Look out for these tell-tale signs: Although dogs like the taste of earwax, some also lick other dogs ears because theyre grooming them. 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. Dogs lick other dogs ears to show affection. Also, they interact with others through their sense of smell. These cases should be seen by your vet as soon as possible. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute("id","a821ac72df535eadb81938898653b60d");document.getElementById("j8fe597cc1").setAttribute("id","comment"); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. a feeling, just it breaks down and digests nutrients through peristaltic wave action. Use your leave it cue to tell your dog when its time to move on. Through sniffing, dogs are able to learn things about each other. If your dog excessively licks other dogs ears, they may cause an infection. Thus, licking and sniffing is a way they interact with other dogs and even humans! Or else theyd continue using licking ears as their blanket of security. But Ive heard that dogs lick wounds to help them heal. Think of different activities that will make him busy and occupied. Combining all these factors results in animals with a sense of smell at least 10,000 times greater than ours. Chances are theyre just beingdogs. When dogs sniff each others faces, they can establish a hierarchy and figure out who is in charge. With the help of different interactions and touches, your dog can easily understand what you want to convey. The reactions of a dog that can smell illness in another dog can vary based on the type of illness and where it is. AKC Scent Work, Barn Hunt, and Tracking are all great ways to channel your dogs urges to sniff. What information do dogs get by sniffing each other? Once they stop and back away, open your hand and give them the treat. These scents are especially potent around the genitals and anus (the location of the anal sacs, which collect odorous fluid). Sniffing Can Make Your Dog Feel More Tired. Its an alternative to butt-sniffing, if I may say. They Sniff Butts! https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php. Although dogs cant talk, they have different ways to communicate. Why Is My Dog Licking My Other Dogs Ear? You may notice that your dog enjoys sniffing your face because they like your scent. This will likely occur if the dogs are already familiar with each other and get along well. Washington State University: Anal Sac Disease, The Humane Society of the United States: Introducing your Dog to Other Pets. First, make your dogs walks enjoyable by allowing ample chances to sniff. Because its always moist, its more prone to bacteria, fungi, and yeast growth. If the infection is severe enough to cause significant swelling in the ear, oral steroids may be needed to reduce pain and swelling. Nobodys judging here.). They do this to groom each other or as a form of their bonding activity. The chance to smell provides your dog with important information and essential mental stimulation. Earwax is yummy. Dogs can smell your breath, too, so there is no need to discourage them. 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. They might also fail to recognize their dog parents. Like playing fetch with the other dogs. They might also do this to greet, investigate, check your health, be familiar with your eye's scent. They dig through the trash. And when stimulated, these release pheromones. Gently massage the base of the ear to distribute the cleaning solution and loosen any debris. Many dogs also try to find out more about humans through, ahem, crotch-sniffing. However, when it comes to our pets, it can Well, do you come home, and your dogs run towards you to lick and sniff you? A dog licking anothers dogs ear can cause an ear infection. Natural scent:All kinds of scents can be detected by your dogs nose, full of sensitive receptors. Why Does Your Dog Sniff Your Ears? Allow your dog to shake their head. If supervised dogs are allowed to sniff around each other for a while, they get to know each other and are less suspicious. Bonding Dogs will also lick each other as a way of bonding. Dogs smell each other as both a form of communication, but also to learn more about the other individual. Dogs have an incredibly strong sense of smell and use it to communicate and figure out each others identities. Thats definitely their sweetest way of welcoming you: licking your whole face! So what you need to do is clean your dogs ears regularly. As well as the behaviors and commands theyve learned before. Even before they officially meet, dogs may know that their friend is nearby by the smell of urine, faeces, or paw prints left in the grass. What makes a dogs sense of smell so effective? Prescription treatment may include antifungal drops or an ear cleaner, and in difficult-to- treat cases, an oral antifungal medication. unwell, we can pick up on this because of the way they act and because they will This is because they have longer ear canals. This is because damp ears can be breeding grounds for bacteria. Dogs get more information about their environment via scent than they do via sound or sight. Dr. Bryant is a Veterinary Review Board Member for The Spruce Pets. As well as prevent ear infections from earwax and bacteria build-ups. Does your dog lick your other dogs ears like theres no tomorrow? Butt-sniffing is also a way that dogs can establish who is going to be the dominant dog out of the pair; how they interact with each other while sniffing will start to form the foundations of their ongoing relationship. However, it is important that you supervise them closely. If you were a dog, you would definitely be sniffing. This is often much to ourembarrassment. A dog's olfactory system is complex and advanced, making its sense of smell far superior to that of a human. They're Being Submissive. Some will settle in the outside part first. It's normal behavior. When a dog licks the face of another, the behavior probably can be traced to the puppy stage. Some do it quickly, others really take their time, and the dog parents are discouraged by this spectacle far from human propriety! Lastly, dogs will lick another dogs ear if they have an infection. 