It seems strange to us that dogs meet each other in the park, and often the first thing they do is sniff each other's butts! So, why do dogs smell each other's bums and what is so special about dog butt smells that they seem to want to keep doing it?

There are various reasons they do this, including greeting each other, working out who's boss, and exchanging vital information. We've put together all you need to know about why dogs sniff each other's butts!

How Sensitive are dogs' noses?

It's thought that dogs' sense of smell may be around 10,000 to 100,000 times better than ours… imagine how smelly the world must be to them!

Your dog doesn't experience the world the same way we do because their senses are very different from ours. They experience colours differently from us; they can hear more sounds than we can, and they can smell a lot more than we can.

Your dog's nose contains millions of olfactory receptors. These receptors in their noses form part of their olfactory system, which helps them have such an outstanding sense of smell. They breathe in air, and receptors allow chemical communication that carries information about their environment to their brains. This helps them to understand the world around them.

What is the Jacobson's Organ?

Along with their superior sense of smell, dogs also have an extra organ that humans do not. Behind their top front teeth is a tiny organ called Jacobson's organ. This organ helps them to sense pheromones. 

Pheromones are types of hormones that are released when a dog is ready to mate. They're also released by female dogs when they have a litter of puppies, which helps the puppies to feel calm and find their mother. So, dogs can also use their Jacobson's organ to help them understand another dog's reproductive status.

Scientists have created synthetic versions of some dog pheromones, which are now available to buy as plug-ins and sprays containing dog appeasing pheromone (DAP). DAP is a synthetic version of a dog pheromone that makes dogs feel happy and relaxed, and can be used as a natural-ish way to treat anxiety in dogs, using their incredible sense of smell to help them out.

Why do dogs smell each other's butts?

So, why don't dogs just politely sniff each other's noses when they greet each other? A bit like we politely shake hands when we meet someone new! Well, dogs have well-developed anal glands near their bottom. Sometimes called anal sacs, these glands sit on either side of the rectum. The glands secrete a unique scent for each dog, and they open onto the rectum, just inside the anus (butthole).

When a healthy, bulky poo goes past, it squeezes against the glands, and a little bit of the scent is squirted onto the poo as it comes out of your dog's bottom. The scent produced is smelly, even to humans. You may notice a fishy smell if your dog empties their anal glands while grooming themselves.

Knowing how sensitive a dog's nose is, it's a bit easier to understand why your dog is sniffing others' bums. The scent produced by the anal glands identifies the dog as an individual and tells other dogs a lot of information about its reproductive status and general health, too.

Should you stop your dog from sniffing butts?

To our canine companions, dog-to-dog butt sniffing is a polite greeting. In contrast, a typically human face-to-face meeting between dogs tends to be perceived as unfriendly or even aggressive.

That said, not every dog is the same, and some less confident dogs may feel overwhelmed when another dog enters their personal space and tries to sniff their butt.

Ideally, always check with the owner of another dog that they're happy for your dog to approach theirs before allowing it. Respect the other person's decision, because just as you know your dog, they'll know theirs and will know what is right for their pet.

So, is it normal for dogs to sniff bums?

Butt sniffing is a normal, healthy behaviour for dogs and nothing to worry about. As with anything, always make sure you have consent from the dog's owner before allowing your dog to approach others. If another dog isn't happy having their butt sniffed, pop your dog on their lead and carry on with your walk.

If you notice your dog bothering at their back end more than usual or they're becoming a bit stinky back there, have a chat with your vet. Anal glands can easily become blocked, which can make your dog uncomfortable. Your vet can easily handle this common problem.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis – www.vetlexicon.com/canis

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