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Once again, we have a topic about female dogs and one of their unusual behaviors. Today, we’ll take a look at why female dogs smell each other!
You’ve probably noticed this with your own female canine companion. Whether you meet a dog your fur baby already knows, or she meets a stranger dog, the dogs immediately smell each other. Why do they do this?
While it seems gross to us (and way too personal!), female dogs smell one another on a regular basis. But why?
If you’re asking this question, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve put together information about why female dogs smell each other. Let’s get started!
Why Do Female Dogs Smell Each other?
First, it’s important to remember that dogs (both males and females) have a strong sense of smell. Their noses can sniff out way more than ours can. What’s more, dogs secrete hormones from different areas, including the snout, mouth, and anus. The hormones they are emitting have a purpose.
The hormones (including pheromones) contain bits of information that are important to dogs. Dogs learn a ton of information about another dog just from their hormones and pheromones.
What Can Female Dogs Learn About Another Dog From Smelling Her?
A female dog can learn lots of information about another female dog by smelling her, including:
- If the other dog is in heat or not (if so, this dog could be competition)
- Whether the other girl dog has any medical conditions
- What the other dog ate earlier
- Where the other dog has been
- If the other dog has puppies
- And more
How is this information helpful? If the other dog is in heat, she may be the competition if your dog’s also in heat. This could lead the dogs to fight, which is common in two female dogs that have not been spayed. The other dog’s smell could also let your dog learn about a tasty treat that’s just beyond the trees! And if the other female dog has puppies, she may not be the competition if your dog’s in heat.
Scent for dogs is as important as conversation is to us. The information the dog gains from sniffing the other dog determines her behavior in that situation.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSumming It Up
There’s nothing to be concerned about if your female dog is sniffing other female dogs. This is completely normal behavior for canines.
What’s more, your dog is learning a lot of information about the other dog. You might say it’s a bit like saying “Hi” is for us!
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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