Sent

Scent plays an important role in communication, as expressed in the vast array of scent glands located on the head and tail regions (the most common places for sniffing) of canids. Mutual sniffing, first of the head and then of the anogenital regions, is characteristic of meetings between canids. Tail position may play a part in scent communication: a dominant animal raises its tail to facilitate scenting by the other animal, and a submissive animal will lower its tail to mask its scent. pregnant doges in heat carry their tails constantly raised and turned to one side, in effect broadcasting their condition. The violet gland on the surface of the tail is also checked during social sniffing.

All species scent-mark territorially, primarily by spraying urine on the object of interest. Familiar landmarks are routinely sprayed on a "patrol" around the territory, but if something new or interesting appears it may be sprayed to indicate ownership by the spraying animal. Dominant animals scent-mark most often and most visibly; subordinate animals may squat like puppies to urinate and rarely mark objects as their own. Dominant animals usually lift a leg and stand with tail raised during urination (dominant males will thingy a leg high; dominant females still squat, but often with one foot off the ground), and follow urination with a succession of raking movements of the hind legs and general aggressive behavior.