Science & Technology

'Pig perfume' helps stop dogs misbehaving

By T.K. Randall
August 26, 2014

Image: Chihuahua
Credit: Werwin15 / CC BY 2.0 (adapted) For dog owners whose canine companions are proving to be too difficult to handle there is now a new hope in the form of a special perfume that can keep even the most unruly of dogs in check.

Made from a pheromone produced in the fat and saliva of male pigs, the unusual fragrance was formulated by scientist John McGlone while he was trying to find a way to stop his Cairn terrier Toto from barking incessantly.According to MgGlone just one application of the perfume was enough to keep his dog quiet.

"It was completely serendipitous," he said. "One of the most difficult problems is that dogs bark a lot, and it's one of the top reasons they are given back to shelters or pounds."

The key component of the fragrance is androstenone, a pheremone that makes a male pig more attractive to females. While it doesn't seem to have this effect in dogs it does have the remarkable ability to keep them under control without causing them any harm.

Source: Discovery

Tags: Dog, Pig