It’s normal for a person to sidestep in shame when a dog starts to sniff at their crotch – but for the pooch, this is completely normal behaviour.
However, the uncomfortable exchange has spurred curious Reddit users to search for explanations as to why their furry friends seem unable to keep their noses to themselves.
One owner shared: “My dog has a serious crotch-smelling obsession whether it be his close family, our friends or complete strangers.” They elaborated on their predicament, saying: “Anyone we meet he’s all up in there and it’s extremely embarrassing. We’ve been trying to correct this behaviour with no success… any input is appreciated.”
Echoing their, another added: “My Great Dane puppy is a crotch and a** monster, he will jam his face in almost every person’s crotch who comes to pet him. It gets embarrassing as summer dresses are coming out! I warn people and keep his leash tight but they always want to pet the horse baby.”
However, according to insights from the American Kennel Club, attempting to curb a dog’s instinctive sniffing could be misguided, as their olfactory explorations are merely an information-gathering exercise about the humans they encounter.
The Club’s statement explains: “Dogs aren’t well-versed in the world of human boundaries, especially when it comes to using their nose. They often greet a new dog with a quick sniff of a rear end, so that often extends to how they greet a new human. Dogs will shove their noses into a human’s crotch with no hesitation.”
Dogs possess an incredible 300 million scent sensors in their noses, making their sense of smell a staggering 10,000 times more powerful than humans, who have a mere six million. According to experts: “It all comes down to sweat glands, or apocrine glands, to be precise.”
These glands release pheromones that convey a wealth of information, including age, sex, mood, and reproductive status.
Dogs have apocrine glands all over their bodies, but the highest concentration is found in the genitals and anus, which explains why they often sniff other dogs’ behinds. Additionally, male dogs and breeds like Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds, and Beagles are more prone to giving people and guests a good sniff.
The experts note: “Some human crotches are more likely to attract a dog’s curious nose. Dogs may sniff at crotches if you recently have had sexual intercourse or gave birth, or if you’re menstruating. These people are giving off a higher level of pheromones.”
One Reddit user shared their experience with a Beagle who had this habit, saying: “I had a Beagle like this, I tried everything but in the end nothing stopped it. I just tell people up front when they greet him. He lived through that nose and he also ate all my families underwear.”
Another user chimed in: “I used to work in daycare and the worst dog I ever know for this was a Portuguese water dog. He would target women.”
