Contents
In dogs, unlike humans, the sense of smell is the most developed. Their olfactory receptors are 40 times larger than ours. Therefore, this sense provides them with the most information. Plus, they sniff us all the time, and sometimes they focus on our stomachs? Why is that?
Your dog smells a lot:
Our dogs are able to use their sense of smell to detect hormones. When they sniff us:
They detect mood changes: for example, if we are scared or stressed, our body will produce more adrenaline (a hormone). They can detect diseases (cancer, diabetes…) or pregnancy because they trigger hormonal changes in our body. In addition, they can tell when we are coming home, by smell they can recognize us from miles away.
The belly button is usually the area they sniff most often. This is because it is through the belly button that we communicate more directly with our inner self. Come to think of it, it’s the area where we have less belly thickness, and this fact helps hormones get directly to the nostrils.
Do dogs sniff pregnant women’s bellies?
Pregnancy involves hormonal changes in a woman in the first few months:
Even before a woman knows she is pregnant, a dog can detect it. They tend to stick closer to her abdomen and start to become more protective and watch her. They can detect the moments before the birth.
Why do dogs sniff each other’s anus?
The most common thing that two dogs do when they meet is that they start sniffing each other’s anuses to get to know each other:
Pheromones are produced in different parts of the body, such as the anal glands. They’re hormones that convey information. When they see each other, they wag their tails to disperse these pheromones and make it easier for the other dog to perceive them.
Each individual produces different hormones, they are a sign of identity. By rubbing their anus or snout against objects or the ground, they leave a message, a signal to another dog. It’s called “marking”.
Dog nostrils:
They receive all olfactory information through their nostrils. They have special properties that increase the receptor area for better odor perception:
Inside the nostrils are spirals of bone tissue. The spirals are covered with soft tissue in the shape of fingers, which further increase the surface area.
If we compare it proportionally with our nose, we realise that in dogs it occupies a larger part of the face than, for example, the eyes. They breathe in more air and therefore more odours.
Some breeds, such as hunting dogs, have a greater ability to smell than others.
Adopt, save a life and get a friend, If you would like to read more articles like this, we recommend visiting our Animals category.
