It is not uncommon to meet a friend at the park and the first thing your dog wants to do is sniff the other dog’s butt. Not the polite greeting customarily used by humans. We can verbally greet and read another person’s body language to decide their friendliness. This is not how canines go about greetings.
Dogs take it to new level; they do read body language, but they also use smell. You will notice that dogs like to get right to the point and the quickest way to learn about the other dog is by sniffing their butt.
Dog owners have seen it many times, but it does not mean they know what it means. Why do dogs sniff butts? It is a form of communication in the canine world. In just a few sniffs from the backside of the other dog and they learn gender, if the dog has been spayed/neutered, if anything new going on with other the dog and what they are eating.
In this article, Why Do Dogs Sniff Butts, you will learn more about your dog’s sniffing powers, why your dog chooses the butt to gather information about the other dog, and lastly why some dogs do not like to be greeted with a butt sniff.
Why do Dogs Sniff Butts: Super Sniffing Powers
Dogs have incredibly strong olfactory powers. When we compare them to humans, we can see why they gather information about the world around them through their nose.
When comparing the differences between humans and canines, humans have approximately five million olfactory receptors in their nose. Amazingly, dogs can have up to 300 million olfactory receptors.
One of the oldest breeds of dog, the Bloodhound, in fact demonstrates a higher olfactory acuity than any other breed. Dogs that have been selected for scent work have a keen sense of smell. Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Dachshunds are among the top breeds with super smellers.
To further answer, why do dogs sniff butts as a form of communication, they actually have a larger portion of their brain that is used to process smell. The anatomy of the canine has built in receptors to use smell as a communication tool.
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Why do Dogs Sniff Butts: Specialized Organ for Smell
An interesting fact about canines is they all have an organ called the Jacobson’s Organ. This organ is often referred to as the dog’s second nose. It is aptly named as it is located inside the nasal cavity and opens up into the roof of the mouth behind the upper teeth.
Jacobson’s Organ is an amazing, specialized organ that aids canines with a second olfactory system. Now we know the secret behind why a dog has incredible smell. This second system serves as the chemical communication. The nerves in the Jacobson’s organ lead directly to the brain.
So, why do dogs sniff butts? They use two different olfactory systems in order to gather information from sniffing another dog’s backside. One olfactory system detects smells that we can often smell and the other picks up undetected odor or smell.
Dogs are designed with the Jacobson’s organ because it communicated directly with the part of the brain that signals mating. Why do dogs sniff butts? They can learn if the other dog is available for breeding. If you see a dog curl their lip and flare their nostrils, they are tapping into this remarkable organ.
Why do Dogs Sniff Butts? Location, Location, Location.
We have all heard that location is very important. Dogs have two locations they can learn more about other dogs, one is a special gland near their ears and the other is glands located on their backside.
As you might imagine, one location is much safer for gathering information and communicating.
In canine language, communicating using the glands in their butt is more polite and less assertive. In fact, in canine language, sniffing a dog’s ear to communicate is interrupted as rude and aggressive behavior.
Why do dogs sniff butts? They are politely communicating in a non-confrontational way to each other. Canines are designed with two small anal sacs or glands that are located inside the rectum. Each one of those sacs contain an oil and sweat glands.
The glands in fact emit a strong-smelling odor or compound. Another amazing fact about dogs is the odor that is released is as distinct as a fingerprint.
What kind of information do dogs gather about each other? They learn each other’s gender, mood, friendliness, if they have been acquainted before, their health and if they are aggressive.
The dog’s response might be one of friendliness, warnings or totally ignoring the other dog. Those same glands release information in the dog’s stool as well. When a dog defecates the odor of the glands are masked by the bowel movement.
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Why do dogs sniff butts? And why some dogs do not like it.
It is quite common and instinctual for a dog to greet another dog by sniffing their backend. What does it mean when a dog does not like others dogs sniffing them?
Usually, the avoidance of another dog sniffing their butt or getting irritated is part of a bigger issue. Does your dog tuck their tail when another dog approaches or lift their lip to show teeth?
Here are five possibilities for that behavior:
- Fearful. When a dog is fearful of other dogs sniffing their butt it will shy away, avoid other dogs, growl and/or potentially show teeth. Dogs can be fearful for many reasons, they might lack confidence, it could be genetics, or not being able to read another dog’s body language.
- Poor Socialization. Dogs that were not exposed to dogs of various size, shape and behavior may not know how to behave around another dog. They can be fearful of large hairy dogs, dogs with dark eyes, or small dogs that bark a lot.
- Trauma. As a pup they might have been overcorrected by siblings or their mom. If a dog has been recently attacked, it may be reading those signals thinking another attack is coming. Dogs that have been rescued from puppy mills or poor breeding conditions will be fearful of many things including the normal behavior of dogs butt sniffing.
- Status. Dogs that are from the same household have established who is top dog. When a dog of higher status has had enough of other dog’s sniffing, they will indicate with a lip curl or growl. It is subtle way of saying, okay you have gathered enough information, now back off.
- Stress. When a dog’s life is stressful, they can become irritated. Stress might include a life without routine, loud busy atmospheres, and even constant poor handling. A stressed-out dog can be insecure and even feel threatened by other dogs. Dogs that do not receive adequate mental and physical stimulation can be stressed.
Even though butt sniffing is normal communication for dogs not all dogs like it. Why do dogs sniff butts? They want to gather information about the other dog. It is important that your dog can experience being around another dog at some point while they are a puppy.
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Why do dogs sniff butts? Information Gathered.
When a dog greets another dog they will politely move to smelling the other dog’s butt. In fact, you might even see your dog move their backside towards a dog to allow for a good sniff.
Your dog is gathering information like the following:
- Gender of the dog
- Reproductive status
- Health status, including illnesses
- Temperament – are they friendly, playful, serious
- Figuring out if they have greeted each other before
We can only guess that they enjoy gathering this information. Dogs like to smell; it is one of their incredible instinctive features. Perhaps, they might even find enjoyment from smelling a new dog and getting to interrupt the information.
After you have interacted with another dog, what does your dog smell? We have all experienced it, you greet another dog while away from the house and when you return your dog gives you a give sniff.
Your dog begins to intensely sniff your shoes, their whiskers are twitching, and they might even be drooling. Your dog is gathering information from you, including the gender of the dog you pet and their temperament.
Why do Dogs Sniff Butts?
Dogs sniffing the backside of another dog is a normal greeting for dogs. All dog owners need to use their discretion on which dogs they will allow their own to greet. If you have an exceptional friendly canine, they might offer their backside to their potential new friend.
What we view as a slightly embarrassing way to communicate is instinctive to dogs. They use their smell and nose to communicate. Canine body language is always fascinating. It is especially important to be read another dog’s body language before you allow yours to make a greeting.
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Dogs have super sniffing powers. Our sense of smell does not come close to what a dog can detect. They are also equipped with more olfactory glands and the special Jacobson’s organ.
It is fascinating to know that dogs have more than one way to interpret odor.
Knowing our dogs have two ways to read another dog is important. Why do dogs sniff butts? It is the safer method for gathering information about the other dog.
Do you have a dog that is shy or was traumatized as a puppy? Those dogs would do well to learn to ignore other dogs. If you have more than one dog in your household, you could opt to work with an animal behaviorist to teach your dog to feel safe around other butt sniffers.
Why do dogs sniff butts? Next time you see two dogs sniffing each other, remember they have a unique way to learn information about their own species.
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