Dogs sniff anything they come across. It isn’t an unknown fact, though. Have you ever wondered why? Because they have millions of olfactory receptors in their nasal cavities. Thus, dogs are interested in sniffing almost everything they see daily. They even sniff humans, which is how they often distinguish a familiar person from a stranger.
Now, one fine day you notice something extraordinary in your dog. They are attracted to your ears and constantly sniff them when lying down or your pooch is cuddling on your lap. You may find it strange or funny and wonder why it’s behaving that way. The reasons may be umpteen. Perhaps your dog likes the scent that comes from your ears. Maybe he is bored or wants to tell you something. The possibilities are endless.
Why Does Your Dog Sniff Your Ears?: 7 Possible Reasons
When your dog adapts a new behavior, it is essential to identify its reason. It will help if it is another behavioral trait or something serious associated with it. Read on to learn about the reasons why your dog sniffs your ears.
1. He Is Fond Of The Smell Of Your Ears
The natural scent of your ears may attract your dog a lot of late. Perhaps you’ve applied perfume, a new lotion, or even washed your hair. The aroma of your shampoo might be appealing enough for your dog to sniff your ears repeatedly.
In the research conducted by the National Library of Medicine, it was seen that dogs are immensely attracted to the aromas of mint, blackberries, blueberries, lavender, linalool, and rose. If the product you are using has any of these as its main ingredients, then you may easily get the answer to why your dog is sniffing your ears constantly.
2. Out Of Play and Excitement
The situation could be this, you get home after a long day at work and finally settle on the couch for rest. You find your beloved pooch getting all over you and rubbing his cold nose into your ears. Wondering why? Because he missed you and is happy to see you home after long. Your dog is seeking comfort and affection from you by sniffing your ears. It’s just his way of letting you know he is happy and excited to have you back.
Another instance could be that you play with him each evening but have yet to do it on a particular day. Don’t be surprised if your dog comes and reminds you about playing with him by sniffing your ears gently.
Moreover, another possibility is that your dog sniffs your ears only while playing. The reason is that your dog is excited and having fun, and the gesture is just an outcome of the same.
3. He Is Bored
When bored, a dog could resort to many activities that don’t seem pleasant at all. It will bark for no reason, chew whatever it gets at hand, lick excessively, pace without reason, and so on. Your dog will even try running away if it’s an escape artist. Sniffing ears is also one of the traits he could indulge in if bored. How do you know if he is sniffing your ears out of boredom.? If your dog has nothing to do all day, he wouldn’t just sniff your ears. He would even engage in several other things (as mentioned above), which signifies restlessness. It can give you a hint that he is bored.
4. Your Ears Smell the Way You Do
Your dogs love your smell. It helps them bond closely with you. They are accustomed to the aromas of your colognes, detergent powders, and shampoos. So while cuddling close to you in bed, they may have discovered that your ears replicate the smell of your body. No wonder your dogs smell your body and ears so often.
5. Perhaps You Have an Ear Infection You Aren’t Aware of
It’s no hidden secret that dogs are fabulous sniffers. So they could sense things much earlier than you. Why can they smell ear infections? Well, that’s a long story indeed. They are descendants of wolves and thus possess a powerful smelling instinct like the latter. It makes them quick enough to detect a wax build-up or any other infections inside your ears.
They would not just smell but also lick your ears constantly and engage in inspecting the surrounding areas. They would even try raising your ears, lying on you, or pawing at you if you aren’t yet aware that your ears are infected. Then, these gestures by your dog could be a warning sign from their end to alert you.
Another analysis is that dogs have lived in packs since time immemorial. They cared for one another and could even sense when one of the pack members was ill. They carry this trait even up to the present times and are adept at sensing illnesses.
6. He is Doing His Duty as a Dog
Well, let’s not overthink. It’s a dog. Its work is to sniff, take different scents, and understand them. So, the logic is that it is smelling your ears to detect a scent, and there’s no other reason behind this behavior.
