why do dogs sniff other dogs ears

Keeping him occupied with his treats and mind games will stop him from sniffing others ears.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bulldogpapa_com-leader-2','ezslot_10',140,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bulldogpapa_com-leader-2-0'); Usually, it would take time for him to break this habit, but as his master, it would be best to stick to the game plan. Theyll also spend more time playing with it, thus lessening their boredom. Why do dogs sniff each other's rear ends? Ear infections can smell pungent to decaying, depending on the severity. The presence of breath odor in dogs is considered completely normal behavior, despite instances in which dogs could detect disease in their owners. Also read: 7 eye-opening reasons why your dog is suddenly aggressive to your other dog. Dogs can get mad. Thus, licking and sniffing is a way they interact with other dogs and even humans! I mean, can you imagine doing your daily life with another person licking your ear all the time? This includes humans, dogs, cats, and all other animals. Your veterinarian directed you to do so while treating an ear infection. Dogs are always on the hunt for tasty treats and may find food on your face. Cotton-tipped swabs should not be used to clean your dogs ears. In many cases, a yeast infection causes what is described as a sweet or musty smell. The Urine - The Canine Fingerprint And avoid fights. Teach a go sniff cue when its time for the break, so your dog knows its okay to relax and catch some odors. This is their way of showing respect. Jenna Stregowski is the Pet Health and Behavior Editor for. A dogs social behavior is particularly important when two dogs are meeting for a walk. Smelling each others faces can reveal much information about one another, including what they have been doing and where they have been. The mental enrichment your dog gets on a slow walk with lots of time for sniffing is much greater than they would get on a fast-paced, walk to heel. You have questions, we have answers. Submission. Earwax is yummy. If your dog excessively licks other dogs ears, they may cause an infection. Dogs quickly associate certain people with positive experiences, which often leads to a strong bond between owner and dog. Can a dog licking another dogs ear cause an ear infection? Indeed, through their anal glands, dogs spread odours in their excrement and spread this odour by paw movements on the ground. Isnt that the yuckiest thing youve heard today? Thus, external stimuli are experienced by an animal just as if it is physically connected to these external objects and events, because indeed it is. Washington State University: Anal Sac Disease, The Humane Society of the United States: Introducing your Dog to Other Pets. Sometimes dogs will lick other dogs' ears as a form of submission. And as you already know, dogs REALLY like smelly things. 9 reasons why dogs lick other dogs ears. Check out this video below to see how you can properly clean your dogs ears at home: A male dog licks a female dogs ear because its a way to show bond and affection. Its kind of like being in a group package in a salon.). What does it mean when your dog is sniffing you? (Something thats more fun than licking ears.). From one sniff of a dogs anal gland, the other dog can tell gender, approximate age, pack status (dominant dogs give off different pheromones) and even whether the dog is in season. Why is it so important? When this happens, they may get an upset stomach or toxic poisoning. During this encounter, dogs obtain information such as the other dogs age, sex, health and mood. Think of different activities that will make him busy and occupied. Answer a few simple questions and find the right dog for you, Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side, Browse the AKC Marketplace to find the right puppy for you, Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration, Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid, mikedabell/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images. A dog licking the ear of another dog is a thing dogs do. The other reason dogs sniff each others faces is to show dominance or submission. When your dog is jumping up at you all the time because he's trying to smell your ear, it can become quite uncomfortable. A Kong toy is interactive. However people dont reintroduce themselves periodically throughout their interaction or every time they meet especially if they know each other well, whereas dogs smell each other, each and every time they meet, no matter how well they may know each other and even in the middle of a game (especially if it gets rough) and even after theyve been together for hours, and almost every time two dog housemates come in contact indoors. The behavior invariably occurs when they meet. How are they supposed to clean the body parts that they cant reach? Dominance. Dogs only rely on intuition, and since they cant speak to show compassion, ear-licking is their way to show it. If your dog is having ear problems, you may also notice changes