This is especially doable with dog food, as dogs rely more on smell than taste in making choices about what to eat and how vigorously. {Pat Moeller estimates that for dogs, the ratio for how much aroma matters to how much taste matters is 70/30. For cats, the ratio is more like 50/50.} The takeaway lesson is that if the palatant smells appealing, the dog will dive in with instant and obvious zeal, and the owner will assume the food is a hit. In reality it may have only smelled like a hit. Interpreting animals' eating behaviors
Dogs primarily choose their food based on smell rather than taste, with an estimated ratio of 70% aroma to 30% taste. In contrast, cats rely more evenly on both senses, with a 50/50 ratio. This difference in how dogs and cats perceive food is crucial for understanding their eating behaviors.
When a dog finds a food's smell appealing, it may eagerly consume it, leading owners to believe the food is popular. However, this enthusiasm could be misleading, as the dog's enjoyment may stem from an enticing aroma rather than the actual flavor. This insight emerges from Mary Roach's book, "Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal," which explores the intricacies of animal eating behaviors.