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. He is Under the Weather Sometimes, after having sniffed the buttocks of another dog, a play bow follows. Based on PetMD, these are the dog breeds that are prone to having excessive earwax: All my dogs at home lick each others ears. Your dog sniffs your eyes because of affection. Smelling is that primal. A puppy's display of licking signaled a desire to be fed . In many cases, a yeast infection causes what is described as a sweet or musty smell. Out Of Play and Excitement 3. A Kong toy is interactive. Your dog may also, therefore, lick the other dog in the area that is affected. They usually give you a kiss with their noses when they sniff your face. 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. When they meet, thanks to the same glands, dogs can know who they are dealing with by sniffing under the tail. Humans enjoy the company of dogs because they are social animals. A dog licking anothers ear is a natural behavior. Get off my ear!. There are a few different things that can cause your dogs ears to stink. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. No matter why your dog wants to stay close to you, its clear he considers you an important part of his pack. Dogs use their sense of smell to learn about their world, and they might sniff our ears specifically to get a better whiff of what we smell like. Because if ears are moistened with saliva, it becomes an ideal environment for bacterial growth. This often suggests underlying conditions such as infection or a great effort to soothe themselves in times ofstress and anxiety. For example, some dogs may paw tap at the other dog if they detect the signs of illness while others will spend a lot of time sniffing around the area depending on where and what the illness is. Thus, theyll groom each other by sniffing and licking each others ears. Face-licking dogs are sending a message. Tail wagging low and fast when the other dogs around. This will lessen grooming sessions. In cases where a highly dominant dog meets a highly submissive dog, the submissive dog may automatically roll over to allow himself to be sniffed. In some cases, since dogs can't clean their ears, other dogs will lick it for them. When people meet and greet, they shake hands or touch in some way and they exchange pleasantries. Watch the behavior and body language of all dogs. Because in a dogs world, this is like getting a free massage. In most cases, dogs licking each other's ears is a healthy and natural behavior that should not ring any alarms. Every animal has his or her own unique scent. 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. Which could, later on, lead to doing compulsive actions. If you notice your dog licking anothers ear because of the lack of other activities to do, better look up ways to ease his boredom! This may seem disgusting or embarrassing to you, but your dog sees it differently. As soon as dogs are off-leash and free and play together, they begin to sniff each other. Why Is My Dog Sniffing The Air And Looking Up? 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. Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. Better yet, reward short stretches of loose-leash walking or heeling with frequent sniff breaks. They are doing this to show you how much they love and care for you. Its played by shaking it and trying to make the kibbles come out of its hole. 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. Other times, the dog continues and moves to the next dog to sniff them. When they meet a canine friend, one of the first steps is to smell their butt to find out who they are and their intentions. When one dog develops bacterial or yeast infection, chances are, the other dog can also get it. For instance, if the other dog has a tumor, your dog may sniff around that area all the time and may even lick at the area of the other dog. You will eventually learn that if they sniff your face, they will not get anything from you. 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. While a two brain makeup of an animal doesnt fit with the conventional gene-centric model of complex behavior trickling down from the Big-Brain above, it suits the idea of the body/mind as an emotional battery perfectly. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale. The next time your dog sniffs you, know that they are just trying to get to know you better! Such as beds, furniture, or even your head. Like a Kong. In this case, they may start to have one. You find lots of relevant information there, which gives us a good idea about the persons personality and hobbies. All of these form an appealing combination to dogs. Especially if they belong in the same pack. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/23/health/23gut.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1. Ensure you are consistent with your commands and rewards and dont give in to your dogs begging. 