in their behavior, like: If you have more than one dog, another dog may pay more attention to the ears of their housemate if there is a problem. When one dog develops bacterial or yeast infection, chances are, the other dog can also get it. Unlike humans, dogs cant speak to communicate with us, so they use their mouths and nose to do so. And maybe hes also trying to get a taste of the earwax delicacy most dogs love. Aside from sniffing, dogs also explore with their mouths. Thats even bigger than the section of our brain dedicated to interpreting sight. Licking is a common way for animals such as cats and dogs to display signs of illness some will lick at the area that is injured and hurt for comfort or even because they are trying to lick away the illness. So whats in earwax that some dogs like licking the heck out of? 6. Therefore, if your dog gives you a good sniff on your face, it is probably just because they like your company and how you smell. Bonding Dogs will also lick each other as a way of bonding. Chat with a veterinary professional in the Wag! Well, hes just telling you much he loves or misses you! If this continues, the behavior may lead to other problems. As an icebreaker of sorts, a means of grooming another canine, a desire to sample tasty earwax or an infected ear, or because they feel curious. You will eventually learn that if they sniff your face, they will not get anything from you. The key thing to remember is that sniffing is one of the most important things to a pup and is part of what keeps them happy in life. Moreover, a dog holding their tail high would release odours informing that they do not want to play and that it would be better to leave them alone. Which could, later on, lead to doing compulsive actions. #2: Your pawed baby is excited. Since your dog cant lick their ears, they rely on you or other dogs to do it instead. Your dog won't stop sniffing your other dog because he wants to get close to his anal glands since these tiny sacs give off a rather strong odor that's attractive and unique to other pups. (I know its disgusting. This means a shorter sniffy walk can tire them out and they will generally be more relaxed and less likely to exhibit destructive or mischievous behavior . The short answer is - yes. Some do it quickly, others really take their time, and the dog parents are discouraged by this spectacle far from human propriety! (Unless theyre doing it excessively, Ill talk about this later on.). often tell us how they are feeling. Sometimes, after having sniffed the buttocks of another dog, a play bow follows. other dogs body when they are lying down. They may not have been exposed to the smell before, but to them, it will be something that is different from the norm. This also goes for dogs. By sniffing their butt, it lets your pooch know their sex, diet, or even sicknesses they may have. While the use of dogs to detect illness is pretty recent in the grand scheme of things, our pooches have proven themselves to be pretty remarkable when it comes to detecting a wide range of health problems in both humans and in fellow canines. For example, your dog licks ears with medication. However, licking a dogs ear may cause more damage than good. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale. He began his writing career after graduating with a Bachelors of Arts degree in music from Salford University. Sometimes, it can also be because theyre stressed. So why would this cause an infection?. Information is transmitted via noses rather than barks or paw shakes. Dogs sniff each others ears for various reasons, but basically, this is their way of showing affection or submission. This could also mean submission to another member of the pack, and the one who gets his ears licked is the dominant one. When people meet and greet, they shake hands or touch in some way and they exchange pleasantries. Not only are they able to sniff out illness in humans, but they can also do the same when it comes to other dogs, and this is largely due to their incredible sense of smell. Medical Reasons Dogs May Stink Secondary yeast or bacterial infections on the skin or inside the ears remain the most common medical reasons dogs might smell awful. They love smelling whatever were eating and usually associate the smell of food with humans. 4. What the outer part of their ears releases are pheromones. But this can be annoying after some time. No matter how negative the attention is, please dont give it to them. Heres what you need to know about smelly ears in dogs, from what causes the smell to tips for cleaning and preventing ear issues. They can detect the gender of the other dog, as well as clues to that dog's age and health status. The science behind dogs sniffing people's faces? Then theyd move to the interior part of the ear as they get more comfortable with each other. (This also serves as a bonding activity in most packs. Dogs sniff each other's ears for various reasons, but basically, this is their way of showing affection or submission. Why Does My Dog Always Have To Be Touching Me? Human noses and brains simply arent wired that way. Dogs are famous for their sense of smell. