When it comes to their interactions with their owners, dogs occasionally behave differently. They will develop a variety of behaviors during their lifetime, the most of which will be related to their great sense of smell. For instance, here’s why some dogs enjoy smelling their owners’ ears.
My dog smells my ears, why? Dogs enjoy the fragrance of your ears because they can collect oils, sweat, and grime. This is the most likely cause of the curious sniffing since it causes enticing tastes and odors for a dog to sniff around your ears. It might also be an indication of an ear infection.
Dogs, unlike humans, engage with the world largely through their noses, occasionally learning things about it that you might not be aware of.
Canines would also find it difficult to communicate efficiently with other dogs or hunt in the outdoors without their great sense of smell.
My dog keeps smelling and licking my ears; why?
Dogs respond to several relatively powerful canine behaviors that have been inherited through many generations. Dogs are extremely sociable pack animals by nature, and a lot of the behaviors they exhibit are a result of the particular ways that dogs interact and communicate.
Your dog may be expressing extreme comfort if it licks your ears. Members of the pack frequently groom one another, so you might be thought of as simply another member of the pack. It’s possible to lick your ears as a symbol of affection, caring, and respect. In other words, your dog is complimenting you when they kiss your ears!
Is It Gross?
It might not be best for everyone to just let your dog lick your ears whenever they feel like it.
Yes, it might be acceptable if they sneak a slurp in while hugging you. However, some dogs who frequently eat the ears could actually be drawn to the taste and smell of earwax. Additionally, any salt they absorb from the skin around them can make them feel more content.
Redirect That Tongue
Positive reinforcement training methods are accepted by dogs. This implies that kids are more likely to repeat positive behavior when it is rewarded. Dogs learn not to repeat unwanted or “bad behaviors” by humans not reacting to them.
Keep an open mind if your dog starts to lick your ears. Simply stand up and draw their attention elsewhere. Give them a chance to switch from licking to doing something productive that rewards them. Your dog will stop often licking his ears over time (but only with persistence and patience).
Other Explanations
Dogs use their tongue (after their nose and ears) to explore and attempt to understand their surroundings, therefore it seems logical that they would lick their ears in order to learn more about it.
Another animal’s ears may suddenly catch your attention, requiring additional investigation. An infection’s discharge and odor might be alluring and can provoke compulsive ear licking or cleaning (s). Check to see if frequent or excessive licking is contributing to a moisture or saliva buildup in the ear canal. Other problems may result from this. Once more, make an effort to divert the licking to an enjoyable activity.
When a Dog Licks Your Ears
The fact remains that most of this is typical dog behavior. Having said that, it could be necessary to step in if the conduct crosses the line or is compulsive.
Why do dogs inspect people’s private spaces?
Due to the sweat glands, also known as apocrine glands, that are present there, dogs like to sniff people’s crotches. A dog can learn details about a person’s age, sex, mood, and likelihood of mating by sniffing these glands.
Why does my dog smell my head all the time?
One of a dog’s primary senses for identifying people, places, and other animals is his nose. His nose is one of the most powerful senses in the animal kingdom, and canines can pick up a lot of information from your scent in addition to that of other animals. A dog has a nose with about 300 million smell sensors and a completely unique respiratory system. Comparatively speaking, there are 6 million in a human. Dogs can detect gender, breed, age, disease, and size of a dog by the smell of dog pee on a tree. They are able to detect danger, rodents in walls, and even a drop of blood in a gallon of water (okay, maybe not danger per say, but they are used to help police).
You are a feast of smells to your dog. You smell, from your sweaty pits to your dirty toes to your long, flowing hair. You’ve probably left your fragrance on your clothes, blankets, and that particular location on the couch, and your dog can tell the difference between individuals merely by their aromas. When your dog sniffs you after a shower, you still smell like you. There are many sweat glands on the human head, and some people perspire more than others. Your dog can notice this and decide to simply check you out in order to learn as much as possible about you. It may appear that you are trying to hide your scent if you just shampooed your hair, but your dog is not deceived. He knows it’s you, but just to be sure and to see if you’re saying anything new, he’s going to give you a smell. He may also enjoy the fragrance of your shampoo and want to take in as much of its aroma as he can.
Dogs are able to detect ear infections.
