Why Do Dogs Smell Your Crotch?
Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García
It’s normal to feel embarrassed when dogs smell your crotch or butt. But before you stop or punish your pet, it’s important to understand his behavior better. What seems annoying to us is natural behavior for them.
Why do dogs smell the genitals of other dogs?
Human communication is rich and diverse. But it’s far from being the only means of communication. Dogs express themselves, communicate and have their own body language too.
Some aspects of our pet’s codes of conduct may be strange to us. But doesn’t the same thing happen to them? It’s easy to see that our dogs look at us in a strange way when we exhibit certain attitudes day by day.
In the end, we do not have to use the same body language as our best canine friends. But we should respect it.
A dog’s sense of smell is his main sense for exploration and recognition. This is how they capture stimuli and information about the environment, in order to get to know their surroundings. They get to know animals and people around them by sniffing as well.
But, why do they head straight for the crotch?
Mammals have sweat apocrine glands located in different parts of their bodies. These small structures are responsible for producing odorous body fluids called pheromones. These fluids convey information about each individual, fulfilling an important social function in the Ecosystem.
In dogs, these odorous fluids are concentrated in the genital area. That’s why dogs usually “greet” each other on the street by sniffing their most intimate parts.
What does it mean when a dog smells your crotch?
Human beings have different types of sweat glands scattered all throughout the skin. This is a mechanism for temperature control and fluid exchange with the environment.
However, the sweat apocrine glands are concentrated in our armpits and groin. That’s why the dog usually smells our intimate parts immediately.
Dogs smell our crotches or our butts as a way to establish a connection. It’s as if he wants to introduce himself and get to know a new person at the same time. That is why it is more likely to happen when you encounter unknown animals.
Why do dogs sometimes smell one person more intensely than others?
What should you do when a dog smells your crotch?
This behavior is part of a dog’s way of life. Stifling his instincts is really painful for the animal. There is no need for it, especially because this behavior does not present a real risk for humans or other animals.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Padodara, R. J., & Jacob, N. (2014). Olfactory sense in different animals. Indian J. Vet. Sci, 2(1), 1-14.
- Dzięcioł, M., Woszczylo, M., Szumny, A., Jezierski, T., Kupczyński, R., Godzińska, E. J., … & Niżański, W. (2018). Identification of putative volatile sex pheromones in female domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Animal reproduction science, 197, 87-92.
- King, J. E., Becker, R. F., & Markee, J. E. (1964). Studies on olfactory discrimination in dogs:(3) Ability to detect human odour trace. Animal Behaviour, 12(2-3), 311-315.
This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.