Dog owners and animal lovers have all experienced it at some point: a friendly dog suddenly walks up and starts sniffing someone in a way that feels surprising or awkward. While it may seem unusual to humans, experts say this behavior is completely natural for dogs and plays an important role in how they understand the world around them.
Dogs Experience the World Through Scent
Humans primarily rely on sight and speech to gather information, but dogs depend heavily on their sense of smell. In fact, a dog’s sense of smell is far more powerful than a human’s and helps them identify people, environments, emotions, and even changes in routine.
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