The science of smelly dogs

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Wet dog smell is caused by micro-organisms living in the dog's hair, says chemistry teacher and blogger Andy Brunning. Speaking to 5 live Breakfast, Andy said chemical compounds created by the organisms are "stuck to" the dog's hair when dry. When wet, the compounds evaporate to create the "unpleasant" odour. He said one way to minimise the smell is to have a "slightly cleaner" dog, although this may not completely eradicate the smell. This clip is originally from 5 live Breakfast on Thursday 30 July 2015.