Why Dogs Sniff Each Other's Butts

Most dogs sniff each other's butts upon meeting in order to learn more about the other dog. This may seem disgusting or embarrassing to you, but your dog sees it differently. Butt-sniffing is a healthy, normal behavior in dogs. However, there may be times when it gets to be too much. Here's why dogs sniff butts and when to interfere.

Your Dog's Sense of Smell

A dog's olfactory system is complex and advanced, making its sense of smell far superior to that of a human. To give you an idea of the difference, consider the fact that humans have about 5 million olfactory receptors in their noses and dogs have about 220 million. Dogs can smell layers upon layers of scents even when we can smell nothing. That's an impressive nose.

If you had a nose like that, you'd probably want to sniff everything too. Dogs smell their way through life for two main reasons:

• Enjoyment: Stuff smells good! Smelling things is fun—it feels good and stimulating.
• Information: Dogs want to figure out or learn more about something or someone.

Why Do Dogs Sniff Butts?

Many people think of butt-sniffing among dogs as a type of greeting, but it's so much more than that. Through sniffing, dogs are able to learn many details about one another. Every animal has their own unique scent, and that includes humans, dogs, cats, and all other animals. While we can only vaguely detect a personal scent, our dogs pick up a number of clues through their noses.

These personal scents are especially potent around the genitals and anus (the location of the anal sacs, which collect odorous fluid). Scents in this area can tell another dog about gender, reproductive status, diet, health status, temperament, and much more. Dogs can also remember scents and therefore determine whether or not they have met another dog before.

So, when a dog meets another dog, they each have stories to tell. People shake hands and make small talk. Dogs sniff each other's butts. It's normal behavior.

Why Does My Dog Sniff My Privates?

Humans have unique scents coming from this area of the body, so many dogs will try to find out more about a person through, ahem, crotch-sniffing. This is often much to our embarrassment. Don't worry, it's not a problem with you, it's just canine nature. However, dog owners should discourage this behavior. If your dog is sniffing a person's private areas, it's best to redirect them to another activity. Some people are afraid of dogs, and others just value their personal space.

Should I Let My Dog Sniff Other Dogs?

If both dogs are healthy, well-socialized, and supervised, it's actually a good idea to let them "sniff it out" as long as each dog is tolerating it well. Dogs may actually be less likely to fight if they take an adequate amount of "getting-to-sniff-you" time with one another. However, some dogs may get annoyed or overstimulated by intense sniffing, which can lead to aggressive behavior.

Watch the behavior and body language of all dogs. If one dog seems annoyed or stressed, then the dogs should be separated. Also, it's best to let dogs meet and play in pairs. Dogs are more likely to get overexcited in groups, which can lead to fights.