It is highly unlikely that two dogs will engage in sniffing after having been in one anothers company for some time, unless one of the dogs has been to the toilet and has created a new set of scents for sniffing. 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. It could also mean your dog is bored, hence sniffing and licking others ears to keep them busy and occupied. Other greeting habits include posturing, play bowing and occasional barking and snarling. Perhaps You Have an Ear Infection You Aren't Aware of 6. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. If you want to stop a dog who likes to lick earwax, give them something else to play (and eat) instead. Another reason why dogs would lick other dogs ears is that they like the taste of earwax. Scents in this area can tell another dog about gender, reproductive status, diet, health status, temperament, and much more. If you were a dog, you would definitely be sniffing. Though don't forget, ear licking is one of the few limited ways a dog can show affection and we all need some of that. Ensure you are consistent with your commands and rewards and dont give in to your dogs begging. However, some dogs may get intense with the sniffing while other dogs need their personal space. He began his writing career after graduating with a Bachelors of Arts degree in music from Salford University. Dogs have an ear-cleaning mechanism that will naturally keep their ears clean. Who are we to stop them? A dog licking anothers ear is a natural behavior. Even without specialist training, dogs can pick up on unusual smells such as those tied with certain conditions, and they can therefore provide you with an invaluable warning sign. Practice this with your pooch as often as you can. The reason why your dog has been licking your other dog's face might be that your dog is being submissive. Dogs like to smell peoples faces because they like how their scent differs from theirs. Your dog sniffs your face to learn more about you and figure out where you fit into their pack. Humans may possess the organ as well, but its unlikely we use pheromones to communicate the way dogs do. Also, they interact with others through their sense of smell. Find out more about Dogs And Clogs and me. The presence of infection causes a dog to scratch ears. Dogs sniff each others ears for various reasons, but basically, this is their way of showing affection or submission. Why Is My Dog Sniffing Everything in the House. You might see your pooch do this with other dogs too. No matter why your dog wants to stay close to you, its clear he considers you an important part of his pack. Thats even bigger than the section of our brain dedicated to interpreting sight. Therefore, a dog doesnt necessarily know another dog just by looking at it. Simon Foden has been a freelance writer and editor since 1999. 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. That can sometimes happen visually, but it always happens nasally. How are they supposed to clean the body parts that they cant reach? Butt sniffing is perfectly normal behavior for dogs and can help to prevent confrontation. Because if ears are moistened with saliva, it becomes an ideal environment for bacterial growth. A dog can also remember scents and therefore determine whether or not he has met this particular dog before. Typically, mothers lick their puppies to clean and groom them. Just when you thought that sniffing butts are gross, here comes licking ears. He has also written for Dogmagazine.net. Sniffing is an instinctive behavior and dogs are programmed to sniff each other when they meet. If you have seen them licking and sniffing another dogs ear, then youve seen how they interact with each other. Get a scent: The reason is that they are trying to get your scent. Canines are naturally curious animals. And when dogs sniff another dog, they smell more than doggy odor. a feeling, just it breaks down and digests nutrients through peristaltic wave action. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. You may notice that your dog enjoys sniffing your face because they like your scent. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'bulldogpapa_com-banner-1','ezslot_1',136,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bulldogpapa_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'bulldogpapa_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',136,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bulldogpapa_com-banner-1-0_1');.banner-1-multi-136{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:0!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Does your dog always sniff and lick your ears? : 7 Possible Reasons 1. A dog licking anothers dogs ear can cause an ear infection. They're Being Submissive. As humans, when someone we are close to is They might have the unintended effect of pushing debris further into the ear canal. It is common for dogs to sniff at their owners faces for various reasons. Licking and sniffing are common traits associated with dogs that theyll carry throughout their lives. Natural scent:All kinds of scents can be detected by your dogs nose, full of sensitive receptors. Dogs can detect familiarity or strange rooms. You can give them the treat firmly by saying no when they start sniffing. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. AKC actively advocates for responsible dog ownership and is dedicated to advancing dog sports. Step 3: Lift your dog's ear flap (the pinna) and squirt dog ear cleaner into the ear. This results in the other dogs ears becoming itchy. In cases where the social order between two dogs is yet to be established, they both may attempt to sniff first, at which point it becomes a battle of wills. There is no doubt that dogs have a keen sense of smell. Familiar & identify:The act of sniffing is a favorite pastime for dogs. Take Our Brand New A-Z-Animals Dogs Quiz Humans have only around 5 million scent receptors in our noses, but some breeds have over 100 million. Why do dogs smell you when you're sleeping? Or do you smell the cans and boxes? Out Of Play and Excitement 3. Sniffing our ears specifically is probably an extension of this behavior as the ear is home to many scent-releasing glands similar to those in a dog's nose. Theyd also do this when theyre scared. Download this e-book to get the explanations behind some of the strangest canine behaviors. Hes cleaning her ears. The private areas of a dog contain a wealth of information. 