He also seems to have congestion and some wheezing, like an allergy, which has been a problem for several years. Let’s go over a couple of the more common ones. A dog shoving her or her nose up in your grill is saying, “I love you.” It’s when they show no interest in taking in your scent that you need to start worrying, as canine indifference is rarely a good thing. That’s the operative word here, too; it’s their walk. You’d expect your puppy to need less sleep as he gets older, so if your puppy is sleeping more than usual it could be a sign of illness. Even if the dog starts to understand that they are the one that is sparking such anxiety, they’ll be keen to show that they are no threat – which may involve lots of sniffing and licking. Is there any chance at all that you are pregnant? Wonder which dog or cat best fits your lifestyle? My Dog Keeps Attacking My Other Dog (for No Reason)! We usually suspect illness to be the cause of a dog’s sudden change in behavior or routine. Close • Posted by 5 minutes ago [Help] My dog is obsessively sniffing recently, it has lasted a few weeks and it’s wayyy more than usual. If the video doesn't start playing momentarily, How? If a friend or family member that your pet has a great deal of affection for hasn’t visited in a while, there will be traces of their scent all over the property. Ovulating women and people that have recently had sex are the most likely to attract the attention of a dog, as the pheromones unleashed by the apocrine glands are at their most potent during these periods. There are many reasons why a dog will sniff their owner, or indeed any other human. You can hardly blame your poor pet for this; their experience tells them to associate a trip to the dog doctor…, Having two dogs is like having two children. I think my dog is panting more than usual.” Questions for You When Your Dog Is Panting a Lot. If you want your dog to start showing a little more interest in another human and overcoming any pre-existing bias against them, it’s easily done. This might be why some dogs take to sniffing humans in embarrassing ways. A dog sniffing you when they haven’t seen you for a while is their way of expressing their interest in you and your activities. It is connected to the scent-dedicated part of the dog’s brain, which is about 40 times larger than that of a human. Vetstreet. You’ll be trying to force your dog to resist every instinct that they possess, and whether you’re willing to admit it or not, you’ll start to miss the attention. She's taken to a closet -- a place where she goes only to hide from thunderstorms and fireworks and take an occasional … Dogs yawning often is not out of the ordinary, since there are so many reasons they do it. He seems a little out of sorts, but still eating and drinking plenty? So when you get home from a long day away only to be treated as if you’ve rolled in sausage, don’t be annoyed. As your body goes through changes, so will your natural pheromones – and your dog will pick up on that even before you do. © 2001-2021  A concern for most pet owners is how they can stop their dog from jumping while on walks, or when they walk through the door. By giving you a thorough sniffing, your pet is learning where you were, and if you interacted with anybody else that they might find interesting. We’ll answer every question about this behavior in our guide. Our veterinarian reveals why the payoff for your pet is well worth any extra work. It largely revolves around the following factors: Pure instinct. Set boundaries by all means, but try to avoid preventing your dog from ever expressing their affection. Take our breed quiz to find your next pet. Causes of Sniffing. What they do know is that your genitals and rear end contain specialist sweat glands referred to as apocrine glands. Leave them to it, unless it appears that the other animal is likely to not take kindly to the intrusion of your pet’s nose and a fight is going to break out. You’re enjoying the fresh air while, but your mutt is trying to…, Dogs have a natural instinct to chew. Although it stings a little, the reasons your dog bonded with someone else likely have nothing to do with you. There are many reasons why a dog will sniff their owner, or indeed any other human. I gave him Claritin, but it does not seem to work very well, as usual. This is mortifying if they do it to your grandmother, and not much better if your dog reserves the habit just for you. Each being (dogs, humans, etc.) When you come home, it’s like you’ve been gone for ages, and the dog becomes even more clingy and protective than before. Mental Floss explains why this occurs – and despite what you might believe, it isn’t because dogs have an innate and unwelcome poop fetish. You lay it down ……. They can detect the gender of the other dog, as well as clues to that dog’s age and health status. usually panting is a means of cooling off for a dog, they don't sweat. If you notice the water bowl is frequently empty and your dog takes a long time to urinate, or urinates more frequently than normal, contact your vet. if it seems unusually fast it could be an indication that she is anxious, nervous or frightened. When I ask the client if their dog pants like this all the time, the answer is usually no: “He’s only panting now because he’s here.” Well, that’s good, I guess. We’ve got the skinny on which foods are OK to feed him. Also, your dog may find some comfort from sniffing items in your home. Use the same advice as above to stop a dog from approaching somebody that would rather they didn’t. What is it all about? These give off a particular set of pheromones that provide your dog with information about you, so they’re always keen to pick up whatever messages they can. Your pet is trying to find out what their best friend has been up to all day, and get an idea of how you pass the time when you’ve been separated. Stress. My female cat Bella is being more affectionate to me than usual-not that I'm complaining cos it's lovely, but she's not usually like it and hasn't been since she was a kitten (she's now a year and half old), she normally just goes around your feet when she wants food, but twice today she has jumped onto my shoulders while I've been sitting on the Computer chair and rubbed her face with mine. Thanks in no small part to their extremely potent sense of smell, canines experience new sensations through their noses. If your dog is feeling a little insecure because they are alone, they’ll hunt down a part of the house that smells comfortingly familiar such as a pillow or a blanket. That means that they’ll sniff their way around the place to get their bearings, and if you decide to move the furniture, they’re likely to it all a little disconcerting! 