Can you follow the dog and provide pix of plants it has contact with?

I agree with floral. Not all scent comes from flowers, it can be foliage that has scent. So you can also see where the dog rubs and rub your fingers on that plant, to see if it smells like what you're finding on the puppy.

I have seen people say that the evergreen bush boxwood can smell like cat pee.

^^^ I’ve heard this too, Lucille. I cannot verify as I do not have boxwoods.

Foas, if you could observe your dog, or maybe even borrow a game cam for a few days, it would surely help perhaps to ID what the dog might be rubbing against. Otherwise, as rob suggests, just wander around and rub some of the various evergreen foliage between your fingers and sniff to see if you can figure it out.

Being as she runs laps around the yard and explores everywhere, basically I’d have to check everything out. Boxwoods - I gave some on the property but I’m not sure if in the back. Will start there, though I wouldn't describe it as pee smell. Thanks!

Box does smell like cat pee, but usually in hot weather. However, I wouldn't describe it as a 'floral' scent.

Do you have any herbs growing, perhaps unbeknownst to you? I vote for a kitty-cam to put on your dog’s collar.

I thought of junipers...some do smell like cat pee, but also this: "Juniper is a refreshing, woodsy scent that fills any space with a delightful aroma."

It could be geosmin, the earthy scent one can smell in the soil after the rain.

https://www.goodsweetearth.com/blog/that-fresh-earth-smell-after-it-rains

The smell could be some chemical or other substance with the scent which your dog has discovered somewhere.

Are you or any neighbours using soap as a deer repellent? Do you have gardeners coming in and using any products?

my current dog comes in from roaming the back yard with a pronounced floral scent

FOAS, check for lipstick on his collar. It sounds very suspicious. 😄

Perhaps some bedding plants or weeds?

Dogs do tend to roll in things humans find unpleasant. I remember a little dog belonging to a local resident who would visit our school grounds, which was near a beach, and during red tide we discovered she'd apparently really enjoyed that smell and been rolling in it - after we'd been petting her 😖

Lantana and some of the 'stemy' plants like that have a kind of floral smell when you touch them. So do some of the weeds, but I'm unsure of names.

For sure, lantana has a strong resinous smell - I'm wondering about something like Russian sage...

Ooh, I’ve definitely got plants thet look like the Russian Sage I'm seeing online, back there. I'll start there for sure. Checked boxwoods ans rhodies and acuba and a couple shrubs this morning, but it's pouring out so I didn't get furtuer thsn that.

I have seen people say that the evergreen bush boxwood can smell like cat pee.

That's been my experience, but nothing floral smelling about it.

Lantana and some of the 'stemy' plants like that have a kind of floral smell when you touch them

I don't think lantana grows that far north.

FOAS do you have any daffodils blooming in your yard? I picked some to bring inside yesterday and had forgotten how stinky they can smell. I added a stem from the blooming plum tree to help add some sweetness.

Daffodils are just poking through but I don't think this is a seasonal smell. I jist walked the perimeter of the yard anf scratched every new plant I saw. Got some pleasant scents from some of the evergreens, but nothing close to what she's coming in with. The mystery continues.

My yard though, is an embarassment. I don't know if I'd grown blind to it or if everything just grew out of control late in the season. Coupled with everything the dog has enearthed or dragged out from who knows where, I'll have my hands full with Spring cleaning! Good thing it’s surrounded by 6 foot fence.