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Should I Add Scents to Help My Blind Dog?

  • Deb Bauer
  • Sep 25
  • 3 min read

When you first start exploring how to support your blind dog, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the advice out there. One common suggestion you may come across is to add artificial scents to different rooms or objects in your home - the idea being that your dog can follow or recognize the smells to find their way.


It sounds helpful in theory, right? But in my experience, both living with blind dogs and helping many clients do the same, this approach often creates more confusion than clarity for our dogs. And it can unintentionally overwhelm their most powerful sense: their incredible nose. So, should you add scents to help your blind dog?


Should you add scents to help your blind dog? Blind deaf dog navigates a new hotel room upon arriving.  Additional scents are not necessary.

Your Dog’s Nose Is Already Working Overtime


We know that dogs have a superpowered sense of smell. While you and I might walk into the kitchen and notice the aroma of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove, your dog may very well smell the garlic, the basil, the tomato, and the beef, as each ingredient individually.


Now imagine living in that level of scent detail all the time. That’s your blind dog’s reality. They don’t need strong artificial scents to distinguish between spaces; the natural world around them already smells rich and unique.


I’ve watched my own blind dogs move confidently through our home and yard, relying solely on the natural smells that surround them. They know the difference between the leash we use for walks in the neighborhood, the long line for field adventures, and the leash we use for therapy visits - each by its own scent. The nail clippers smell different than the undercoat rake or the grooming brush, even when stored together. And each object in my home - the couch, the window, the door, even different areas of the same room - carries its own scent signature that my dogs recognize.


How do I know? Their reactions are different to each item, based on scent alone. It’s remarkable, and it's all happening without any added smells from me.


Strong Scents Might Actually Make Things Harder for A Blind Dog


Many well-meaning caregivers turn to essential oils or other strong scents, thinking it will guide their dog more easily. But what actually happens is that these intense smells can overpower the environment and confuse the dog instead of helping them.


Scent doesn’t stay neatly in one place. It travels on air currents, collects in corners, and lingers in unexpected spots. A lemon-scented doorway doesn’t just smell like lemon at the threshold; it might waft through multiple rooms or concentrate under the dining room table. For your dog, who’s trying to make sense of the world through smell, this is like navigating a maze where the signs keep shifting.


And on top of that, some of these artificial scents contain chemicals that can irritate your dog’s sensitive nose - and yours, too.


Your Dog’s Nose Is Already Navigating the World Beautifully


The good news? Your dog doesn’t need you to add extra smells to figure things out. Their nose is already doing the job.


Whether your dog is newly blind or adjusting to a new home, they are learning the scent layout of their environment - the smell of your couch, their favorite toy, the trail to the back door, the cozy corner of your bedroom where they love to nap. These scents are more than enough to help them form a map of their world.


What they need most is your gentle guidance as they explore - walking slowly together through key areas, creating clear pathways, and giving them time to sniff and settle.


It’s a beautiful process to witness. And when you slow down and see your dog finding their way, using nothing but their nose and a bit of support from you, it’s truly awe-inspiring.


Ready to Support Your Blind Dog’s Superpowered Sniffer?


If you’re unsure how to make your home easier and safer for your blind dog to navigate, indoors or out, I’d love to help. We can create a setup that supports their confidence without overwhelming their senses.


And if your dog loves to sniff (which most do!), we can also explore ways to use that incredible nose for fun and enrichment - like scent games, scavenger hunts, or even beginner scentwork activities tailored to their unique needs.


Let’s turn their natural gifts into something joyful, enriching, and empowering; for both of you. 💛



Are you ready get more tips for setting up your home and yard to support your blind dog, or to learn how to get started with fun scentwork activities from home?



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