One of the most typical medical issues in pets, especially in dogs with floppy ears, is an ear infection (otitis externa). Scratching at the ears, head shaking, red and/or painful ears, an unpleasant smell, or a filthy discharge inside the ear are all indications of an ear infection. Four details concerning ear infections are as follows:
- Otitis externa won’t heal on its own if left untreated. It may result in long-lasting modifications such ear canal constriction and scar tissue buildup. This puts Fido or Fluffy at risk for recurrent infections and chronic pain. Middle ear infections and hematomas, a solid enlargement of clotted blood within the ear flap, are two additional significant issues that might develop.
- Not every ear infection is the same. Harmful bacteria, fungus, or ear mites can all contribute to otitis externa. Our doctors will prescribe medication that contains one or more of the following chemicals, depending on the results of the ear swab: an antibiotic (to kill bacteria), an antifungal (to kill fungi), an acaricide (to kill ear mites), and an anti-inflammatory (to alleviate pain and inflammation). Using a drug recommended for a prior ear infection may not be successful due to the large number of potential causes.
- Otitis externa must be resolved with follow-up exams. It’s crucial that you bring your four-legged buddy back after therapy is complete (often 7–10 days after the first diagnosis) so one of our veterinarians can do a second ear examination. You might conclude that the infection has been treated because many ear treatments contain an anti-inflammatory medication that lessens redness, swelling, and discomfort. Unfortunately, in some circumstances a longer course of therapy may be necessary for a full recovery, and without a follow-up exam, you won’t know if the infection’s source has been eliminated.
We advise that you adhere to all medication and/or cleansing solution instructions, schedule a follow-up appointment, often examine your pet’s ears, and apply a cleansing solution once a week to clear out any debris in order to avoid otitis external from recurring. Repeated otitis externa may require additional medical testing to identify any underlying conditions such as food or inhalant allergies, hypothyroidism, or Cushing’s disease.
Why do you think your dog loves you?
You can know if your dog is loving you by looking for the following signs:
They can’t wait to see you. This scene is one that all dog owners have seen. When you open your front entrance, a playful fur storm greets you. It’s possible that your dog will leap up on you, lick your face, and wag its tail. One way to know someone loves and misses you is by their excitement and joy when they see you.
They want to be touched. The infamous lean, a short nuzzle, or a cuddle are all examples of this. These are all indications that your dog wants to demonstrate affection. The best course of action is to let them complete this on their own terms, so resist the impulse to tightly hug them.
They wish to rest close to you. Dogs naturally sleep adjacent to each other in packs. They put their noses to the breeze to detect any odors that might indicate danger. Your dog is expressing trust and security when it curls up next to you or wants to sleep in your room.
They look at you sweetly. Dogs reserve the ability to maintain eye contact with someone they love and trust since it is a huge move. Direct eye contact is an aggressive action in the wild. They employ this strategy to scare one another and assert their supremacy. Your dog is staring affectionately in your direction when they meet your right in the eyes and maintain eye contact without their pupils expanding.
They inquire after you. cooking, watching TV, and using the restroom Your dog tries to be there for you throughout the entire experience. Your dog might visit you in bed once or they might follow you around the home all the time. One of the many ways your dog displays affection is by checking in on you. They are checking on your wellbeing!
When they lick you. There are a variety of reasons why your dog might lick you, but in the end, it’s always out of affection. They want to talk to you and get your attention. They can be getting ready to play or simply giving a kiss before a snuggle. They want to let you know they care in either case.
Their toys are shared. When your dog wants to play, they may occasionally tease you with their toy, but when they truly want to show their love, they’ll give it to you as a gift. They want to give the person they care about their most precious thing. It certainly sounds like a lot of love.
Only when there is food involved are you second. A dog that loves you will put you before everything—even a full bowl of food. Only then will they fall head over heels in love with anything else.
My dog keeps looking at me; why?
- Dogs stare at their owners for a variety of reasons, including to interact with and comprehend us.
- Some dogs use their gaze to browbeat their owners into giving them food or letting them let them outside.
- Focused gazing behavior can be positively influenced by training and canine sports.
Have you ever had the impression that your dog is monitoring every move you make? Perhaps your dog is ogling you while gnawing on a chew bone or toy. Or perhaps you like to sit and look into each other’s eyes with your dog. Whatever the circumstance, dogs often spend a lot of time gazing at people. And a lot of dog owners spend a lot of time pondering the reasons.
Unluckily, there isn’t a straightforward solution that works for everyone. Dogs may focus their attention on us for a variety of reasons. However, they spend the most of their time either interacting with us or waiting for us to do so. You can learn to distinguish between them with a little research and careful observation. You can teach your dog other communication techniques that aren’t quite as perplexing as staring.
