Sniff, sit, sniff for hours!

[Deansaliba]

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Hi

My girlfriend's dog has a habit of sniffing me, then reeling back into a sitting position for about a second before sniffing me again.

She will do this for hours and not stop.

I have my own dog, but I have known her dog for a few years and she has only recently started doing this.

 

[JudyN]

Does she sniff one particular part of you? I don't want to worry you but there have been occasions where dogs have detected cancers or other diseases in their owners. If she does seem to focus on one place it might be worth having a chat with your doctor, if only for peace of mind.

Alternatively, I wonder if this is something she did once or twice by chance and she's now being rewarded for it in some way, e.g. by you showing her more attention. If it is a behavioural thing, I'd first make sure that she's not generally mentally understimulated - I'd up her training and fun interactive games (scent training, tricks, etc.) to make sure she has something more interesting to think about than sniff & sit. (I'm wondering if she's a collie as they can be prone to obsessive behaviours.)

 

[Mad Murphy]

Have you changed anything about yourself , new clothes shoes washing powder deo shower gel etc? Has the dog been checked by a vet to see if there is something wrong?
If youve done all this and there is nothing coming up maybe you should consider getting a health check.. You just never know.

 

[Deansaliba]

Yes, it is in one place, my elbow.

I've not changed anything.

We are working on the vet thing, but it is complicated as she got Chelsea from a mutual friend over a year ago and her microchip has the mutual friends details and she keeps saying she will get the details changed but she hasn't done it. No vet will touch her until the chip details are changed. We have tried 5 so far.

 

[JudyN]

One way or another you need to sort out the microchip. I don't know what vet guidelines are on treating dogs with chips registered to someone else but one day she may desperately need urgent vet treatment.

If it's one particular elbow regardless of whether you're wearing different clothes, have just had a bath/shower and so on it could suggest this is something about you. Unless you have a habit of sitting with that particular elbow resting on something that might smell interesting... Will she sniff the same elbow regardless of whether you're facing towards you or away from you?

 

[Deansaliba]

Yes what ever position I'm sitting in or whatever position my arm is in she will sniff it, except when I'm in bed, she doesn't sniff it then.

 

[Mad Murphy]

Theres a clue check your elbow. A cut , graze , eczema??? If not get it checked

 

[Deansaliba]

I have psoriasis and some of it is on the elbows, but my 8 year old has never shown and interest and she is the same breed (staff).