Why Dogs Sniff Other Dog’s Bums – (And Sometimes Ours!).
While it may be a little embarrassing when your dog sniffs another dog’s nether regions ( or worse still, human visitors to the house!) – rest assured, its perfectly natural (albeit awkward for us). If you’re interested to know why dogs sniff other dog’s bums – read our Holidays4Dogs article to find out more.
For us, first impressions are usually established through sight and sound. We may judge how people look, what they wear and the type of language they use. Dogs, however, have a rather more up-close and personal way of finding out about other dogs they meet. They can often use this approach with humans too. Much to our own mortification.
A dog’s sense of smell is super powered – WAY more effective than ours. It’s no wonder, then, that this is how dogs greet each other. Close encounter sniffing, tells each individual dog a lot about the other. It’s also a form of greeting – rather like the human equivalent of shaking hands.
But why bottoms?
There are two parts of a dog’s body that play an important role when it comes to receiving and providing information by smell. A dog’s rear end is where the anal sacs are located. These glands either side of the dog’s bottom secrete pheromones which are brimming with useful information – (who’d have thought it?!). Males secrete different pheromones to female dogs, too.
In addition, dogs have organs inside their nasal cavities which opens into the roof of their mouths. This is called the Jacobson’s organ and it is specifically used for chemical communication. The Jacobson organ can detect specific smells and respond to a variety of different odours – even substances that have no smell at all. The organ is predominantly used during the mating process as it tells the male dog whether the female is ready for mating. It also helps puppies to locate their mothers.
What information can a dog get from bottom sniffing?
The behaviour is also linked to dominance and it is thought the dog that sniffs first, is the one that is more dominant. If the other dog disagrees with this, conflict can happen – but we will discuss this in the next section.
Both of these systems involved in the dog’s body, make for a remarkably enhanced scent communication mechanism.
Dogs can glean lots of facts from sniffing these pheromones including:-
The dog’s age.
Health status – strong and in good health, or sickly.
Diet.
Gender and reproductive status.
Mood – happy, angry, playful.
Should I let my dog sniff another dog’s bottom?
If both dogs are well socialised and happy to exchange well mannered butt sniffs, this is fine. Because information from the Jacobson organ is relayed to the brain, this stimulates an emotional reaction. Some dogs can react to pheromones in different ways and many might suddenly go from a calm demeanour to one of over-excitement, aggressiveness or, unwanted sexual advances.
Always monitor the situation carefully. If your dog is liable to become stressed by having their bottom sniffed – especially by a much bigger dog, it is probably better to re-direct both dogs, or move your dog away. If one dog feels threatened by something they detect, they could become aggressive and this should be avoided. Group bottom sniffing can also get out of hand quickly, so always keep an eye out when there are lots of dogs involved.
The really embarrassing bit!
I’m sure every dog owner has been in the situation where their dog has pushed their nose into the private area of a visitor, or family member. Many dogs will endeavour to find out information about another by – well, doing what comes naturally. However, this isn’t really how your dog should behave in polite human company. Redirect your dog to acceptable behaviours using positive reinforcement.
Final thoughts.
Remember bottom sniffing is a normal behaviour for dogs, but sometimes, it is important to monitor situations carefully in case arguments ensue. Now you know why dogs sniff other dog’s bottoms and how it helps them to get to know their friends.