Humans usually shy away in embarrassment when a dog starts sniffing at their crotch – but for the pooch, it’s just normal behaviour.
Yet, this uncomfortable situation has led some Reddit users to seek explanations for why their furry friends can’t seem to keep their noses to themselves.
One user shared: “My dog has a serious crotch-smelling obsession whether it be his close family, our friends or complete strangers.” They added: “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 this sentiment, another user posted: “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.”
The American Kennel Club suggests that discouraging a dog from using its nose isn’t advisable as they’re simply trying to learn about the people they encounter. Their statement reads: “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 up to 300 million scent sensors in their noses, making their sense of smell 10,000 times more acute than humans, who have six million. According to the statement: “It all comes down to sweat glands, or apocrine glands, to be precise.” These glands release pheromones that convey various types of information, such as 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 is why they often sniff other dogs’ behinds. Additionally, male dogs and scenthound breeds, like Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds, and Beagles, are more likely to give people a good sniff. The statement notes that some human crotches are more likely to attract a dog’s curious nose, particularly if they have recently had sex, given birth, or are menstruating, as these individuals emit higher levels of pheromones.
One Reddit user shared their experience with a Beagle that 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 added: “I used to work in daycare and the worst dog I ever know for this was a Portuguese water dog. He would target women.”