Understand Your Dog: 9 WEIRD DOG BEHAVIORS EXPLAINED

Dogs are not just a single blueprint. Aside of coming in all shapes and sizes, they also come with various personalities, traits, and unique attributes. Some dogs will prefer raw dog food, and some will go for boiled food. Some attitudes you will notice in your dog and not in others are what makes your furry friends unique. However, there is a plethora of habits that are common between all dogs; the kind of behaviour that will make you ask yourself why they are doing it. There is always a reason behind such peculiar behaviour, and they can be explained surprisingly simply. To help you figure out the meaning of these strange behaviours, here is a list of the most notable of the latter and their explanation. 9. WHY DO DOGS KICK THEIR FEET AFTER POOPING? It is very difficult not to notice this particular behaviour. When you are walking your cute dog or letting them loose in your yard, you will notice that, after pooping or peeing, they will kick their feet after finishing their business. Mostly, it has been explained away as their attempt to cover up their poo. However, that is far from being correct. The real reason your dog kicks back is to release pheromones. Dogs release these pheromones from their paws in the scent glands there to mark their territory similarly to how they mark the latter using their urine. Your dog’s pheromones are a clear message to the other dogs in the area that your dog is the alpha and owner of this area, and that they have no right to trespass. It is why you will notice that your dog smells the excrement they find on their walks or in the park, for that is the manner of communication of dogs. 8. WHY DO DOGS DRAG THEIR BUTT ON THE FLOOR? Dogs scoot their butts all over, and it is unavoidable. They could scoot on the floor, on the wood, on the dirt, or on your rug. Unfortunately, none of the latter are covered in dog insurance so you would be on your own replacing them. While certainly amusing, the reason behind the scooting dogs perform is due to some irritation your dog is suffering from in their butts. It could be an infection, worms or some kind of inflammation. Irritations such as these are mostly the result of issues in the anal glands and sacks. The anal glands are located in the circumference of the anus, and they contain an acrid-smelling liquid that causes irritation and no small amount of pain to your dog should it become infected. The itchiness and the irritation will inevitably lead to your dog scooting to try and soothe the itching. While a healthy anal gland is certainly foul-smelling, the infected counterpart is even worse, with a very pungent, acrid smell to it. Issues related to the anal gland are to be addressed immediately, requiring medical attention as soon as possible in order to help your dog get better and stay healthy in the long run, and pray to God giardia in dogs is taken care of before your dog starts scooting. Along with scooting, you may also notice your pup try to lick the area of irritation to relieve the discomfort. So, if your pup is dragging their butt across the floor frequently, take them to the vet to have a once over. 7. WHY DO DOGS HUMP? It is always embarrassing to see your dog humping whatever comes in its way, be it a plushy, furniture, another dog, or even a person. While most people label dogs’ humping as sexual in nature, it is far from being as such. The reasons why dogs hump vary among expressing excitement, stress, or marking their territory. It is very common in both domesticated and wild canines, and even other animal species, and it is also how dogs show their dominance and mark their territory. As such, if you see your dog humping your guests, it is only to show them who is the boss of this home. 6. WHY DO DOGS POOP FACING THE SAME DIRECTION? If you have noticed that your dog always faces the same direction whenever they are doing their business, it can be easily explained. As it seems, it is common behaviour amongst all dogs, and it is because all mammals are attuned to the magnetic fields of our planet. The aforementioned fact is why all dogs face either the south or east pole when taking care of their business. According to a study that spanned two years and was conducted by HynekBurda, Germany’s University of Duisburg-Essen’s zoologist, all dogs prefer to face either the north of the pole axis when releasing their bowels due to a secret sixth sense that all dogs tote. The former is one reason why dogs’ senses are so superior to us, for we need a tool manufactured through trial and error to figure out which is north and which is south. 5. WHY DO DOGS EAT GRASS? Word around claims that dogs only eat grass when they are not feeling well so as to soothe the pain or regurgitate what might be ailing them. That, however, is pretty debatable. Apparently, only 25% of dogs would puke after consuming grass. As such, you must wonder why dogs would eat considering they are pure carnivores. The reason is pretty basic. Dogs are not pure carnivores. In fact, like humans, dogs require an extensive diet to keep them healthy. Dogs choose to consume grass because it is full of fibers, and grass is exactly what dogs need to fulfill their body’s quota of said component. Consuming grass will allow dogs to run a smoother machine. 4. WHY DO DOGS DIG? It is always adorable to watch your dog play in the yard, but it tends to get a little tense when they start ruining your foliage by digging. We have always watched our furry friends dig to their heart’s content, and it is a habit that they show no sign of stopping any time soon. They are not digging for bones or hot dogs, as this habit entails more than what you have been expecting. Dogs prefer to dig to trim their claws. It is an instinctual habit born out of their domestication as they no longer trot rough territory or depend on their claws to hunt. As such, digging is their best choice to keep their claws trimmed and reduce the risk of breaking them or, worst case scenario, tear them off altogether. 3. WHY DO DOGS ROLL IN THE GRASS? Sitting down on your porch and watching your dog roll over in the grass is nothing short of prime time entertainment. These big goof balls surely love making a mess, and we love them for it. However, while certainly amusing to us, dogs’ habit to roll around in the grass is far from being simple fun to them After showering your dog, more often than not, you will find them rolling in the grass. The reason behind that is that they might dislike the smell showering leaves on them so they will take measures to get rid of the smell they dislike. 2. WHY DO DOGS HOWL? Sitting down on your porch and watching your dog roll over in the grass is nothing short of prime time entertainment. These big goof balls surely love making a mess, and we love them for it. However, while certainly amusing to us, dogs’ habit to roll around in the grass is far from being simple fun to them After showering your dog, more often than not, you will find them rolling in the grass. The reason behind that is that they might dislike the smell showering leaves on them so they will take measures to get rid of the smell they dislike. WHY DO DOGS TURN BEFORE THEY LAY DOWN? Simply enough, dogs turn before sleeping to pick up where the wind is blowing from so as to face it. That way, they will be able to pick up any ominous scents coming their way to defend themselves better. Of course, there is also the more peaceful reason, which is that your dog tries to find the best position in which they can be comfortable.