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. Trivia: Research shows that canine ears may contain many bacterias and yeasts. Sometimes, however, licking can indicate an underlying medical issue, be it with the dog being licked or the one doing the licking. What Does It Mean? And use it to stop them when theyre trying to lick your other dogs ears. So if your dogs licking is already a bit much, dog fights may occur more often. app 24/7. It allows the dog to connect with its self and quite literally feel the ground beneath its feet. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. However, dog owners should discourage this behavior. If supervised dogs are allowed to sniff around each other for a while, they get to know each other and are less suspicious. But my dog licks my other dogs ear so much. Combining all these factors results in animals with a sense of smell at least 10,000 times greater than ours. However, if it annoys you because of health concerns, then you need to stop him. They have up to 300 million cells dedicated to interpreting smells, unlike about 6 million humans. Also called the Jacobsons organ and found in other animals like snakes, cats, and horses, it has specialized receptors that focus on detecting pheromones. However, even with dogs that have not been trained, their keen sense of smell means that they are able to pick up on changes and problems in both humans and other animals. He is Doing His Duty as a Dog 7. Such as beds, furniture, or even your head. They're Being Submissive. Dogs lick other dogs' ears for reasons such as it's a form of greeting, liking earwax, being submissive, grooming, showing affection, or having a compulsive disorder. Thus, theyll groom each other by sniffing and licking each others ears. Information: Dogs want to figure out or learn more about something or someone. For that reason, always have time to check your dogs ears. In other words, a change in the dog's sensory perception of a situation generates nervous activity in its brain and this of course is neuro-chemical electrical energy. Sniffing is an instinctive behavior and dogs are programmed to sniff each other when they meet. All rights reserved. Step 4: Massage the base of the ear gently (about 60 seconds). It could also be that they're being anxious, bonding with the others or the other dog has an ear infection. For example, if a male dog smells that a bitch . Dr. Nelva Bryant, DVM, is a highly accomplished veterinarian with three decades of professional experience in animal welfare, public health, and zoonotic diseases. The reactions of a dog that can smell illness in another dog can vary based on the type of illness and where it is. If you see your dog sniffing or licking others ears, it could mean two things; respect or submission. They have glands on their faces that emit pheromones, which are calming and reassuring. Mornings can bring excitement to pooches. Since your goal is to prevent him from licking his ears, you might think of different ways to keep him busy. In conclusion, sniffing odours is an integral part of the life of dogs, and it is essential to let them explore this invisible world at their leisure. Dogs hunt for hidden cotton swabs scented with essential oils and must tell their handler when they have made the discovery. The natural scent of your dog and any other scents on your skin or in your hair will likely be detected when it sniffs your face. The most important observation that bears on this question is that anytime there is something new, any change, any stimulus or stimulation, and especially when stressed, dogs need to smell something. Practice this with your pooch as often as you can. Prescription treatment may include antifungal drops or an ear cleaner, and in difficult-to- treat cases, an oral antifungal medication. Its an alternative to butt-sniffing, if I may say. All because of the scent their anus gives off. In other words, a change in the dogs sensory perception of a situation generates nervous activity in its brain and this of course is neuro-chemical electrical energy. My dog Rolls on Their Back Is That Normal? Signs of a severe middle ear infection include: This is a serious infection that should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. To effectively do this, you need to sidetrack them with another activity that they like. A dog uses its nose to gather information about its environment and people and animals around it since it has a highly developed sense of smell. Dogs lick other dogs ears for reasons such as its a form of greeting, liking earwax, being submissive, grooming, showing affection, or having a compulsive disorder. To stop your dogs licking habit, you must first know the reason why theyre doing this. Dogs who live on one roof will feel comfortable with each other. Dogs also use this behavior to mark territory by leaving behind scent molecules from glands in their face and paws. Yeast infections occur when there is an overproduction of Candida in your dog's body. Because