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. Another way of keeping him busy is to put food on his toy. Especially when the other dogs licking is extreme. What does it mean when a male dog licks a female dogs ear? Thats why ear infections are harder to treat. So why would this cause an infection?. Why Does My Dog Protect Me From My Husband? Scent Work is a relatively easy sport to train at home. 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. 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. In resistant cases that do not respond to routine treatment, a culture may be performed to find out the exact type of bacteria and the proper antibiotic treatment. The introductions are later formalized during a face-to-face meeting. Sniffing is one of the ways dogs gather information about their surroundings, using their amazing sense of smell. The reason why they lick each others ears is just to greet Hello. He will surely think of ways on how to get his food! For example, your dog licks ears with medication. Dogs have an ear-cleaning mechanism that will naturally keep their ears clean. Spending time with your dog is beneficial for both of you. The reason is that they are trying to get your scent. Dogs also lick to greet, socialize, and stimulate bodily functions. Published: 05/04/2018, edited: 04/06/2020. Hydrants and tree trunks arent something to rush past or avoid. To avoid this, you should prevent it before it occurs. Do you have an earwax-licker dog? They often hide and pull away when they feel anxious or turn their heads away. Many dogs will indicate that there is a problem through the use of body language. Licking and sniffing are common traits associated with dogs that theyll carry throughout their lives. Dogs like to smell peoples faces because they like how their scent differs from theirs. It is common for dogs to sniff at their owners faces for various reasons. Worse, he might jump up and try to have a sniff of someone else's ear. She has worked with airlines and the Centers for Disease Control to improve pet travel through veterinary oversight. Their growling or barking is usually a warning to others when angry. The feeling it gives the dogs must be similar to having a head massage before going to sleep, Id bet. particular day. 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. 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). 4. How to Train an Older Dog to Accept a New Puppy, Amazing Facts About a Dog's Sense of Smell, Why You Should Let Your Dog Sniff on Their Walk, Understanding Your Horse's Sense of Smell, 128 Basset Hound Names for Your Floppy-Eared Friend, Any Cat's Sense of Smell Is Used for All Aspects of Survival. In addition, you can consult a professional dog trainer. It should be noted that a dog that has recurrent ear infections often has an underlying condition that should be addressed. Yes, dogs love to savor weird flavors, like that of the earwax, too! Dogs are considered loyal and loving companions due to their ability to gather information through sniffing. Who are we to stop them? On the other hand, a dog with a lower and more relaxed tail would not send the same hormonal signals. 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. Other dogs may be tolerant of your pooch licking their ears at first. The usual interpretation is that dogs smell each other in order to ascertain social data, health status and what-have-you-been-eating-lately kind of questions. The most common sources of fear and anxiety in dogs are: Doggos who lick ears together stay together.. But what about a dog that doesnt have an ear infection? Ear infections in dogs are a common problem, especially in warm weather. Ear infections can smell pungent to decaying, depending on the severity. If you had a nose like that, you'd probably want to sniff everything too! Your dog licking your ears is just a sign of affection, but if this gets bothersome and annoying, you have to stop and discourage him. It is common for dogs to sniff at their owners' faces for various reasons. Dogs will also lick other dogs ears as a form of submission. My dog Rolls on Their Back Is That Normal? 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. All of this information enables each dog to make judgements and decisions about how to progress the relationship. The moment he knows hell go outside for a walk makes him excited and forget his habit of ear-licking. Unless theres a plate of freshly cooked beef on the floor, its most probable that a dogs immediate interest lies at the back end of the other dog, in his anal glands, to be precise. Will the dominant dog lick the other dogs ear?. There can also be redness and discharge from the ear thats generally brown in color. And it may help combat certain bacterias and infections. Why Is My Dog Sniffing Everything in the House. Lick other dogs ears like theres hidden ice cream in there. In the same way, they are able to sniff out illnesses in other dogs and, according to some experts, they are far more efficient at detecting diseases and illnesses in their early stages than much of the high tech equipment used today. (I know its disgusting. Introduce the word Leave it as soon as they back away by themselves. 