Help, my dog sniffs guests and he won’t stop sniffing excessively. He’ll start sniffing shoes, pants, butts, crotches etc. and it’s very embarrassing when visitors turn up because he’ll sniff them for a very long time which feels like forever. Perhaps, he’s just wondering whose who and where they have been, but it gets really annoying. Is there anything that can be done when my dog sniffs guests? Raise your hand if you are in a similar situation. Well, for sure you are in great company as many dog owners complain about dogs who sniff guests. So here’s a brief guide on what to do.
A Sensory World
Yes, you guessed it right, dogs literally live in a world of smells, and they use their sense of smell to interpret the world. Just imagine that humans have 5 million scent receptors, while dogs typically have about 225 million (German Shepherd) or even up to 300 million (Bloodhound) so it can be said that to a dog its sense of smell governs pretty much most of its life.
Yes, the dog’s nose power allows him to investigate people. Just a little sniff can provide information pertaining where the people have been and what they have done. And just as dogs sniff each other, they will feel compelled to sniff the humans that come into their homes. And yes, crotches and rear ends are one of the preferable places to sniff, and there are theories potentially explaining why.
One theory has it that these areas offer an interesting bouquet of smells. Another theory has it that human crotches and butts are strategically found at an easily accessible location (most dog muzzles are carried at about the same height, unless you own a tiny dog).
It is also good dog etiquette between canines to sniff their rear ends first when meeting. The rear end is far from the teeth and a head-to-head approach is often perceived as intimidating among dogs.
Ask an Alternate Behavior
Punishing your dog for sniffing would not be nice as the dog is doing what it would normally do in nature, and would therefore be confused as a result. However, you can ask for alternative behavior in order to keep the focus off from sniffing.
As a starting point, you can try to use a squeaky toy or a treat to lure your dog away from guests. You may also want to teach the ”off” cue. The off cue offers a way to have your dog disengage from people. Here’s a brief guide on how to train it.
Go outside for some time and then come back home. Your dog will likely greet you and try to sniff you. Allow this for a few seconds but then say “off” and toss a few treats on the ground at a distance from you. While your dog eats the treats, walk away. Repeat several times.
Next, practice with some guests. Allow a second of greeting and then say “off” and toss the treats on the ground while your guests enter the home and sit on the couch. Repeat every time you have guests over. If your dog then goes to greet them when they’re sitting do the same. Your goal is to prevent the inappropriate sniffing to take place as the more dogs rehearse behaviors that are not appreciated, the more these behaviors become stronger.
You can also have your guests train your dog alternate ways of interacting. Teach your dog to target your guest’s hands with his nose in exchange of a treat. Your guests can also aks your dog to sit, down or perform a trick. Some dog owners like to train their dogs to interact with guests by training them to “shake.”
Training your dog to perform a nice ”sit/stay” or ” down/ stay” may too help prevent your guests from getting upset. Feeding a Kong stuffed with treats may also keep your dog occupied for some time while you spend time with your guests. Train your dog to lie on a mat to enjoy these goodies.
Tip: what if despite your focus on training and rewarding alternate behaviors your dog still happens to sniff some guests inapropriately? If so, a good idea would be to tell your guest to walk away or even leave the house temporarily. Dogs learn fast this way that sniffing leads to the guest leaving.