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Study shows dogs may benefit from scented toys
The dogs that played with the scented toys displayed more positive behaviour.

Adding lavender or rabbit scent to toys could improve the welfare of dogs in kennels

A new study has found that the welfare of kennelled dogs could be improved if they’re able to play with scented toys.

Being held in a rehoming centre can be extremely stressful for dogs, and one way to improve this can be to provide toys. However, studies of kennel dogs have found that few animals actually play with them.

In this study, researchers employed 44 kennelled dogs over the age of one that were under the care of a Dogs Trust rehoming centre. Lavender or rabbit scents were applied to the toys, and researchers compared the dogs’ behaviour with these toys with ones that were unscented. 


Researchers found that the dogs were more likely to play with the scented toys, but they also noticed that the dogs displayed more positive behaviours. For example, the dogs that played with the scented toys explored their kennel and the objects within it, while periods of rest and sleep were more likely to occur.

The team didn’t measure adoption success, but they did find that dogs that played with the scented toys were quieter and more playful - two traits that people often look for when they’re adopting a dog.

Furthermore, dogs that played with the scented toys weren’t necessarily the ones that showed an increase in other behaviours, suggesting that scent may be beneficial in itself, not just because it encourages the use of toys.


Study author Ben Brilot from Hartpury University said that such behaviours are associated with higher welfare and could potentially increase the chances of adoption from a rehoming centre:


“Our initial results look very promising, suggesting that adding scent to toys in rehoming kennels might, at least in the short-term, improve welfare outcomes,” he said. “The use of novel scents may, therefore, promote better welfare in kennels, but differing scents and longer-term observations, including rehoming success, need to be looked at.”


Dogs Trust’s research manager Naomi Harvey, added: “We are always looking for ways to improve the day-to-day experience for the thousands of dogs we care for across our 21 rehoming centres in the UK and Ireland.

“Scent is an incredibly important sense for dogs and while sniffing is a natural behaviour for them, it’s often overlooked as a form of enrichment. These results show that adding scent to toys could be a practical way of improving welfare for our dogs and we are pleased to support this research.”

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Free CPD announced for BVNA members

News Story 1
 Zoetis is to present a CPD event for free to members of the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA).

Led by veterinary consultant Ruth Moxon, the one-hour online session is designed to help veterinary nurses discuss parasiticide options with clients. It will advise on structuring recommendations, factors for product choice and moving away from 'selling'.

'How do you recommend parasite treatments to your clients?' will be presented on Tuesday, 20 May at 7.30pm. It is free for BVNA members, with £15.00 tickets for non-members.

Veterinary nurses can email cpd@bvna.co.uk to book their place. 

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DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.