# fear smelling **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 6, 1999, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-smelling/6695 "1999-05-06T18:20:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 1999, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-smelling/6695/1 "1999-05-06T18:20:00Z")
As ayoungsteer,I was told that dogs and bees can “smell” if you’re afraid of them,and it makes them mad.Is there any clinical tests to prove this?Was this an old wives tale?How would they test it anyway? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 1999, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-smelling/6695/2 "1999-05-06T19:35:00Z")
I have owned plenty of dogs and, from experience, I can state that dogs are certainly capable of _sensing_ fear. Body language, eye contact, things of that nature will inform a dog of your intentions. Dogs are pack animals and if they are dominant or protective enough, when challenged or threatened, will attack. I was bitten frequently enough as a kid to know how to avoid it now. As far as bees? Hard to say. I always figured leave them alone and they leave me alone. Has worked thus far. Knock wood. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 1999, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-smelling/6695/3 "1999-05-08T00:46:00Z")
I heard that fear makes you smell sweet and attracts bees. Joy. Don’t know if it’s an OWT or not, but I ain’t taking any chances. * * * Those who can’t hear the music, think the dancer is mad. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2000, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-smelling/6695/4 "2000-02-01T02:02:00Z")
I’m going to resurrect this thread, because I’m sitting here with my friend’s psycho dog that snaps at me every once in a while for no friggin reason, and we were wondering if it’s true that dogs can sense fear somehow. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2000, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-smelling/6695/5 "2000-02-01T02:06:00Z")
[Cecil on “smelling” fear](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/991231.html) * * * Livin’ on Tums, vitamin E and Rogaine ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2000, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-smelling/6695/6 "2000-02-01T03:56:00Z")
And all of our second-guessing is here: [http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000419.html](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000419.html) * * * Tom~ ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2000, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-smelling/6695/7 "2000-02-01T03:59:00Z")
(BTW, V, if you were once a youngsteer, are you now an oldox?) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2000, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fear-smelling/6695/8 "2000-02-01T14:56:00Z")
very funny tom, but don’t get me in trouble. That was my old username. Don’t resurrect vanillanice!