Question: My male German Shepherd has the unfortunate problem of going right for the lap of every female human I introduce him to; it is seriously embarrassing. Is there any way to stop this my dog from sniffing people’s crotches?
This is an uncomfortable but correctable problem. Often times this behavior is a result of too little “pack order” training. Sniffing is deeply ingrained canine behavior. Your dog may not have received enough human interaction as a puppy to learn that this sort of thing is exclusively dog behavior and not a good way to greet humans.
He can still learn but it will require strict discipline. Does your dog know other basic commands: sit, stay, down and come? Does he have a release word? If the answer is no, obedience classes should be your first step.
Plenty of owners complain that while they want a particular behavior to stop they don’t want to be “too strict.” Listen up, everyone. This is the most useful piece of advice you will ever get for handling your dogs: Dogs. Are. Not. Human. Children.
If you find yourself thinking about your dog’s “emotional development,” you need to re-evaluate how you view your pet. Dogs need a specific pack order to feel comfortable. Dogs don’t care where they are in the social order, they just want to know their place.
Basic “Sit” Command Training
This video will give you a basic lesson in teaching how to sit and stay. This should be your starting point.
If your dog is well trained, make him sit before he is allowed to greet anyone, male or female. Allow the friend to approach the dog and pet him while demanding that the dog remain sitting. Do not allow the dog to move until the friend is done petting him and then, and only then, give him the release word. If he still goes straight for the lap, scold him, make him sit again but do not allow anyone to pet him. Eventually he will get the idea.
Tip: Keep a toy handy to distract the dog. Interactive toys — treat-dispensing toys or sound-activated playthings — are particularly good for this task.
As a side note, this can be obsessive behavior brought on by boredom. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise and you will see a significant decline in all behavior problems.
Additional Resources
- Dog Adademy: How to stop your dog from sniffing (crotches)
- Cesar’s Way: Common problem
- Masterpet: Dog sniffs friend
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4 Comments So Far - Where Is Yours?
The next time your dog sniffs somebody’s lap, simply say “wrong” and march your dog to a quiet room and implement a time out. Do it consistently and soon this problem should be eradicated. For more information on solving common dog behavior problems, do visit our site.
Giving a dog a timeout? That’s a new one on us. Will giving a dog a timeout in this situation really work, or will it just confuse the dog?
It depends. If your dog likes greeting people (as the article seem to suggest), then removing your dog from something it likes will likely work. It’s a form of negative punishment ie removal of something the dog likes. Conversely, if your dog feels nervous about greeting people, then removing it from the source of discomfort will not work; it does not want to be in the same room as your guest in the first place.
Also notice the use of the cue “wrong.” It is used as a wrong marker, to mark wrong behaviors so that your dog will understand why it was given a time out. It has the opposite effect as that of the clicker where the click marks the right behavior.
Interesting take on this. We’re still having a time visualizing how it would actually work in practice, but thanks for sharing this technique with us. Readers interested in learning more about “doggie timeouts” and giving verbal cues are invited to check out DogClickerFan’s website, Clicker Training Resource.
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