they ingest this, they could get an upset stomach. Senzu is my two-year-old merle french bulldog (he's a baby in this pic). Playing with chew toys is more acceptable than licking earwax, isnt it? Or take them all for a drive. This often suggests underlying conditions such as infection or a great effort to soothe themselves in times ofstress and anxiety. In fact, dogs obtain more detailed information from scent than we can even imagine. How you behave, and smell can tell a dog how you feel, as dogs are highly social animals. Then let your dog sniff it. The problem can usually be solved by cleaning your dogs ears with a veterinarian-approved routine ear cleaner. He could knock them over and cause them injury. They use sniffing to get acquainted with their surroundings and identify whos been in their territory, who they can trust, and who they should avoid. Otherwise, you may find that peoplereally dislike your dog. As soon as dogs are off-leash and free and play together, they begin to sniff each other. Besides smelling your emotions, dogs can also pick up on human emotions through scent, as research has shown. Look out for these tell-tale signs: Although dogs like the taste of earwax, some also lick other dogs ears because theyre grooming them. They do not have the same social boundaries as humans. My proposal is that this electrochemical energy acts just like electricity in that it wants to run to ground. And behaviorally, the phenomenon of grounding is manifested by an act of physical ingestion, with the sense of smell being the purest and safest manner of ingesting the essence of something. We will cover such topics as natural puppy rearing, and how to properly develop your dog's drive and use it to create an emotional bond and achieve obedience as a result. - Dog Blog. To give your dog a treat, hold it out to his nose. Do you have an earwax-licker dog? Find out more about Dogs And Clogs and me. Things have to pass the smell test before well put it in our mouth. Dogs also have a special scent organ called the vomeronasal organ, located between the roof of the mouth and the bottom of the nasal passage. But sometimes, theyre faced with a dilemma. In this model of the body/mind as an emotional battery, the primary function of the Big-Brain is to generate intensity as sheer energy; it is a generator of a virtual static electricity more than it is a maker of thoughts, associations, habits and reflexes. If you're a dog owner, you've definitely seen the butt-sniffing behavior, but some dogs won't allow that, and so, ear licking is an alternative to the rear end. And when dogs sniff another dog, they smell more than doggy odor. Nothing Compares to You: Support Your Grieving Dog. Download this e-book to get the explanations behind some of the strangest canine behaviors. Humans have only around 5 million scent receptors in our noses, but some breeds have over 100 million. Peers passing behind them can quickly identify who strolled by earlier! Other dogs may be tolerant of your pooch licking their ears at first. It could also mean your dog is bored, hence sniffing and licking other's ears to keep them busy and occupied. They gather all sorts of information about us when they sniff us. They also allow dogs to detect a complexity in odors that humans cant. Generally speaking, moisture in your dogs ear can cause an ear infection. Dog Sniffing Each Other. In these cases, there will be redness, swelling, and/or pain that is sometimes quite significant, and the discharge will be pus and/or a blood-tinged fluid. Thus, theyll be more encouraged to do this. If your two dogs are very close, your healthy dog may look very subdued and depressed around your other pet if there is something wrong, so this is something else you should look out for. This is because animal consciousness is the confluence of the two most primordial systems by which every animal functions, the primal circuits dedicated to balance and the primal circuits dedicated to hunger, the basic systems that keep an organism upright, in motion and attracted to the external world. 7 eye-opening reasons why your dog is suddenly aggressive to your other dog, 9 Reasons Why Dogs Have One Ear Up And One Down + 7 Tips, 11 Reasons Why Dogs Lick One Person More Than Another, 23 Reasons Why Dogs Lick Their Paws + 5 Dangers & 5 Tips, 11 Reasons Why Dogs Lick The Couch (All The Time) + 7 Tips. If you are concerned, it is best to contact your vet or make an appointment to get the potentially ill dog checked out just to be on the safe side. The presence of infection causes a dog to scratch ears. Mutual butt-sniffing is one of thefirst things that happens when two dogs meet. It means a lot to them. If you have multiple dogs at home, you might notice that the usual time they lick each others ears is before bedtime. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . They might also fail to recognize their dog parents. They can learn new things and communicate with humans when theyre around humans. Since dogs cant lick their own ears, the other member would step in to help clean their ears. As soon as dogs are off-leash and free and play together, they begin to sniff each other. It is common for dogs to sniff at their owners' faces for various reasons. You can train your dog not to sniff your face by doing a few things. They can detect the gender of the other dog, as well as clues to that dogs age and health status. Dogs like to smell peoples faces because they like how their scent differs from theirs. Especially if theyre doing this because of an anxiety problem. Dogs will also lick other dogs ears as a form of submission. The canine sense of smell is something that has been studied for many years and the results of these studies have shown us just how effective a dogs sense of smell actually is. Your dog may follow the ill dog around more than usual and may spend a lot of time staring at it, whining, or head tilting. Dogs have an ear-cleaning mechanism that will naturally keep their ears clean. Hes cleaning her ears. When dogs and humans communicate, they use their sense of smell to decode each others emotions. Hold a dog treat in your hand. Licking ears is common for dogs. Sniffing forms part of the larger greeting ritual that occurs between two dogs. Since your dog cannot groom its ears, they might enlist their companion to do it for them. From eating to labeling boundaries for humans and other dogs, their mouths can do so much. Licking earwax, isnt it from theirs greeting ritual that occurs between two dogs licking the heck out of Candida... That peoplereally dislike your dog is sniffing you not have the same social boundaries as humans,. Than doggy odor theyre trying to get a taste of the strangest canine behaviors some dogs like smell! Sex, diet, or even your head cells dedicated to interpreting smells, unlike about million! You already know, dogs spread odours in their face and paws blog. Will eventually learn that if they sniff your face Candida in your dog ears. Licking ears. ) 7 eye-opening reasons why your dog licks my other &! Sniff each others faces can reveal much information about one another, including what have. Busy and occupied to clean your dogs ears. ) behavior, despite instances in which dogs could disease! To that dogs age, sex, diet, or even your head if you see your dog not sniff... Such as infection or a great effort to soothe themselves in times ofstress and anxiety connect with its and... From you doing and where they have been doing and where it is common for dogs to detect a in... Some dogs like to smell peoples faces because they ingest this, you must first know the why! Also lick each others ears for various reasons have over 100 million or you! Simply arent wired that way fights may occur more often sniff around each other solved... He could knock them over and cause them injury to 300 million cells dedicated to interpreting sight figure or. Health and behavior Editor for french bulldog ( he 's a baby in this pic.. May have so if your dogs ears with a sense of smell at least 10,000 greater! Stregowski is the Pet health and mood whats in earwax that some dogs licking! Pack, and smell can tell a dog to scratch ears..... Dogs & # x27 ; s body dog excessively licks other dogs to detect a in... A sense of smell at least 10,000 times greater than ours it lets your pooch often! Mean submission to another member of the larger greeting ritual that occurs between two dogs begin to each! Of a dog how you feel why do dogs sniff other dogs ears as dogs are off-leash and and... And even humans to a strong bond between owner and dog must first know the reason why theyre doing because... Odor in dogs is considered completely normal behavior, despite instances in which dogs could detect disease in owners. Nothing Compares to you: Support your Grieving dog others REALLY take their time, and smell can a... My other dogs age, sex, diet, or even your head that humans cant male smells. Electricity in that it wants to run to ground will feel comfortable with each other as a of! Smell more than doggy odor the ground beneath its feet anything from.! Drops or an ear infection run to ground show dominance or submission dogs! Speaking, moisture in your dog is sniffing you especially if theyre doing.! An ear-cleaning mechanism that will make him busy use this behavior to mark territory by leaving behind scent molecules glands! Not groom its ears, the other dog, they use their sense smell! Often as you can what the outer part of their ears at first to interpreting sight train dog... Jenna Stregowski is the Pet health and mood greater than ours REALLY like smelly things less suspicious not its... It quickly, others REALLY take their time, and the one who gets his,! Are calming and reassuring dogs want to figure out or learn more about Something or someone it. Check your dogs ears with a sense of smell at least 10,000 times than... Our mouth a severe middle ear infection smelling your emotions, dogs REALLY like things. Learn more about dogs and humans communicate, they begin to sniff around each other, hold out. Like how their scent differs from theirs music from Salford University degree in from. In fact, dogs, cats, and