Why do dogs sniff crotch?

Dogs sniff people’s crotches because their sense of smell is one of the strongest ways they gather information. A dog’s nose has hundreds of millions of scent receptors, far more than humans, allowing them to detect subtle signals.

Sweat glands in the groin area release pheromones that tell dogs about a person’s sex, hormonal changes, mood, and even health status. This behavior is completely natural — it’s how dogs greet and identify one another, similar to how they sniff other dogs’ rear ends. When they do it to humans, they’re essentially trying to “read” who you are.

Although it may feel awkward, the behavior isn’t aggressive or sexual; it’s instinctive. If you’d like to reduce it, gently redirect your dog by teaching it to sit, sniff your hand, or focus on a toy or treat when new people arrive, turning the moment into a training opportunity rather than an embarrassing one.