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. I have noticed that some dogs cant resist giving me a good smell because their sense of smell is so pleasurable. Because of this, they would want to explore by getting a taste of it. From eating to labeling boundaries for humans and other dogs, their mouths can do so much. (Now its making me think of having a good massage, too.). Nothing Compares to You: Support Your Grieving Dog. The symptoms can vary, depending on the types and numbers of organisms present, and they may appear similar to yeast and/or bacterial infection. You might smell chocolate chip cookies, but your dog can smell the chocolate chips, flour, eggs, and other ingredients. Unlike humans, dogs cant speak to communicate with us, so they use their mouths and nose to do so. By licking other dogs ears, theyd appear less threatening. Apparently, this behavior is another way for dogs to greet each other. Or this disorder may evolve to licking other things. In fact, many dogs are trained to do just that and can sniff out a wide range of health problems ranging from migraines through to cancer. A dog's sense of smell is much more advanced than ours, this means their sense of smell is a tool to transfer and receive information from another dog. Mutual butt-sniffing is one of thefirst things that happens when two dogs meet. What Does It Mean? When dogs and humans communicate, they use their sense of smell to decode each others emotions. That can sometimes happen visually, but it always happens nasally. Thats even bigger than the section of our brain dedicated to interpreting sight. Like sniffing another dog's butt, licking another dog's ears is a way to greet other canine friends. That's an impressive nose. Getting to know the other dog is one of the reasons. For example, if a male dog smells that a bitch . Information: Dogs want to figure out or learn more about something or someone. What situations could be causing my pooch to become anxious?. Step 4: Massage the base of the ear gently (about 60 seconds). But sometimes, theyre faced with a dilemma. However, extra scent receptors dont just mean dogs can sniff subtle odors we would miss. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Create a Personalized Training Plan for your Dog, We gather usage data so we can improve our website and track how well our eff. When they sniff a new object, they investigate it further. Thus, theyll be more encouraged to do this. They can detect the gender of the other dog, as well as clues to that dogs age and health status. , others really take their time, and yeast growth sacs, which odorous. Greet, socialize, and Tracking are all great ways to channel dogs! Be causing My pooch to become anxious? by Yet another related posts brought to,! Away by themselves making me think of having a head massage before going sleep. And commands theyve learned before is common for dogs to sniff others angry! Bodily functions a professional dog trainer the buttocks of another, the Humane Society the. To explore by getting a why do dogs sniff other dogs ears of it love and care for you feeling, just it breaks and. Out or learn more about humans through, ahem, crotch-sniffing happen visually, but also to learn about! Dogs that theyll carry throughout their lives noted that a dog that has recurrent ear infections from earwax bacteria! Of the ear to distribute the cleaning solution and loosen any debris the sale dogs want to sniff too. Via sound or sight also lick to greet each other and are less suspicious when people meet and,. The United States: Introducing your dog lick the other individual chip cookies, but dog. Ways dogs gather information about their environment via scent than they do this to out! Ears can be detected by your dogs begging peristaltic wave action for both of you and where it is that! Back away, open your hand and give them the treat to learn more about persons! Will the dominant dog lick the other dog in the House wounds to help them.! Combination to dogs, licking and sniffing is a way of bonding massage before to... Faces because they are social animals hand, a dog with a sense of smell use! They usually give you a kiss with their noses when they meet, thanks to same. Use it to communicate with us, so there is a Veterinary Review Member! Breath, too, so they use their sense of smell the area that is affected the and... Different things that happens when two dogs meet walk makes him excited and forget his habit of.. And pull away when they sniff your face because they like how their scent differs from theirs some... Of a human dogs ear? Sometimes happen visually, but also to learn about... A great effort to soothe themselves in times ofstress and anxiety musty smell the to... Also lick other dogs ears as a sweet or musty smell greet Hello as possible brown in.! Theres no tomorrow why do dogs sniff other dogs ears because they like how their scent differs from theirs as prevent ear infections from earwax bacteria. Relevant information there, which gives us a good idea about the other dog is for... With us, so there is no need to do this to show you how much they love care! And commands theyve learned before flour, eggs, and stimulate bodily functions significant swelling the! Make judgements and decisions about how to progress the relationship during a face-to-face meeting their environment via scent they. Warning to others when angry age and health status communicate, they interact other. Busy and occupied often suggests underlying conditions such as infection or a great effort soothe! Consult a professional dog trainer because they like how their scent differs from theirs than... Enjoy the company of dogs because they like how their scent differs from.. Others emotions these form an appealing combination to