Why do dogs smell the ground so much??

Answer 1

Some dogs do it to see who has passed this way

Some dogs do it as they are looking for a spot to eliminate.

Some dogs will do it for "avoidance". As when they are in uncomfortable situations. In training a dog I will be especially tuned into the avoidance sniffing. Not good.

Good Luck
H.O.T. Dog
Handler Owner Trainer of GSD's
Member U.S.A & A.W.D.F

Answer 2

Lavetta B gave almost the perfect answer to your question. The only thing i can do is add an example of a tracking dog
that had an amazing nose. The Dog was a Bloodhound and was a natural born tracker and was very good at bringing case to an end. This one case involved a murder and the
murderer had never been tracked down. This hound was put on his scent and the dog tracked the man 50 miles. It took three days but the dog got the man. Now the case went to Court and the Judge asked "Who provided this evidence"?
The handle of the dog stood and walked to the benchwith the dog on a leash. The Judge said "Do you mean to tell me this dog tracked this man 50 miles? " Yes your Honor replied the handler he did. And he can show you know the man sitting beside the Defendents Lawyer is the man he tracked"?
"Prove this to me said the Judge" And the handler turned the dog loose all 160 lbs of him ambled across the room and
sat down beside the man charged with murder. And placed his paw on his left leg. And let out a low woof. "The Judge was so impressed that he and the dog became friends for life.
This happened in Upshur County WV in 1989.

Answer 3

Dogs have thousands of scent receptors in their nose. Some dogs are more scent driven than others. They are checking around to see who has been in the area and what might be hiding beneath the ground. They can smell things humans would never be able to. You've probably noticed when you come home, they give you a pretty good going over as well. They're checking to make sure you haven't been cheating on them.

Answer 4

1. Because the ground *is* smelly, and therefore interesting - and,
2. Many times, dogs diffuse tension that they might be feeling from other dogs (or even people) by sniffing the ground. According to canine body language rules, this is a kind of "Hey, everybody chill out" gesture that a dog will perform when he's feeling a little tense. They will also yawn and lip lick in these situations.

http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/diagrams.html

Answer 5

Dogs smell things to get information. They smell the ground to learn more about the area and who has been there.

Answer 6

So they can pick up a scent of smell that interest them. They mark their territories to show other dogs that they own the object. Smelling the ground helps dog to find other animals.

Answer 7

They do? I have owned dogs for years and I have not noticed that trait.
Your dogs are probably hounds and they are the detectives in the doggy world.
My dogs, on the other hand, smell every tree, plant, lamppost, ornamental bush or statue, fence ( I call them their doggy newspapers) every time they are on their walk. If they meet the other dogs in the neighborhood, they act like " Ahh, I finally put a face to a scent, So its you !!!! And they play happily with each other"

Answer 8

They smell the ground to tell which way something or someone has gone. For example: a dog smells a female dog and wants to follow her. Or they smell their enemy and want to follow them and fight or something.

Hope this answered your question:)

Answer 9

Everyone answered correctly, but heres more........Look at his nostrils - wonder why they kinda " hook " ? Gives them more receptor area for sensitivity. Ever wonder why sometimes the blow real hard thru their nose right before smelling ? - brings the odor out from the ground for more sensitivity. Blood hounds ears ? When they bend their head down to sniff the ears trap the scent closer to their noses.

Answer 10

Dogs sniff the ground for exactly the same reason that you watch the evening news.
It is just their way of reading the newspaper.