Why Does My Dog do that? – Explained

Gross Dog Behaviours

Sniffing Butts

So you probably noticed that dogs sniff each other’s butts when they greet each other. It may seem weird, gross, or even a bit embarrassing to us humans. In canine circles, however, this is considered very polite. A dog’s sense of smell is better than our sense of sight. As a result, dogs can pick up a great deal of information from their canine friends through the pheromones that are uniquely released through the anal gland.

Similarly, dogs can pick up a lot of information from sniffing people’s private parts. So even though it may seem embarrassing or gross to us, this is normal canine behaviour.

Rolling in Smelly Stuff

Why does it always seem that just when you’ve had your dog freshly groomed, they want to head to the nearest smelly area and roll in it? Or maybe that’s just my experience! Remember that what smells good to us may not necessarily smell great to our dogs. Sometimes the more “earthy” smells are more appealing to our dogs.

There may be more to a preference for different aromas. Scientists who studied wolf behaviour have found that wolves will roll around an area with a fresh animal carcass. With that smelly information, the wolf would then return to their pack. From this scent, the pack would know the location of this potential meal. In “essence,” this is a way for wolves to send a message back to their pack.

Eating Poo

As gross as eating poo may seem to you and me, there are several reasons why your dog may do this. First, they rely on their mother for everything for the first three weeks of their puppy’s life. Their mother helps to encourage puppies to have a bowel movement by licking their hindquarters. Once the puppy defecates, the mother gets rid of it (aka eats it). As a result, many young puppies that eat their poo mimic this behaviour.

Secondly, puppies especially explore the world through their mouth. After they “do their business,” your puppy might curiously explore their poo. A simple way to mitigate this behaviour is to ensure you clean up after your puppy as soon as they “go.” In extreme cases, you may need to train the behaviour away.

Finally, your dog may be unable to absorb all the nutrients in its food. This is a common issue for dry kibble. As a result, eating their poo may be a way for your dog to get back the nutrients it couldn’t absorb the first time around. If you think this is an issue for your dog, you might want to consider changing their food or seeing your vet to ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need.

Weird Dog Behaviour

Walking in Circles Before Laying Down

Does your dog walk in circles before lying down? In most cases, your dog tries to make its spot more comfortable for a nap. For some dog breeds, it can be part of their DNA. Afghan Hounds, for instance, instinctually turn before lying down. It’s believed that they are looking for a snake-free, cozy spot. Growing up in Canada, it seemed odd behaviour for our Afghan Hounds (yes, they both did it) to look for snakes, but it was a harmless habit.

In some cases, however, your dog may experience discomfort in their joints or bones. As such, they may turn before lying down to find the most comfortable position. If you’re noticing this as a new behaviour, take note of any other signs of mobility issues and bring them to your veterinarian for a check-up if you are concerned.

Finding the Perfect Spot to Poo

Have you ever taken your dog for a walk, and they seem to take forever to find a spot to poo? As annoying as that can sometimes be, this is perfectly normal behaviour. Some scientists believe that dogs try to stomp down the grass to find a great place to do their business. More recently, however, scientists have found that the dogs they’ve studied tend to “go” when their bodies are pointed in a north-south direction. Further, they found that dogs rarely face in an east-westerly direction when they have a bowel movement.

Zoomies

Zoomies is a phenomenon where your dog experiences a sudden burst of energy. You may notice your dog suddenly running in circles around your home. Some people refer to this as their dog’s “witching hour” or say that their dog is full of “the beans.” Either way, this is normal behaviour among happy and healthy dogs.

Your dog will often have the Zoomies after having a bath or other stimulating activities like playtime. In most cases, you can just let your dog run out of its system. In other cases, if you feel that your dog seems overwhelmed in certain situations, Zoomies may be their way of dealing with this. It’s usually better to avoid too many overwhelming situations for your dog.

Chasing their Tail

Although it may seem odd, and perhaps comical, to see your dog chase its tail, this is very playful (and very normal) dog behaviour. There is only cause for concern if you see your dog chewing at their tail once they’ve caught it. Chewing the tail can be a sign of skin issues or other issues. It would be a good idea to visit your veterinarian to ensure there aren’t any serious issues.

Scooting Across the Floor on Their Butt

Another weird and arguably comical behaviour is seeing your dog scoot its butt across the floor. This is usually indicative of an underlying issue with their anal glands. Sometimes a dog’s anal glands can become plugged or infected, which can be very uncomfortable for your dog. The only way to alleviate the discomfort is to express the fluid from the gland. Unfortunately, it has to be done manually.

Dog groomers typically do this as part of their grooming routine. Still, you can also have your veterinarian do this for you.

Adorable Dog Behavior

The Head Tilt

One heart-melting move that my dog does is the head tilt. Whenever I say one of his favourite words, like “treat” or “walk,” or tell him he’s a good boy, he gives me the head tilt. The head tilt is simply your dog paying close attention to you and what you’re saying.

If your dog tilts its head more frequently than it usually would or scratches its ears more, the head tilt may indicate an ear infection. To be safe, I’d recommend taking your pup to the vet.

Barking or Running in their Sleep

This adorable behaviour typically indicates that your dog is dreaming. However, if your dog’s body is very stiff when they’re sleeping and barking, yipping, or moving their legs involuntarily, this could signify a seizure. You’ll want to take your dog to the vet immediately, as this is a serious condition.

Is he Winking at Me?

If your dog appears to wink at you, it may simply mean that they have something in its eye. On the other hand, if your dog is winking and blinking its eyes, they are loving and polite. In the dog world, excessive staring can be perceived as threatening. Blinking is a sign that your dog loves you and is no threat.

Picking Up Everything on the Ground

You’ll often hear people saying that having a puppy is like having a toddler, which is one way in which puppies and toddlers are the same. Puppies will pick up just about anything on the ground—further, dogs and puppies like walking with a stick in their mouth. My puppy loves chasing and picking up leaves we find blowing in the wind. He will walk with a big leaf in his mouth with a great deal of puppy pride. Much like toddlers like to walk around with their blankies, puppies (and some dogs) want something to carry when walking. This is expected behaviour. The only thing you need to worry about is that there are no choking hazards.

Putting a Paw on You

When your dog puts their paw on you, it is its way of getting your attention. They want to either cuddle or play with you. Like how you or I might tap someone on the shoulder to get their attention, this is normal behaviour and a sign that your dog loves you.

Conclusion

These are just a handful of weird dog behaviours. As you can see, even though some of our furry friend’s behaviours may seem weird, gross, or adorable to us – there is usually a reasonable explanation for them.

Please comment below if there are other behaviours you think I should cover! Hey, if you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading.