I've heard that as well, don't know the answer. I personaly do not use them because I don't want my dogs to smell better than me. But after a long weekend in the bush, with no facilities, they often do smell better than me.:yikes:

 

No validity what so ever. You will also hear that the citronella bark collars will ruin their sense of smell too.

I am fortunate. when I hear one of these things, I go ask the vet in our store!

Sandy

 

Sounds like a challenge for Mythbusters!

 

Sounds like a challenge for Mythbusters!

That would be entertaining. :lol:

I have heard this also but never looked into or worried about it much because i dont use it.
Jr

 

you might look at dope sniffing dogs for your answer. many things have been tried to obscure the scent of various types of drugs to a dog(the scent of only a few are even detectable by humans). none work.


if cedar chips ruined their scenting ability, how would a dog ever point a bird among the evergreens. they seem to be able to detect nuances of scent like we can detect nuances of color.

 

I never heard that before but the timing is perfect. I am building a drawer unit for my truck to put under his kennel and I was thinking of making the drawers out of cedar adn the cabinet out of maple or something similar. I guess now I will check into the cedar thing since if there is an validity to the rumor I'll pass on the cedar.

 

I have seen some dogs have allergic reactions to chips...bumps on skin,rashes and so on.

 

Hevi, I don't have any first hand knowledge of cedar ruining a dogs noise, but I will tell you what we used instead of cedar, Marsh Grass Hay, has a much sweeter smell than straw even when wet and doesn't break down like straw. Lasts at least twice as long as straw and isn't as irritating to the dogs skin. My brother bales up some every summer, we sell it at the farm and the club, if you can't find it up your way PM me and we can get you some if your ever down this way. Just make sure whatever you buy doesn't have Alfalfa in it, that is what most cow/horse hay is but it is much to coarse and irritating to use as dog bedding!! Good luck.

Bear Creek

 

I've always used cedar chips in addition with straw for bedding the dogs. As of yet I've seen no adverse affect on their sniffers. Have been doing this for over 20 years now and I shoot about 100 upland birds a year. Only thing that seems to affect their ability to find birds is the ground being drier than a popcorn fart and 40 to 50 mph winds.
Oaks:

 

grass hay is probably fine. straw is not a good bedding. once it gets wet from wet dog laying on it it forms a mold. if your dogs are getting kennel cough and you use straw, that is probably the reason. :cwm27:

i use pine shavings, not cedar chips. provides a layer of bedding and are absorbent. there are other products such as ground rubber and pelleted paper that are used for horse stalls that are probably good, i havent used them.

 

If you want the best cedar product for dog houses, you want the red cedar ribbons type bedding. Made by a company in Conn, they are long and spingy and will last all season. They also stay in the box and out of your dogs nose and mouth. Works great with the marsh grass hay for outdoor dog boxes.

Lion Country Supply now carries this product.

Natty B.