Why do dogs sniff the ground so much?
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
India
June 6, 2008 12:49am CST
I have been taking my dog for a walk twice or thrice a day from about a week. Prior to that, she would take herself for a walk in the woods. The changes in my dog's life are because of her bad habit of jumping over fences and eating the neighbor's leftover food, which the neighbor's just throw in their backyard (yucky habit, but none of my business).
So, my pooch's movements are very much restricted now, and I make it up to her by taking her for long walks. Well, I have observed that she sniffs the ground a lot. Why do dogs do that? Is it only when they want to pee or poo? Or is there another reason for it?
I don't really know much about dogs. So, I will be happy with some informative replies. :)
2 responses
@mialei23 (2385)
• Philippines
6 Jun 08
Dogs really sniff to be familiar with their surrounding. They sniff also if they want to pee or poo. They are looking for that smell, its like familiarity or teritorial. Since you walk with your dog, its good. Because dogs really want to familiar with the places that are new to them.
My dog used to that when I walk him for a while. He really walks slow and even want to sniff every corners of the roads.
(It really bothers me that he can eat anything that's not good) But its good for him to practice that way so he won't be able to eat anything, just tell him to stop by saying "NO" thats not good and don't do it and when he stop tell him "good dog".
1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
6 Jun 08
Mine sniffs anything and everything. Now she is showing an interest in nibbling pebbles too... I guess I should put a stop to it or else she might swallow it.
Cheers and happy mylotting
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
6 Jun 08
Dogs have got fabulous noses, compared to us. So I guess that by sniffing everywhere, they can build up a picture of who and what has passed by that route. Far more interesting than just looking about.
Imagine, it'd be pretty cool to know who had been past and where they'd been and who they'd met, just by sniffing the path!
@ruby222 (4847)
•
6 Jun 08
Our dog spends his little life sniffing the ground!!and the time that is spent sniffing the same old dandelions over and over again down the field is amazing!!!...we go to the field and if I let him off of the lead it takes me ages to get half way up the field!!he is about half a mile behind me...and then some bright spark will say to me en route..`Oh is that you rlittle dog back there`...funny...not....but nowadays i tend to keep him on the lead,its much easire..thats if you want to do anything else with your day!!!..but needless to say ..I love him to bits!!!
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
6 Jun 08
Mine takes ages to walk along. She sniffs that much. She even turns over the small rocks and sniffs under and over them. I have to wait patiently till Her Majesty finishes her sniffing. But, if I stand quietly to admire the view, she doesn't like it! She gets impatient and whines. Really funny dog!
