Wordless Wednesday: Getting Nosy

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Our Tip of the Day:

We all know how phenomenal pups' sense of smell is. After all, it seems they can smell us trying to sneak in a snack from miles away. That's not all their noses are good for, though, as dogs also use their sniffers for meets-and-greets. We've all seen dogs sniffing each others', well, butts. When you see this behavior, remember that it is a completely normal interaction in the dog world. Dog's can identify and get to know each other by performing this normal albeit unmannerly ritual, in large part because of the odorous glands found in that region of a dog's body. That all being said, although it is perfectly natural for a dog to want to meet another by sniffing its butt, it is always wise to make sure that the other dog is receptive to this. Some dogs tend to be overly enthusiastic sniffers, while others prefer that other dogs simply stay away. Be sure, therefore, to always monitor the situation so that your dog doesn't get itself into trouble. On a similar note, some dogs may try to use this same ritual on others that aren't so accustomed to it, such as humans or cats. For those not prepared for or used to a butt-sniffing, it can be a bit of a shock. If your dog happens to be one of those enthusiastic sniffers, or even if they're not, it is always a good idea to train them to respond to a command to stop excessive sniffing or any unwanted behavior. With positive reinforcement, such as using treats or toys, your pup can benefit from learning what's a "no" or when to "stop".