Most dog owners know that it’s common for dogs to sniff you – especially when they’ve missed you or they think you might have some tasty treat hiding on your person.
But there might be times when you might ask why your dog is sniffing you more than usual. If you observe this, it’s good to know the reasons that might explain the unusual behavior.
Luckily, this article will walk you through all of that – as well as some practical explanation and advice so you know what to do when it happens. Read ahead to know more!
9 Reasons Why Your Dog Is Sniffing You Excessively
The main reason as to why dogs sniff people is because they are trying to learn everything they can about that person or people.
Sniffing you out helps them determine if you are a person they are familiar with or if you are a stranger.
Sniffing also helps them identify the kinds of scents that you’ve attracted during the time that you were away from them.
It also informs them of any changes to your hormones or body chemistry, especially during bodily changes like pregnancy and the like.
Here are other reasons as to why your dog is sniffing you more than usual:
1. They are able to smell your emotions – especially overly strong ones.
Fear, elation, sadness, worry – these are all emotions that your dog is able to detect. Your body is constantly releasing chemicals that are associated with your emotions which your dog that sniffs a lot is able to pick up and detect.
If you have been going through some trying times, you may find that your dog will be sniffing you more than usual because to them it’s something out of the ordinary.
2. They can sniff out of curiosity.
Dogs’ noses are very sensitive, and sometimes their curiosity warrants extra sniffing all of a sudden just because they want to know more about you.
When you’ve been out for a while, they will sniff you a lot to know things like where you’ve been, what you did, how you are feeling, etc. Sniffing a little bit more than usual is their way of answering questions about their owner.
3. They may detect some concerning health issues that you might not still be aware of.
If your dog is sniffing your legs, neck, stomach, etc. – they might be detecting things like a change in blood sugar levels or the presence of an infection. If they detect something unusual, they may sniff you more to investigate.
4. They noticed a change in your usual products.
If you’ve suddenly made the switch from one brand of shampoo or soap to another, your dog will pick up on it by sniffing you a lot.
Dogs like to remember your exact scent, and when something changes in how they remember they will want to sniff you again and again until they “record” that smell in their mind.
If there are any changes in your odor because of a product that you’ve switched out, they’ll pick up on it right away!
5. They can smell other people on your person.
Hanging out with other people will almost always ensure a transfer of scents, whether it is from your friends’ own body chemistry, perfume, and the like.
These things are easily detectable to a dog, and for sure they will want to investigate by sniffing you out.
New scents put them on high alert as to whether or not you are still their human, and sniffing you out to uncover the smells that they do recognize as part and parcel of their owner is their primary goal.
6. They detect the smell of another animal.
Have you interacted with another animal apart from your dog? If your dog was sniffing the ground and then suddenly sniffing you a lot, they have definitely detected the smell of the other animal on your person.
Believe it or not, dogs can become very jealous when the need arises – and in this case, the other animal scent they’ve picked up on is automatically tagged as competition.
They sniff you excessively because they are trying to work out in their head what activities you’ve done with that other animal – and for sure, some worry and possessiveness are going on in their minds.
7. They’ve been missing you – a lot.
In some cases, there’s no need to overthink the reason why your dog is suddenly sniffing you more than usual during the day or even at night. Sometimes the reason is just because they’ve missed you.
Some dog owners might downplay it by saying that they’ve only been away for a few hours – but for dogs (whose sense of time is completely different from humans) it can already be an agonizing amount of time.
8. They detect a change in your hormones.
Because our hormones are the body’s chemical messengers, it’s not surprising to learn that they are able to affect our emotions – and dogs can detect that as well.
When our mood is affected by the change in hormones, we might think that we are doing a good job of keeping it in (read: not being very obvious about it to other people).
Dogs, however, can pick up on it quite easily. When you are depressed, angry, experiencing pregnancy or period mood swings and more – they can tell, and they’ll keep smelling and sniffing because they know it’s not your usual scent.
9. They’re attracted to your pheromones.
The next time your dog sniffs you, check if it’s during a time when you get sweaty. If yes, then chances are they are liking the smell of your pheromones emitted through your sweat!
Why Your Dog Sniffs Excessively – And All of a Sudden, Too
It might seem normal to see a dog sniffing the floor like crazy, or suddenly sniffing everything in the house or the carpet.
Years of watching animal cartoons and other childhood animal movies will have already established the image of a dog sniffing around to catch the culprit.
Sniffing you more than usual, however, can be a novel experience for some dog owners.
The reasons stated in the previous section will help give you a clue as to the possible reasons why, and it all boils down to the fact that they detect a change in you.
Dogs rely on trust, routine and consistency in order to be at ease in their environment – and when something is amiss this can set them off.
When they sniff you, they are picking up on scents that are practically undetectable to humans but oh, so strong to them.
They need to know more about this scent so they can decide how to adjust to it. And that is why they will sniff and sniff you until they get used to it!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do dogs get tired of sniffing?
To some extent, sniffing can eventually tire a dog out if he keeps doing it beyond his ability to do so. But sniffing is also necessary for their mental stimulation. It is also an essential part of a dog’s natural behavior.
Just like many animals, dogs have an incredible sense of smell and rely on it to know more about their surroundings, including other living things, food, and potential dangers.
When dogs sniff, the part of their brain that is responsible for processing smells is activated. If this is “lit up” for a long time, it can get very exhausting.
But since it is also a rewarding activity, it can actually help them relax and lower their stress levels.
2. Why does my dog continuously sniff my private parts?
Most humans might find it weird or embarrassing when their dog (or any dog for that matter) spends a lot of time sniffing their human private parts.
But for a dog, it’s nothing else but the business of identifying a strong smell that they’ve picked up on.
Again, they are learning about a change in scents in you – and your private area may send off particularly pronounced smells that a dog wants to learn more about.
If it gets uncomfortable or persistent, however, it might be time to invest in training that will stop the unwanted behavior. At some point, your dog might need to learn that this isn’t something that is okay with you.
3. Why is sniffing considered calming for dogs?
The act of sniffing may be viewed as a calming activity for dogs because after all the mental stimulation they’ve engaged in while sniffing (because, as we learned earlier, the part of the brain that is responsible for processing smells is activated), in the end it will tire them out.
Once a dog feels exhausted after all the sniffing they’ve done, they will be in a relaxed mood because they feel the need to rest.
Also, dogs sniff because they are anxious about a change in smells in their humans. This anxiety is eased when they persist in sniffing to learn more about the certain change, and recalibrate themselves to be okay with it.
Once they know the unfamiliar, they can then relax and rest easy.
Some dog trainers even use sniffing activities as a form of therapy for an anxious or overly excited dog, creating exercise or discovery scenarios that will engage a dog’s sense of smell so they can eventually come down from that high and enter a state of relaxation.
4. What is an acceptable amount of time for a dog to keep sniffing?
As mentioned earlier, sniffing is an integral part of a dog’s normal routine and should be encouraged on a regular basis because it contributes to their health and well-being.
However, it’s also important to set limits on sniffing. This will depend on some factors like the age of your dog, their energy levels, and overall health.
Ten to fifteen minutes is a good amount of time to let your dog sniff you or sniff around when you are out for a walk or doing indoor activities.
This time frame will provide them the needed mental stimulation and exercise, ensuring that they will become relaxed by the end of it or less anxious at the very least.
However, be ready to divert your dog’s attention to other things or activities if you see that sniffing does the opposite of what you want to happen.
If your dog becomes even more stimulated and overly excited, it might be a good idea to have them do something else.
5. Is it okay for me to let my dog sniff?
The three main takeaways that anyone reading this article should get is that sniffing is normal behavior, beneficial to dogs, and is encouraged as part of their regular, everyday routines.
Sniffing is a dog’s way of helping themselves. They learn more about their environment and the people in it. They know how to adapt to changes so they can live with more relaxation and less anxiety.
Sniffing grows their brain, because as mentioned earlier it is a form of mental stimulation. When you let your dog sniff, you are allowing it an opportunity to become a better and more aware dog – and who wouldn’t want that, right?
The only time that it’s not okay for a dog to sniff is if there is potential danger when it does so.
For example, if you work in an environment that exposes you to hazardous chemicals and solvents, you will definitely want to shower and change into clean clothes before you greet your dog and the rest of your family.
You wouldn’t want them to inhale things that can damage their bodily systems in the long run.
You also don’t want a dog to sniff things that might potentially wound or piece them, such as dangerous equipment or anything that can hurt them.
And finally, always remember to keep sniffing to a respectable amount of time. Ten to fifteen minutes of continuous sniffing is plenty of time to learn about something, so try to ensure that your dog keeps to that limit.
6. Why is my dog sniffing while staring blankly at nothing?
Very few reasons can explain why a dog might be sniffing and staring at nothing. First, it is possible that it is stumped by the scent it has picked up on and is valiantly trying to process that scent in its head.
Second, the dog might be hallucinating or experiencing a sensory disturbance shortly after picking up on a scent.
You might not be able to pinpoint what it is, but it’s there – and it’s caused the dog to become disturbed and manifests it by staring blankly.
And finally, there’s that possibility of your dog experiencing a medical condition (it may be neurologic or cognitive in nature) and has caused him to temporarily pause his motor functions while it occurs.
If you find yourself saying “my dog keeps sniffing me and crying after he stared blankly for some time”, you should treat it with seriousness. You might want to consult with a veterinarian to rule this out.
Out of all three, the last one is the biggest concern because you want to make sure that your dog will get the attention it needs to prevent any possible problems from progressing.
Final Thoughts
Now, you know why your dog is sniffing you more than usual. When your dog sniffs a lot, it’s usually best to let him be as he learns his way around the new scent he’s picked up off you.
Just make sure you provide a warm and encouraging attitude when he does it, so he knows that it is something that it is okay for him to do – within limits, of course!
Has your dog ever sniffed you more than usual? What was it about? Share your experience in the comments section below!
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