Washington: Dogs sniff each other`s behinds to gather important information about the other canine`s gender, emotional state and diet, scientists say.
Butt-sniffing behaviour in dogs is just one of many examples of chemical communication in the animal kingdom, researchers say.
A new video released by the American Chemical Society explains why dogs smell each other`s behinds.
According to the video, this behaviour helps one canine sniff out important information about the other - its gender, emotional state, diet, and more.
"Think of it kind of like speaking with chemicals," the video`s narrator says, referring to the glandular secretions released by glands in a dog`s anal sac.
"In fact, this butt-sniffing action is just one of many examples of chemical communication in the animal kingdom," the narrator was quoted as saying by `The Huffington Post`.
The video also explains how the sniffer can make sense of the glandular secretions released by the sniffee`s anal sac without other smells getting in the way.
Dogs have a second olfactory system known as the Jacobson`s organ. Its nerves direct the chemical information it detects directly to the brain so there`s no interference from other odours, according to the video.
