Dogs live through scent the way we live through sight and words. When a dog presses its nose toward your crotch, it isn’t being perverse; it’s reading pheromones from apocrine glands that reveal your age, sex, stress level, and even hints about your health. To your dog, this moment is a handshake, an introduction, a quiet “Who are you today?” in a language older than speech.
If it makes you uncomfortable, you’re not powerless or cruel for setting boundaries. Calmly redirect with a “sit” or “stay,” reward with a treat, and guide their curiosity elsewhere. What matters is understanding that this behavior isn’t disrespect — it’s connection. The same nose that embarrasses you at the worst possible time is also the one that finds you when you cry, curls up when you’re sick, and silently promises: I know you, even when you can’t find the words.
