Dog Owners Share Some Smelly Stories

by Steve Dale

A few weeks back, reader K.S. in Atlanta offered her personal view that dogs' paws smell like Fritos, which sparked an onslaught of email and other comments directed to my Facebook page.

I received around 100 comments, and still the controversy rages!

K.S. wondered why she detected this particular smell. Some readers were shocked that veterinary dermatologist Dr. Karen Campbell, head of specialty medicine at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, said she never noticed the snack food odor, stating that K.S. was likely smelling sweat off the dogs' paws, oil gland secretions, or a combination of both.

Perhaps Campbell never noticed, but you sure did. Here are a few of your comments:

"I'm rolling on the floor. I've been saying this for years, referring to my Springer (Spaniel) and now with our Maltipoo. I call them 'Frito feet.' I have a pretty good sensory sense, so I know we're not all wacky. I also have a Ph.D. in food science, plus 26 years in the food industry. I don't know what to do with this information, but I did get a chuckle over the column and found it affirming. (I wonder how many of us smell our dogs' paws?). -- L.K., Saint Paul, MN

"Your column struck my funny bone. We've nicknamed our boxer, named Geep, 'Frito Feet.' It was enjoyable to know that other pet owners share the same stinky dilemma. I wonder what my feet would smell like if I walked around with no socks, never washing them and walking on all sorts of terrain. I think Fritos would not come to mind. Thanks for the chuckle." -- C.G., Smithfield, VA.

"I was surprised to hear anyone else say it, but I always joked that my lovely dog's feet smelled like Fritos! What's with Dr. Campbell? Horse sense always told me the odor is intrinsic to dog feets (I love calling them that). I enjoy your column a lot." -- L.B., Las Vegas, NV

"I had a dachshund mix who lived to be 16, and a Doxie purebred who lived to be over 18, and both dogs definitely had Frito paws. My last one passed away a little over two years ago, and because of circumstances in my life I haven't been able to replace him yet. To this day, the smell of Fritos almost makes me cry!" -- J.H.B., Williamsburg, VA

"Or maybe Frito's (has) engineered their chips to smell like dog paws. Hmmm?" -- D.H., Greensboro, NC, via Facebook

"Yes, they DO smell like Fritos! Perhaps we can turn it into a diet thing. When you get hungry and want to snack, just smell your dog's feet! You get some of the enjoyment of the Fritos without those nasty calories!" -- D.P., via Facebook

"I always thought they (dogs' paws) smelled like popcorn." -- K.N., Portland, ME, via Facebook

"I've always thought (dogs' paws smell like) tortilla chips." -- D.G.S., via Facebook

"Lisa (one dog) smells like Italian pillow cookies, the ones with the sesame seeds. Maggie's (another dog) feet smell like popcorn but the rest of her smells like a nice expensive cheese. My gals are totally delicious." -- M.B., New York, NY

"This is a hysterical subject. I'm cracking up. I always thought dogs' paws smell like caramel corn! Their mouths smell like parmesan cheese." -- J.G., Plainfield, IL, via Facebook

"I thought I was the only one who smelled their dogs' feet. It sounds like we all like it and do it often. Well, when Fritos was mentioned, it brought that smell up from memory, but I just went and smelled both of my dogs' feet and I think (the odor is) more like a musky grass. (I wonder if) anyone likes the smell of horse's hooves? I also love to smell my dogs' muzzles; my last Doberman had an especially wonderful scent." -- J.K. Sarasota, FL, via Facebook

"Just wanted you to know there's one more person who's thought for years that dogs' feet smell like Fritos. Glad to see there are at least two more of us." --J.S., Grove, OK

"Despite how much I adore my dog, and despite the fact that she sleeps on my bed, sometimes right up by my pillow, I have to say I've never smelled her feet. And I'm not planning to." -- C.H.V., Chicago, IL, via Facebook

"Sniffing dog's paws - and writing about it in the paper - you're crazy. Get a life!" -- G.P., Cyberspace

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