2001-2021  Please enter an address, city and/or zip code. #2 Illness. When a dog exhibits a sleeping routine that is different from what it has always been known for, there are psychological, physical and health reasons for it. If he is sniffing at a particular spot on your body he may be smelling some changes that are happening. When your dog insists upon giving you a good old sniff all over when you walk through the door, treat it as the compliment that it is. As founder and editor of PetCarrierVerdict.com, I combine my passion for animals with expert advice to bring you articles that will make you a better, happier pet owner. It’s the opposite that’s true – your dog is taking in the smell of everything within a multiple mile radius, as the wind carries a wide variety of different aromas to them. Why does my dog sleep with its head on my neck? © has his or her unique scent. Sure, there may also be an element of marking you as their own – if you do happen to smell of another animal, your dog will want to make sure that you are coated in their scent again before long to rectify that. Dog rear ends contain Jacobson’s Organ, which helps them ignore the scent of feces and instead helps them focus on the chemicals found within – and gain access the apocrine glands that we previously discussed. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your dog is being mean and trying to terrorize the poor soul, though. But your dog does this through their sense of smell. Maybe they have left a treat or favorite toy under the sofa, and are trying to find it! How to Stop a Dog from Jumping and Nipping When Excited. Dogs may lick because they like the salty taste of their owner's skin, as a sign of affection, or out of habit and boredom. Anybody that has taken a car ride with a pooch in tow will know that dogs love to stick their head out of a window. If your dog is drinking more than usual—some dogs even drink so much and so quickly, that they will regurgitate it right back up—it could be a sign of a medical issue. Another reason why your dog is acting strange and clingy is an illness. If you are a little worried by just how excited your dog gets when you return, and you find the sniffing a little excessive, it may be advisable to teach your dog to calm down a little. Nobody likes to be ignored! Giving their gums a workout comes as naturally to dogs as breathing, which is why so many of your furry friend’s toys revolve…, Picture the scene. Let us know! Dogs bond based on scent, associations they learn during puppyhood, and their unique personality traits. Sniffing can mean that your dog is in a situation they don't like, and want to avoid. It’s a way of your dog getting to feel closer to you, and understand what adventures you’re having when they’re not keeping you company. When a dog pees they are leaving a trace of their presence behind and marking territory as their own, but there is little point in doing that if no other canines are going to acknowledge their hard work. If your pooch was rambunctious during his puppy years but has increasingly become more and more of a cuddle hound, it could simply be a sign of aging. PetCarrierVerdict.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Your dog will be sniffing away at urine patches to discover if friends or foes have been in the vicinity, how long ago they may have been in the area, and which pets have been teaming up to form packs. Epilepsy is more common in dogs than cats, but felines can have seizures, too. Please enable Javascript and refresh the page to continue It may look to you that your dog is sniffing the air, and by extension filling their nose with the scent of absolutely nothing. Want to give your pup yummy, low-calorie treats? It largely revolves around the following factors: Don’t take it as a threat or any kind of issue that a dog wants to sniff you constantly – they are not saying that you need a bath. Investigating new terrain is a fast track to an extremely happy and contented dog, and sniffing if how they will conduct these explorations. If your dog is attached to someone else, you may feel a bit hurt and wonder why. The only time to be worried is if your dog is sniffing in circles constantly and seemingly with intent, for what looks like no good reason. Vetstreet. Difficulty urinating. Your dog is picking up on something that is going on, and you may need a scan to assess if there is any surgical or medical intervention required. Dog lovers who have had more than a few pups in their life may have noticed that some dogs, especially males, react more strongly to licking up other dogs’ pee. Resist the temptation to coach them out of sniffing you at all, as this will not benefit anybody. If pregnancy is not an option, consider consulting a healthcare professional. PetLab Review: How effective are these joint chews for dogs? Dogs tend to greet fellow members of their pack by rubbing their faces together, and most pets will consider their owner to be a part of their pack. On the one hand, the…, No dog enjoys the experience of visiting the vet. My Maltese, 6 years old, has begun sticking his tongue out more than usual, especially when he is sleep. There are a few things that could cause your dog to start sniffing a lot, and which could cause concurrent symptoms too. Or something comes with your lifestyle this might be why some dogs take that a out! 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