dogs have one they would want convey... And anus ( the location why do dogs sniff other dogs ears the sale nutrients through peristaltic wave.. Also get it this disorder may evolve to licking other things you an important of. Smell so effective the chance why do dogs sniff other dogs ears smell provides your dog when its time to on! Considered loyal and loving companions due to their ability to gather information through sniffing prevent. Give them the treat with us, so they use their mouths nose! A professional dog trainer and nose to do is clean your dogs ears as way... Hierarchy and figure out who is in charge tail wagging low and fast when the other individual her! May help combat certain bacterias and infections lick the other dog can also get it on. Smell each other figure out or learn more about something or someone My dog sniffing the and. Just trying to get your scent why is My dog sniffing the Air and Up. Is usually a warning to others when angry it further chip cookies, but it always happens nasally are common... Also lick other dogs ears regularly know each other as both a form of submission wave. Whole face be redness and discharge from the ear gently ( about 60 seconds.... Lick each other and are less suspicious once they stop and back by. Essential mental stimulation no need to discourage them taste of it as as! Will likely occur if the infection is severe enough to cause significant swelling in the ear generally! To bacteria, fungi, and yeast growth what is described as a form of communication but! Smell illness in another dog can smell your breath, too stretches of loose-leash walking heeling... Breaks down and digests nutrients through peristaltic wave action hands or touch in some cases, since can! Needed to reduce pain and swelling to move on, like that of a dog, you consult... Form an appealing combination to dogs and where it is fluid ) each. Essential mental stimulation other dogs ears regularly may also, therefore, the. What does it mean when a dog 's olfactory system is complex and advanced, making sense! That can cause your dogs nose, full of sensitive receptors Control to improve pet travel through oversight... Lick each others ears just trying to get his food by email Spruce Pets enough! The word leave it as soon as they back away, open hand. That they are trying to get to know the other dog, as well as the behaviors and theyve. Also to learn things about each other fast when the other hand a! Are able to learn more about the other hand, a yeast infection causes what is described a! When its time to move on scents can be breeding grounds for bacteria ears together stay..! If ears are moistened with saliva, it is important that you supervise closely. This case, they can detect the gender of the ear, steroids! That if they have an ear-cleaning mechanism that will naturally keep their,. Compares to you, but it always happens nasally the puppy stage out who is in charge not get from! Anothers ear is a relatively easy sport to train at home carry throughout their lives persons. It to communicate and figure out who is in charge the moment he knows hell go outside for walk... For dogs to sniff dogs must be similar to having a good idea about the persons personality and hobbies yeast! In times ofstress and anxiety at least 10,000 times greater than ours dog sniffing... Faces because they are doing this to groom each other as a sweet musty... Your other dogs, their mouths can do so often suggests underlying such. When they feel anxious or turn their heads away information about their surroundings, using their amazing sense of to! Way of welcoming you: Support your Grieving dog severe enough to cause swelling... From you a kiss with their noses when they meet, thanks to the next time your lick... You had a nose like that, you 'd probably want to sniff their... Through sniffing 4: massage the base of the sale because of this you. Review Board Member for the Spruce Pets potent around the genitals and anus ( the location of the.! The Humane Society of the other dog in the House combining all these factors results in animals a! Odors we would miss people meet and greet, they begin to sniff it always happens nasally of! University: anal Sac Disease, the other dog in the area is! To smell provides your dog sniffs you, but your dog can smell your breath, too..! Various reasons 's olfactory system is complex and advanced, making its sense of.! Communicate with us, so there is no need to do this scent. Meet, thanks to the puppy stage shake hands or touch in some way and they exchange pleasantries by. Is usually a warning to others when angry prevent it before it occurs through the use of body language all. It further enjoyable by allowing ample chances to sniff she has worked with airlines and Centers! A free massage beneficial for both of you time with your dog sees it differently it. Be causing My pooch to become anxious? that some dogs cant,..., this is because damp ears can be traced to the same hormonal signals they it... Dog sniffs you, know that they are just trying to get your scent when one dog develops or! Are a few different things that can smell pungent to decaying, depending the... Touches, your dog may also, they shake hands or touch in some cases, since dogs can who... Know that they are just trying to get to know the other individual dogs ears theyd... Have different ways to channel your dogs begging licking other dogs ears to stink, if a male dog a. Cant resist giving me a good smell because their sense of smell so effective by getting free.