Dogs Are Reading Us
Dogs are more attuned to people than practically any other animal on the planet. They read us for clues about what will happen next by observing our moods, responding to our pointing, and reading our body language. That implies that they frequently glare at us in order to learn about their surroundings. They are essentially waiting for us to take action that will affect them. Dogs, for instance, quickly pick up on the fact that their owners always pick up the leash before leading them for a stroll. They will therefore keep an eye out for that indication that a journey outside is approaching. The same is true for meals, playtime, car excursions, and a lot more occasions.
Dogs also wait for their owners to give them more deliberate cues. Cues to carry out a certain activity, such sit or down, are opportunities to receive a reward. Dogs will look out for these opportunities since they enjoy receiving treats, toys, or games. This is especially true for dogs who have been trained using positive reinforcement techniques. These dogs develop a love of training and eagerly await cues to engage in training games.
Dogs Are Trying to Tell Us Something
Staring also happens when your dog is attempting to communicate with you or seek your attention. Your dog might sit at the door and stare at you if it’s time for a bathroom break, for instance. Or, if you’re eating and your dog is hungry, staring may be a request that you share your food. It’s the canine version of a shoulder tap.
Some canines use staring to sway their humans and obtain what they want. This situation with begging at the dinner table is typical. The owner will give the dog a piece of their dinner if they glare at them for a while. In actuality, you made that monster. The dog would have initially regarded me out of curiosity. Your dog would have undoubtedly found something else to do if you had turned away from the look. However, the look makes you feel awkward or bad, so you acquiesce to stop it. The dog has now mastered a new kind of communication, so there you have it.
Your dog will ultimately try different activities to grab your attention if you become conscious of how you respond to his staring behavior and stop rewarding him. Teaching your dog what you want is a more effective strategy. For instance, your dog might munch on a bone as you eat in a dog bed or ring a doggy bell to signal that it’s time for an outdoor bathroom break. You will quickly have a dog who looks at you for clues rather than guilt trips if you encourage the new behavior and ignore the gazing.
Dogs Are Telling Us How They Feel
Additionally, your dog communicates both positive and negative feelings through eye contact. Staring is considered aggressive and impolite by their wolf ancestors. Some dogs are still like that. Because of this, you shouldn’t hold dogs steady and stare into their eyes or stare down unusual canines. Back aside and avoid eye contact if a dog gives you a strong stare with unblinking eyes and a stiff posture. When a bone or other valuable treat is at stake, you might observe this behavior in your own dog. The act of defending a resource is frequently accompanied with an intense gaze and other combative nonverbal cues. If your dog exhibits it, speak with a qualified trainer or behaviorist.
Of course, excessive canine gazing is precisely what it seems—a sign of affection. Dogs will stare at their owners to show affection, just like people do when they are in love. In actuality, the love hormone, oxytocin, is released when dogs and people stare at each other. This hormone is crucial for bonding and enhancing feelings of trust and love. When you stare at your dog, the same hormone that is released when a new mother looks at her infant is likewise released. It makes sense why our pets like constantly gazing at us.
Dogs and Humans Can Benefit from Staring
The majority of dog glares combine affection and attentiveness. Your dog probably finds you fascinating, even though it could make you uncomfortable. You can therefore make that human-centric approach work for both of you rather than discouraging it. First, pay attention to the cues you offer your dog. For instance, are you indicating to sit with your words while fully indicating something else with your body language? Be consistent and clear with your intentions to help your dog comprehend them.
A attentive dog is also simpler to train. The distractions in the immediate environment are less likely to interfere if your dog is focused on you. Think about using commands like “look at me” or “watch me” to encourage your dog to maintain eye contact. When you want your dog to focus on you rather than the surroundings, you can then ask for some looks.
Finally, think about how that intense eye contact might improve your performance in dog sports. Teamwork is essential in sports like agility and AKC rally. The dog must constantly be aware of the handler’s body language and cues. Additionally, dogs must learn very precise tasks and then perform them without being interrupted in sports like AKC Trick Dog and Obedience. Dogs that are focused intently on their owners will pick things up more quickly and perform better.
Do you need assistance training your dog? In spite of the fact that you might not be able to attend live training sessions during COVID-19, we are still available to you electronically through the AKC GoodDog! Helpline. With the help of this live telephone service, you may speak with a qualified trainer who will provide you with unrestricted, personalized advise on anything from behavioral problems to CGC preparation to getting started in dog sports.