7. He is Under the Weather
It might be a possibility too. When your dog is injured or not feeling well, it will not be energetic, as always. Your dog may express its discomfort in several ways, one being by sniffing your ears if your dog has never smelt or sniffed your ears and is doing it suddenly. Then it may not be feeling well or having physical discomfort. However, sniffing your ears is one of many things your dog would do under such circumstances.
It would also express its discomfort in other ways, like being lethargic, showing disinterest in eating, etc. A combination of all these traits suggests that there is something wrong.
How Will You Prevent Your Dog From Sniffing Your Ears? 5 Possible Solutions
If your dog sniffs your ears occasionally, it’s okay. But if it has developed into a habit, you would need to analyze the reason behind it. If it is anything related to health or behavior, you would have to address it immediately for your dog’s overall well-being. Here are some solutions to lessen your dog’s sniffing.
1. Don’t Encourage Your Dog
Acknowledgment is highly crucial to all. When we accept someone’s behavior, it encourages the individual to continue doing it. The same goes for your dog. If you patted it on its back or responded to his love positively, he would be encouraged. It would prompt your dog to believe that each time he sniffs, he would get a reward from your end. So this would make him repeat the behavior time and again.
Hence, if your dog keeps sniffing your ears in pursuit of play, ensure you resist its behavior. You can do so by not reacting to it or even withdrawing your face away from its reach each time it attempts to do so. This would help your dog understand that this behavior is not observable from your end and will eventually stop it.
2. Train Him Well
Proper training is a must to keep your dog’s behavior under control since he is a puppy. You must take extra while training your dog on obedience and teaching him to follow commands. First, you must teach your dog to follow the command ‘No .’ Once it has learned that, you can implement it in real-life situations.
For example, when your dog is about to sniff your ears like he mostly does, look straight into his face and say ‘NO,’ loud and clear. Reward him with treats if he listens to you and stops sniffing your ears. It wouldn’t happen in one go. It would take some attempts until your dog finally understands that it is an undesirable behavior you disapprove of.
3. Keep Your Dog Busy and Engaged
When bored, your dog could resort to a host of problem behaviors. So, if you sense your dog is bored, which is why he is sniffing your ears, distract it immediately. You can do so by showing it its favorite toy or engaging in a fetch game with him. When your dog is distracted, he forgets about sniffing your ears. It would help him to overcome the behavior soon.
4. Check for Health Issues
If your dog never sniffs your ears and does it suddenly, there are chances he isn’t in the best of his health. Keep a watch on his overall health, and if you notice something unusual, don’t delay contacting a vet.
5. Get in Touch with a Professional Trainer
If you have identified your dog’s repeatedly sniffing your ears as a behavioral issue, contact a professional trainer. A well-chalked-out plan would help resolve your dog’s behavioral issues to a great extent.
FAQ’s
Q. Is it alright for your dog to sniff your ears?
This question should be examined from a dual perspective – you and your dog. When your dog does it occasionally, it’s okay, but developing it into a regular habit is not. However, it isn’t good if your dog has developed into the habit of doing the same quite often. Studies have revealed that the nasal passage of dogs has a certain kind of bacteria. So, when you allow your pet to sniff your ears, you make yourself susceptible to the bacteria.
Q. What should you consider when your dog starts sniffing your ears?
Before jumping to a conclusion, you must consider certain things about your dog sniffing your ears. Like, did it start sniffing your ears from the time you joined a new job? The possibility could be that you are interacting with a lot of people. And your pooch is trying to pick up the varied scents. Another reason may be that your dog has learned that such behavior would fetch him rewards. So he indulges in the same.
Conclusion
So, in conclusion, an occasional sniffing out of love or in pursuit of play is fine. Sometimes the sniffing may also be good for you. It could make you aware of an ailment you are suffering from, unknown to you. However, when it gets into a regular affair, it becomes a matter of concern and needs intervention.
Elena Gherman is a highly skilled and knowledgeable animal care expert. At the start of her career, she gained practical expertise with multiple animals. In addition to that, she works as a DVM veterinary editor for Joy Pet Products, which focuses on offering reliable information on pet health and wellbeing. She meticulously reviews each piece of writing before it is published to make sure pet owners get the most precise and updated information possible.