Question:
I have a 3-year-old un-neutered male collie. When I walk him, he sniffs trees, bushes, etc., which I perceive as being normal. Sometimes, however, he appears to be licking spots on these areas where other dogs may have urinated. I have tried to break him of this disgusting habit, but he seems to continue it, albeit only periodically. He seems to know this is unacceptable behavior because he sort of "sneaks" the licks in. Are you familiar with this trait, and do you have any suggestions for stopping it?
T.G., Chesterfield, Mo Feb 07, 2010
Answer:
This is a common and normal dog trait. Dogs (and cats) have a second scent organ called the vomeronasal organ or Jacobson's organ. Two tiny ducts behind the upper front teeth lead to this organ, and animals, after licking certain scents, put the tips of their tongues against these two ducts to inhale the scent. They may open their mouths slightly and make sniffing noises -- lions, bulls and many other species will curl their upper lips after sniffing a female in heat, the behavior being termed the "flehmen reaction."
Because smell is part of your dog's realm of environmental/social experience, I would not deny him the opportunity of sniffing and an occasional lick in areas frequented and marked by healthy dogs. There is, however, the risk of urine-spread viral and other diseases, especially in places where there are unhealthy, free-roaming dogs and where I would keep my dogs on a short leash and not allow scent-mark licking.
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