# "Booty Scratches" for Dogs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 2, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754 "2004-12-02T20:26:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/1 "2004-12-02T20:26:31Z")
I had some visitors the other night. My dog stuck her backside in front of my face for her favorite booty scratches. I was telling the woman that my dog really enjoys the booty scratches and can’t get enough of them. She remarked that it’s because it’s sexual for the dog. Is that true? I’ve felt a little weirded out ever since. I mean, I love my dog, but the thought that she’s getting sexual pleasure from a booty scratch is just a little weird–not the kind of bonding I’m interested in. Thanks in advance! I hope this is the right place to ask this question–if not, mods, please move it to the appropriate forum. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/2 "2004-12-02T20:34:33Z")
IANA Animal Expert but I was told something similar about the back of a cat, just before the tail. ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/3 "2004-12-02T20:43:21Z")
My dog, a neutered male, enjoys what we call ‘Butt Noogies.’ He also likes ‘Nose Noogies,’ which are scratches on his nose. My dog clearly enjoys getting scratched as a physical pleasure. He wags his tail and smiles. Is physical pleasure very different from sexual pleasure for a neutered dog? I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/4 "2004-12-02T21:38:34Z")
I have seen dogs scratch this itch on a bush, on fence and under a car. I think it is just a place that is difficult for animals to reach and it feels good when it is scratched. This is just MHO ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/5 "2004-12-02T21:42:59Z")
Perhaps you would not feel so uncomfortable if you just thought of it as scratching the dog’s lower back. It is part of the unofficial contract between dogs and people. Nothing lewd about it. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/6 "2004-12-02T21:51:10Z")
> [@N. Sane](#): > > I was telling the woman that my dog really enjoys the booty scratches and can’t get enough of them. She remarked that it’s because it’s sexual for the dog. OTOH it could be the gland one either side of the anus are in need of extraction of accumulated product. Either a good groomer or the vet can do. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/7 "2004-12-02T22:08:53Z")
Our yellow lab’s favorite place in the world for scritches is on his back right above his tail – I’m assuming this is what you’re talking about. We usually refer to it as “butt scritches” but it’s not his butt at all. He loooooooves it, especially if you use two hands. He’ll walk up to me and turn around, presenting me with his butt to scritch. Being the sucker I am, I scritch. I don’t think it’s a sexual thing, just a spot they can’t reach. ---
**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/8 "2004-12-02T22:17:46Z")
Thank you all. I’ll quit being weirded out, then. You’re correct that I’m talking about the area above her tail–not her booty at all. She’ll come up to me and I’ll start scratching her head, and the next thing I know, her booty’s under my hand and she’s curved into a C shape with a look of pleasure on her face. Sometimes I’ll rebel and tell her I’m tired of seeing her butt all the time, so she’ll turn around and give me a kiss or two, then I’ll start scratching her head, and then, yep, you guessed it, back to the booty! ---
**Author:** ![Fishbowllibrarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fishbowllibrarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fishbowllibrarian)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/9 "2004-12-02T22:30:09Z")
My dog loved these scratches, too. I just figured that it was kind of like a shoulder/neck massage for her. It seems like the muscles that move the beginning of the tail are right there on the top of the butt, and they seem to get a big work out for some dogs. ---
**Author:** ![beltbuckle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@beltbuckle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beltbuckle)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/10 "2004-12-03T01:55:34Z")
Out of the 3 labs we have had over the last 12 years (two blacks, one yellow), they ALL loved to be scratched at the base of their tails. In fact I would say it was the favorite spot to be scratched on all three dogs. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/11 "2004-12-03T02:05:50Z")
My cat responds to this, but not my dogs… at least not that I’ve noticed. When come back, bring dog data. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/12 "2004-12-03T02:25:32Z")
It’s no more sexual, IMO, than when a neutered male dog “humps” something. (That’s about dominance and pack order, not sex.) Spunky the Wonder Bichon loves scritches all over his rear end, above the base of his tail and on the backs of the thighs of his rear legs. I have no problem delivering, either. That’s usually followed by a vigorous shake and a bacon treat. It’s a little ritual we have. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/13 "2004-12-03T06:37:34Z")
I’ve often noticed that dogs get eczema in that spot, and I’ve seen lots of dogs with skin problems who were absolutely raw above the base of the tale. Dogs often bend around and chew on that spot, but it’s a stretch for them. I’m sure that it itches a lot on almost all dogs, and that it feels really good to have someone just scratch it. I know I love having my back scratched, and respond with ecstatic noises such that my wife swears I love a good back-scratch more than sex! ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/14 "2004-12-03T16:26:40Z")
> [@N. Sane](#): > > Thank you all. I’ll quit being weirded out, then. > > You’re correct that I’m talking about the area above her tail–not her booty at all. She’ll come up to me and I’ll start scratching her head, and the next thing I know, her booty’s under my hand and she’s curved into a C shape with a look of pleasure on her face. Sometimes I’ll rebel and tell her I’m tired of seeing her butt all the time, so she’ll turn around and give me a kiss or two, then I’ll start scratching her head, and then, yep, you guessed it, back to the booty! That is just about exactly what Isaac does. It’s so easy to make them happy, isn’t it? If he gets food, playtime, and some good scritches, Isaac is one contented pup. Life is good when you’re my dog! It’s going to suck when I move out of here. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/15 "2004-12-03T18:47:06Z")
> [@N. Sane](#): > > I mean, I love my dog, but the thought that she’s getting sexual pleasure from a booty scratch is just a little weird I think you are in the clear as long as _you_ are not sexually arosed at all. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/16 "2004-12-03T22:10:09Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > I think you are in the clear as long as _you_ are not sexually arosed at all. Haa. Now that’s a good answer. Our new dog loves getting scratched just about anywhere. I had a Lab and she liked getting a scritch right above the tail. I think It may have been because that was a place she couldn’t really reach to scatch herself. Anywhere on her back was good medicine. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/17 "2004-12-03T22:15:06Z")
After reading this thread I gave Goliath some “booty scratches” and he was enjoying it for sure. However, I have to say that the effect it has on cats is proabably greater. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/18 "2004-12-03T23:06:42Z")
I agree with those who said it’s because thar area is hard to reach for the dog, mostly because that’s what my vet told me. She showed me the little flea colony thriving there and treated it. No more fleas, happeir pooch. He still liked being butt scratched, he just wasn’t nearly as persistant. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booty-scratches-for-dogs/277754/19 "2004-12-04T09:08:49Z")
MY dog loves beeing scratched…sometimes, he will curl up next to me (on the sofa) while I’m watching TV. I’ll hit a spot just under his ear flaps…and he willgive out a weird little sound of pleasure…sort of like a whine and a moan at once! At other times, he will fall asleep while I’m scratchinh him-then wake up and nudge me to continue 9if I stop)!