Dogs are the most loyal friends of humans. They are cute, enthusiastic, and always bring us joy. However, have you ever wondered why dogs always like to smell you? In fact, there are many interesting reasons behind the behavior of dogs smelling your scent.
1. Obtain information through odor
Dogs have a much more sensitive sense of smell than humans, and they can obtain various information through their scent, including their identity, emotions, health status, recent places they have been to, and so on. For dogs, scent is like a language that can help them better understand you.
When you go home, the dog will excitedly smell around you, which is actually understanding where you went today, what people or things you encountered. If they smell the scent of other dogs on you, they may show jealousy or hostility because they see you as their territory.
2. Expressing friendliness
When dogs want to get close to you, they will express friendliness by sniffing your scent. This is a way for dogs to socialize, just like a human handshake or hug. Dogs will leave their scent on you to mark you as their friend.
When you touch a dog, it will lie down comfortably and expose its belly for you to touch. This is actually a kind of trust that the dog has in you, indicating that it has completely relaxed its vigilance and sees you as a close friend.
3. Seeking a sense of security
Dogs naturally lack a sense of security, and they can gain it by sniffing familiar odors. For example, small dogs often smell their mother’s scent, and adult dogs also often smell their owner’s scent. This can help them feel at ease and relaxed.
When the puppies are weaned, they will feel very anxious and uneasy when they leave the bitches and their brothers and sisters. At this point, if you can accompany them more and provide them with some familiar toys or blankets, it can help them adapt to the new environment as soon as possible.
4. Mark Territory
Dogs can mark their territory by scent. When they leave a scent on you, it means you belong to them. This is also one of the reasons why dogs like to smell your crotch, because the crotch is one of the most strongly smelling parts of humans.
If you have multiple dogs at home, you may find that they sniff each other’s genitals. This is actually a dog marking its own territory and indicating its dominant position to other dogs.
Of course, the specific reason why a dog smells your scent may depend on individual circumstances and the environment at the time. If your dog suddenly becomes unusually frequent in smelling you, it may be because they feel anxious, uneasy, or physically uncomfortable.
In summary, it is a normal behavior for dogs to enjoy smelling your scent, and there are multiple reasons behind it. You don’t need to feel strange or troubled about it, just let it go naturally.