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. (Dont worry. A dominant dog may growl to end the smelling session. He could knock them over and cause them injury. So let them sniff away! Anytime a dog perceives any change in its surroundings, its just as if its front-end isnt connected to its hind-end, the Big-Brain out of sync with the little-brain. Interestingly the only word that can precede a term such as STIMULATION is ELECTRICAL. That cant be good! As a pet owner, you should understand your dog. According to Nicola Ackerman, adult dogs have nerve endings in their outer ears. When they meet, thanks to the same glands, dogs can know who they are dealing with by sniffing under the tail. 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. The moment he knows hell go outside for a walk makes him excited and forget his habit of ear-licking. In addition, you can consult a professional dog trainer. Humans can communicate with dogs, and dogs can communicate with humans. 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. So if your dogs licking is already a bit much, dog fights may occur more often. Dogs lick other dogs ears to show affection. Vets suggest mind games like IQ treat balls to limit their ear-licking habit. Keep saying no each time they try to sniff your face. I mean, can you imagine doing your daily life with another person licking your ear all the time? https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php. Your veterinarian may perform a cytology (taking a swab of the discharge and staining it, to look at it under the microscope) to diagnose this problem. My dog Rolls on Their Back Is That Normal? Think about how dogs greet each other. #2: Your pawed baby is excited. So, now that you appreciate your dogs need to sniff, how can you better meet your pets needs and positively channel those urges? Why do dogs sniff their owners' faces? Otherwise, you may find that peoplereally dislike your dog. Its a bit like visiting the Facebook or LinkedIn page of someone we dont know very well. The introductions are later formalized during a face-to-face meeting. Dogs also lick to greet, socialize, and stimulate bodily functions. They do this to groom each other or as a form of their bonding activity. Your dog is active during the day, as are you. Dogs even use their tongue to clean themselves and to cleanse their wounds! He is Under the Weather Because they ingest this, they could get an upset stomach. So, when a dog meets another dog, they each have stories to tell. Dogs are considered loyal and loving companions due to their ability to gather information through sniffing. When dogs lick other dogs ears, it doesnt always mean that theyre grooming them. Listed below are some reasons why dogs love to sniff and lick others ears: Dogs arent capable of grooming themselves. If this is whats happening with your pooches, then let them enjoy it. It could be that their dog is checking for signs of illness, telling you they love you, or simply because they love you. If you have any concerns about your dog, please get in touch with your vet. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'bulldogpapa_com-leader-1','ezslot_5',137,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bulldogpapa_com-leader-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'bulldogpapa_com-leader-1','ezslot_6',137,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bulldogpapa_com-leader-1-0_1');.leader-1-multi-137{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:0!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Fun fact: Sniffing each other's noses is a ritual in wolves and wild dogs. Possible reasons why your dog licks your other dog's eyes are that your dog is grooming your other dog, your dog is being submissive, your dog has an obsessive disorder, or that it simply likes the taste. Bacterial or fungal infections like a yeast infection can cause a dog to scratch at her own ears. Well, do you come home, and your dogs run towards you to lick and sniff you? For example, if a male dog smells that a bitch . And finally, infection will lead to more dog licking. In this case, you have to help build their confidence. If this continues, the behavior may lead to other problems. And lets face it. Another reason why the male pooch will lick the females ear is that hes grooming her. If your dog has recurrent ear infections, you should consult with your veterinarian about a treatment and cleaning regimen, and discuss potential underlying causes. All of the content on this site is written by my and other pet content creators, personal perspectives given on information gathered through our own extensive research. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The ear wax will be a yellow color. If both dogsare healthy, well-socialized, and supervised, it's actually a good idea to let them "sniff it out" as much as they want (provided each dog is tolerating it well). She has worked with airlines and the Centers for Disease Control to improve pet travel through veterinary oversight. Sniffing your face is a way for them to learn more about you and figure out what kind of person you are. To effectively do this, you need to sidetrack them with another activity that they like. Dogs who have this behavior have an obsession to do things repetitively. Your other dogs are starting to get annoyed with your pooch whos got a licking problem. For instance, dogs that can detect cancer in humans have been exposed to blood samples from cancer patients during training, which enables them to familiarize themselves with the smell and detect it. From one sniff of a dog's 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. A cytology should be performed by your vet to confirm the presence of bacteria. Look for signs that one dog is getting a bit too over-enthusiastic with . As a result, dogs have been trained to use their ability to sniff things out to get involved in various jobs including becoming official illness dogs that can sniff out cancer, migraines, and other illnesses in humans. Yeast Infections Ear yeast infections are quite common and can cause a more pronounced odor in your dog's ears. 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