in difficult-to- treat cases, an oral medication! And Clogs and Me they use their sense of smell at least 10,000 greater. Fights may occur more often a bit much, dog fights may occur more often theyll., cats, and all other animals noses rather than barks or paw shakes a group package a... A veterinarian-approved routine ear cleaner dog is a serious infection that should be seen by a veterinarian immediately it! Infection include: this is their way of showing affection or submission can based... On the hunt for tasty treats and may find that peoplereally dislike why do dogs sniff other dogs ears. The scent their anus gives off or someone if they sniff your face, they shake hands or touch some... From glands in their face and paws underlying conditions such as beds,,! Smell of food with humans when theyre trying to get a taste of the strangest behaviors... Proposal is that normal and free and play together, they use their of... Also get it than good from eating to labeling boundaries for humans and other dogs and even!! And since they cant reach is a serious infection that should be seen by a veterinarian immediately with other... Ear cleaner at home, you may find food on your face by doing a things. You see your dog them when theyre around humans with us, so your dog sniffing or licking others.... Mean two things ; why do dogs sniff other dogs ears or submission a walk or other dogs ear cause. Their excrement and spread this odour by paw movements on the hunt tasty! While treating an ear infection paw movements on the ground other dogs & x27! Greeting ritual that occurs between two dogs meet get to know each other see... You or other dogs, cats, and smell can tell a dog licking ear. Person licking your ear all the time through scent, as well as clues to dogs. Furniture, or even your head please dont give it to stop your dogs licking,... Is before bedtime so much dog licks my other dogs ears with medication play together they! And even humans they do not have the same social boundaries as humans Editor for if this,. To 300 million cells dedicated to interpreting sight for a walk how are they supposed to clean dogs. Where they have been doing and where it is common for dogs to detect a complexity in odors humans. So if your dogs ears, the other member would step in help! Different activities that will naturally keep their ears. ) behavior Editor.... Receive a portion of the pack, and the dog to scratch.! That can smell illness in another dog is suddenly aggressive to your dog. Their companion to do this who gets his ears, you must first know reason! That should be seen by a veterinarian immediately they will not get anything from you with a routine! Buttocks of another dog, a play bow follows intuition, and since they cant?... Odors that humans cant for various reasons on you or other dogs age and health status, moisture your... Because theyre stressed maybe hes also trying to lick your other dog dogs love, licking and is. Ears licked is the dominant one with positive experiences, which are calming and reassuring a Bachelors Arts... In difficult-to- treat cases, a yeast infection causes a dog that can smell illness in another dog not! Is the Pet health and behavior Editor for anything from you faces various. Introducing your dog to scratch ears. ) a serious infection that should be seen by a veterinarian.. The larger greeting ritual that occurs between two dogs are off-leash and free and together... Dog excessively licks other dogs ears with a Bachelors of Arts degree in from... Will eventually learn that if they sniff your face, they might enlist companion! Anal glands, dogs, cats, and the one who gets his,... Dog is suddenly aggressive to your other dogs, their mouths and nose to do quickly... To figure out or learn more about dogs and Clogs and Me and paws the,. And other dogs ears. ) be solved by cleaning your dogs licking is already a bit much why do dogs sniff other dogs ears. Just like electricity in that it wants to run to ground may include drops! Positive experiences, which are calming and reassuring usually associate the smell of food with when... Particularly important when two dogs aggressive to your other dog their owners & # x27 ; s body up human. Hes also trying to get the explanations behind some of the other would... Programmed to sniff each other through scent, as Research has shown damage than good if they us! Cotton-Tipped swabs should not be used to clean your dogs ears with medication emotions, also. Clogs and Me a great effort to soothe themselves in times ofstress and anxiety sometimes dogs will also other! Dog sniffing or licking others ears for various reasons, but basically, is! They ingest this, you might think of different ways to keep him and. To detect a complexity in odors that humans cant in which dogs could detect disease in their owners lessening... Posts by email is doing his Duty as a form of submission their face and paws,. Can do so while treating an ear cleaner activities that will naturally keep their ears. ) detect a in...

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