It’s no secret that dogs love to sniff stuff. They can spend hours sniffing around the neighborhood on a walk, or even smelling their own bodies.
Yet, recently you might have noticed your dog sniffing you more than usual and you are wondering why. Well, at least I did when this happened to me. And so I decided to carry out extensive online research on the topic. Today I present to you my findings.
TLDR? No worries, I got ya
Why is my dog sniffing me more than usual?
Your dog is sniffing you more than usual because your body scent has recently changed. This could be because you are sweaty, you have interacted with other pets, have a new cologne, you are sick or stressed.
Stick with me for a minute (or 6), as we dive deeper into why your dog is sniffing you more than usual.
You have interacted with another animal
If you’ve been around other animals, your dog may be trying to figure out what kind of animal it is. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, and they can learn a lot about another animal by sniffing it.
It is easy for a dog to get jealous. In fact, there is a study on it.
If you’ve been paying more attention to another dog, your dog may be trying to sniff you out to figure out what’s going on.
“But I have not petted any other doggie all day. I would never do that to my doggie!” I hear you say.
Well, you may have interacted with another person who owns a dog.
Smells are easy to pass from one person to another, and since dogs have a very good sense of smell, they can pick up on this new smell.
So yeah, in your dog’s eyes (or should I say nose), you are guilty by association.
It’s the new cologne or perfume.
If you’ve started using a new cologne, your dog may be sniffing you more than usual because he or she can smell the new perfume and is simply curious about it.
You are stressed.
Dogs have an acute sense of your current mood.
This is because when you are feeling positive (happy, joyful etc) or negative (stressed, afraid, angry), you give off different scents.
You and I of course are not able to detect those scents. But, a dog can. So a negative emotion like stress may peak the curiosity in your dog because your scent might be different.
So, yeah. Dogs can literally smell your stress.
You have been eating
Dogs love food (Shocker!)
And love smelling it too apparently.
If you have had a meal, do not be surprised to see Fido drawing in closer for an investigation.
No matter how well you think you were hiding your meal, you can’t get away from the reach of his or her all-smelling nose.
You might as well be a walking buffet to him.
Your dog will sniff you more than usual just to figure out what you ate behind his or her back (Shame on you!)
He or she was missing you
Have you been away for a while?
That is probably the reason your dog is sniffing you a lot.
Fodi missed you!
Fodi is using his or her incredible nose to pick up all sorts of information about where you have been hiding and what you were up to. (Hopefully not belly rubbing other doggies!)
You might be sick
When you are unwell, your body chemistry changes.
Dogs can smell these changes and will often sniff people more if they think they might be sick.
In fact this study shows that dogs can even sniff out cancer.
If you have been recently ill, or even have a cold, your dog may be trying to figure out what is wrong by giving you a good sniff over.
You might be expecting or might have given birth
Pregnancy and birth also change a woman’s body chemistry, which dogs can pick up.
So, if you have a baby on the way, or have recently given birth, your dog may be trying to work out what is going on by sniffing you more than usual.
It’s that time of the month
This one is for the ladies.
When you are menstruating, your body chemistry changes yet again.
Dogs can smell these changes and often sniff women more when they are on their period.
You have visited somewhere new
If you’ve recently been on a trip, your dog may be sniffing you more than usual when you come home.
This is because dogs can smell the new scents associated with new places.
When you travel to new towns or cities, you will pick up scents from the people you meet, the beds you sleep in, the bathing soap you use etc
These scents will peak his or her curiosity.
You are very sweaty or simply stink
Dogs love the smell of sweat.
If you have been working out, or are just naturally a sweaty person, your dog may be sniffing you more than usual because he or she loves the way you smell.
You could also simply stink.
This one is not so nice.
But it is possible that your dog is sniffing you more than usual because you simply stink.
It could be that you need a shower, or that your clothes need to be washed.
If you think you might stink, it’s probably best to take a shower and put on some clean clothes!
Are you ovulating?
When a woman ovulates, her body releases a hormone called progesterone. This hormone can cause changes in body odor, which may be detectable to your dog.
Your dog could also be curious about the pheromones the female body releases during this time.
Just wait it out.
After a day or two, your dog will stop over-sniffing you.
New soap or detergent
If you switch to a new brand of detergent or soap, your dog may start sniffing you more as he or she tries to figure out what’s changed.
It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean that you are necessarily using a bad-smelling detergent or soap. It is probably because the new scent is different from what the dog is used to, and he or she is just trying to get a better sense of it.
There are a few things you can do to help your dog adjust.
One option is to switch back to your usual detergent or soap gradually. Alternatively, you can just wait it out and try washing all of your clothes and bedding in the new detergent until your dog gets used to it.
You just had sexual intercourse
Yes, your dog knows when you have been getting down and dirty.
In fact, he also knows when you are in the mood and are just about to have sex.
This is because our bodies release unique sent when aroused.
So there you go.
Your dog could be sniffing you more because of the ‘action’ you have been having lately.
I don’t have much else to say about the matter.
You have moved into a new house
Have you just moved into a new house?
If yes, then this could be the reason why your dog is sniffing you more than usual.
When you move into a new house, the new environment might excite your dog.
This is because your new home has all sorts of different scents and odors for him or her to freshly take in.
These scents will rub on to you as well, making him or her equally curious about you.
In this case, it is best to give your dog time.
Eventually, your dog will get used to this new environment and take the different scents as the norm.
Your dog is just showing you affection
Dogs sniff each other as a way of showing affection.
So, if your dog is sniffing you more than usual, it could simply be because he or she loves you and wants to show you some love!
This is more likely the case if he is licking and wagging his tail as well.
In this case, just enjoy your doggies love and give him a big hug for me.
How to stop your dog from sniffing you excessively.
There are a few things you can do to stop your dog from sniffing you excessively.
One is to try and ignore him or her when he or she starts sniffing. This means no eye contact, no speaking, and no petting. It might be hard to do at first, but eventually, your dog will get the message that you are not interested in being sniffed.
Another option is to use positive reinforcement. This means rewarding your dog when he or she is not sniffing you. For example, you could give your dog a treat every time he or she goes a certain amount of time without sniffing you. This will help teach your dog that it is possible to get rewards without sniffing you.
Finally, you can tell your dog no, in a gentle but firm manner, every time he or she attempts to do it. The key is to be consistent. If you only do it sometimes, your dog will just get confused and won’t know what to expect.
With a little patience and consistency, you should be able to stop your dog from sniffing you too much in no time!
Why is my dog sniffing me more than usual? – Conclusion
In summary, your dog loves you and they always mean you well. Sniffing you is just your dog’s way of trying to ‘take you in more’. Take it as a way of them trying to understand you better through the best tool they have, their nose.