they’re not being dramatic — they’re responding honestly.
Strong Fragrances Can Interfere With How Dogs Communicate
Scent isn’t just sensory for dogs — it’s social.
Dogs rely on smell to recognise one another, feel secure in familiar environments, and interpret what’s happening around them. Their natural scent carries information about identity, emotional state, and health.
Using strongly scented or human-style perfumes on dogs can:
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Mask their natural scent, causing confusion
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Interfere with how dogs recognise one another
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Lead to avoidance or tension, particularly in multi-dog households
The RSPCA advises avoiding strong-smelling products on dogs, noting that scent plays a crucial role in how they communicate and interact with their environment.
As an RSPCA scientific officer explained in UK media:
“Dogs rely heavily on their sense of smell to communicate and interact with the world around them, so some scents that seem pleasant to us can actually be quite unpleasant for dogs.”
Put simply, covering a dog’s natural smell with heavy fragrance can interfere with the language they rely on every day.
Potential Health Considerations of Perfumed Products
Beyond sensory overload, heavily fragranced grooming products may also contribute to physical discomfort in some dogs — particularly those with sensitive skin or existing conditions.
UK vets and welfare organisations commonly caution that fragranced products may be associated with:
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Skin irritation or allergic reactions
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Sneezing, coughing, or respiratory discomfort
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Ingestion risks if dogs lick products from their coat
Even products marketed as “natural” aren’t automatically suitable. Essential oils and fragranced ingredients can still be irritating if they’re not formulated specifically for dogs.
As UK veterinary guidance often stresses:
“Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s safe for pets — formulation and concentration matter.”
This is why choosing dog-specific, gently fragranced (or fragrance-minimal) products is widely recommended.
Why We Keep Fragrance Subtle With Shine Bright
At DotDotPet, we design products with dogs’ comfort front of mind. As a UK-based pet care brand that partners with Battersea, animal welfare guides every decision we make.
Our Shine Bright fragrance was created with one clear aim: to support freshness without overwhelming a dog’s most important sense.
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Developed with veterinary input
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Uses Neofresh® technology to neutralise odours rather than mask them
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Free from harsh synthetic perfumes, alcohol, and essential oils
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pH-balanced and tested to be gentle on skin and coat
By using a Shine Bright it helps reduce nasal irritation making at home grooming that bit easier for you and a lot more pleasant for your dog.
Final Thoughts: Listen to the Nose That Knows
Dogs don’t experience scent the way we do — and they shouldn’t be expected to.
If we respect them as the scent-driven animals they are, choosing grooming products designed for their noses becomes an easy decision.
They don’t need perfume.
They don’t want it.
And the science — and UK animal welfare guidance — supports listening when they tell us so.
Want a More Dog-Friendly Bath Time?
Explore our gentle, beautifully balanced shampoos — made for dogs, not human noses — and discover a kinder way to freshen up bath time.
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