Dogs do not taste spice in the same way humans do. Spice is actually a sensation caused by capsaicin, a chemical compound in peppers that triggers pain and heat receptors. Dogs have fewer taste buds (about 1,700 compared to a human's 9,000) and cannot taste spicy flavors complexly, but they can feel the burning sensation of spice because they have the same receptors that detect heat and pain. However, they usually find this sensation unpleasant and distressing and often avoid spicy foods. Their sense of smell, much stronger than their taste, plays a bigger role in how they perceive spicy foods. Overall, dogs can detect spicy sensations but do not enjoy or taste spice as humans do, and spicy foods can cause them digestive upset like diarrhea or vomiting.