June 13, 2024, 1:47 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Dogs often greet by sniffing each other’s rear ends extensively. Our four-legged friends behave in a similar way with us, as they also like to smell our crotches. This can be unpleasant for the owner and the person being greeted. What’s behind it, and how you can deal with this behavior.
When two dogs meet, they often extensively inspect each other’s rear ends, which typically includes the genital area. What seems quite strange to us is completely normal in the dog world. However, behaviors that are considered good manners amongst dogs can be disturbing for humans. Who hasn’t experienced some embarrassing moments with dogs when they smell another person’s crotch? But don’t be alarmed: dogs communicate through scent, making sniffing intimate areas akin to a greeting or introduction. PETBOOK reveals why you should not be too embarrassed if your dog smells the crotches of other people and gives tips on how to deal with the situation.
Overview
Wonder organ, a dog’s nose: Why sniffing is so important
Dogs have a renowned olfactory prowess. With their noses, they can detect drugs in closed suitcases and unearth truffles buried 20 centimeters deep. The reason for this is the approximately 220 million olfactory cells in a dog’s nose, which means that their nose is their most powerful sensory organ, enabling them to recognize even the finest nuances of scent. Dogs therefore perceive their environment to a large extent through their sense of smell and not through their eyes.
Sniffing is an essential behavior for dogs: it’s how they gather information about their surroundings and other creatures. Dogs also use scents and smells to communicate with each other and use their scent marks to reveal where they were last, whether they are ready to mate, and how healthy they are.
Dogs therefore get to know each other through the use of their noses and recognize each other by their body scent if they have not seen each other for a while. So it’s not surprising that dogs like to stick their noses in everything, including our human crotches. Although your dog’s habit may be somewhat embarrassing, it is not a reflection of poor manners or insufficient training. Rather, your dog is simply expressing his social interest in new acquaintances and trying to find out as much as possible about them.
Also interesting: Dogs can smell stress in humans
Why the crotch smells particularly good to dogs
Dogs secrete certain scents, known as pheromones, to communicate. These can be sniffed out particularly well at the anal glands or anal sacs, which is why dogs often sniff each other’s bottoms extensively as a greeting. While it may seem absurd to humans, as we wouldn’t greet each other in such a manner, it is considered polite behavior amongst dogs. For your dog, smelling another dog’s bottom is a kind of small talk and a part of canine interaction.
The reason for this lies in the anal glands: in dogs, these are located in pairs on the side of the anus. The glands are remodeled apocrine glands or sweat glands that produce an odorous secretion. We humans also naturally have glands that produce these substances, which are located mainly in the genital area.
Why dogs smell a human’s crotch
Like dogs, humans also have apocrine glands, i.e., sweat glands, that secrete particularly intense odors. We have these glands in the armpits, around the anus, and on the genitals. Thus, when your dog sniffs a stranger’s crotch, it is an attempt to nonchalantly gather more information about the individual. Scents are simply most easily available in the crotch, as this is usually at the level of the dog’s nose.
Particularly interesting to dogs: women on their periods
We humans already smell exciting for dogs in the crotch area under normal circumstances, this can sometimes go even further. Women who are having their period are particularly interesting. During this time, the female pheromones change, which makes sniffing especially exciting for your pet. Dogs then sniff very intensively and for a long time, which can sometimes lead to uncomfortable situations. The same also applies when a woman is ovulating. Your dog will also immediately recognize this fertile phase of the woman by the change in smell. Agriculturists deliberately exploit this dog’s ability in cattle and pig breeding.
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My dog smells the crotches of strangers – what should I do?
As you now know, there is nothing strange about your dog sniffing the crotch of strangers. Of course, your friends do not have to approve or tolerate this. Simply call your dog back to stop the behavior. However, you should not scold your dog: after all, your dog is just following his instincts and trying to find out more about the person.
If your dog tends to be overly assertive, consider leashing him when expecting visitors or making sure you check with friends and family beforehand to see if they’re comfortable with your dog’s exploratory sniffing. When asked by PETBOOK, dog trainer André from Deine Online-Hundeschule advises working out a signal in advance, such as “stop”. “Even if the behavior is instinctive and therefore natural, a dog must learn that it is not desired by every dog,” says the dog trainer.
If your dog knows the basic commands, you should generally have control over how long and what your dog sniffs. In the event that you call your dog back, you should offer your dog alternatives so that the ban is not frustrating for them. Explain to the other person why your dog is behaving in this way. Approaching the situation with a smile can often defuse any discomfort, we believe.