If you’ve ever had a dog get a little too curious around your private parts, you’re not alone — and it’s not as weird as it may feel.
Dogs have an incredibly powerful sense of smell — up to 100,000 times better than humans. They use their noses to gather information about the world, including about people. The genital area, along with armpits, contains apocrine glands, which release pheromones. These pheromones carry all sorts of biological information: gender, mood, health, even if someone is pregnant or menstruating.
So when a dog sniffs your crotch, it’s just trying to learn more about you — the same way it would sniff another dog’s rear. It’s not sexual or inappropriate to them; it’s just instinctual and investigative behavior.
While this is totally normal for dogs, if it makes you uncomfortable, you can train your dog to stop with gentle redirection and commands like “sit” or “leave it.”
Bottom line: Dogs sniff your genital area because they’re gathering information — not being rude. It’s animal instinct, not personal.
