Q: Why do dogs sniff each other’s butts?

A: A dog’s olfactory system is complex and advanced, making their sense of smell far superior to our own. To give you some idea of the difference, consider that humans have 5 million olfactory receptions in their noses, and dogs have about 220 million. Dogs can smell layers upon layers of scents even when we can smell nothing.

Many people consider butt-sniffing among dogs as a type of greeting, but it is so much more than that! Through sniffing, dogs are able to learn so much about each other. The scents they pick up are especially potent around the genitals and anus. Scents in this area can tell another dog about gender, reproductive status, diet, health status, temperament and much more. A dog can also remember scents and determine whether they have met this particular canine before.

If dogs are healthy and well-socialised, it is a good idea to let them sniff each other as much as they want. However, if one dog is overdoing it and the other dog becomes irritated or stressed, then the dogs should be called away from each other.

An unfortunate spin-off

Many dogs will also try to find out more about humans through crotch-sniffing!