Have you ever wonder why your dog sniffs another dog, even if they’ve already met? Is this the equivalent of humans shaking hands? Actually, the sniffing ritual is more complicated than a handshake. A dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 times more powerful than a human’s. This allows them to process a lot of information with their noses.
The reason that dogs sniff each other is to gain information about the other dog. There are scent glands present near a dog’s rectal area that excrete a lot of information to other dogs. This can include the sex, diet, health status, and even temperament of the other dog. When dogs sniff each other, it’s their way of getting acquainted or caught up on what has happened since they last saw each other.
So the next time your dog I sniffs another dog, remember it is their way of gaining information about the other dog. This information can help them befriend each other more quickly.