Often, we see our pet dogs exhibiting some sort of weird behavior. It can be chasing their tails around, sniffing your crotch, chewing grass, or even eating poop.
All these behaviors may seem strange, but they’re perfectly normal. Here is a look at the 12 most surprising behaviors by dogs, which are nothing to worry about. You’re guaranteed to have your mind blown!
1. Chasing Tails
We often see our dogs chasing their tails around. While there’s always the possibility that the dog is suffering from fleas or is in some sort of pain, most of the time it is simply playing or trying to get rid of its boredom.
So, next time you see this, simply chill. Your dog’s just having a good time.
2. Eating Poop
It is extremely distressing to see your pet eat poop. But according to experts, dogs eating their fecal matter (known as coprophagy) is not that uncommon.
This can be caused by diseases and disorders linked to malabsorption of nutrients. However, it can also be traced to survival instincts. In prehistoric times, wolves survived on their excrement when no other nutrients were available.
3. Eating grass
We have all seen dogs eat grass. This strikes as odd, since dogs are carnivores, like their cousins, he wolves.
According to veterinarians, dogs do this when they need to get an indigestible food out of their bodies or when they need to clear their gut of parasites. Eating grass makes them vomit out whatever food they had taken earlier, thereby clearing their stomach.
4. Breaking into ‘zoomies’
Many dogs, especially high-energy breeds, can break out into ‘zoomies’ or running round and round endlessly in the same circle.
This isn’t alarming, but still puzzling to us. But this is nothing but your pet getting some exercise. These ‘outbursts’ are a way for the dogs to use up their stored energy. And you’ll be happy to know that they usually do this when they’re happy.
5. Sniffing butts and crotches
Dogs usually sniff the butts of other dogs or the crotches of a person they have just met. This is so that they can get to know the other animal or person better.
Dogs have around 300 million olfactory nerves in their noses. Their built-in sense of smell lets them know if they can trust the other person’s/dog’s scent. This is important for them.
The scent also lets them know whether the one before them is happy or scared. A dog’s behavior depends a lot on how they perceives another animal or human.
6. Humping
Dogs start humping random objects around them once they reach puberty. You will often see your pup starting to hump your leg or furniture forcefully. However, it is not only sexual desire, but also the will to assert dominance.
Sometimes, humping can also indicate that they have pain in their backs or other parts of the body.
7. Digging and burying objects
Sometimes we see dogs trying to bury their bones or toys deep inside pits in the garden, or other places around the house. You must have wondered why they tend to do this.
In the past, when dogs used to hunt, they tended to bury the game to preserve the meat. This was also intended to keep it hidden from other animals. This instinct has managed to stay with them.
8. Kicking back their feet after urinating
Dogs tend to kick back their hind legs after they have finished urinating, as if to cover or ‘clean’ something up.
But they do this in order to mark their territory by releasing pheromones. Like some of the other behaviors listed here, this is also a very primitive instinct that dogs have carried forth since ancient times.
9. Licking and biting itself
Sometimes dogs tend to lick or nibble at a certain area of their bodies over and over again.
They do this because that particular area may be itching, have allergies, parasites, or simply dry skin. Your dog may also have ticks or fleas.
10. Trying to run away
Have you ever wondered why your dogs try to run away sometimes? It may be because they are trying to release their pent-up energy, or are scared of something, or simply bored because of a lack of exercise.
It can also be because of the mating season when dogs simply follow their instincts. That’s why it is best to get your pet spayed or neutered when they reach a certain age.
11. Howling at random times
Dogs can howl sometimes randomly. They do it to communicate with each other, just like wolves.
They also do it sometimes to express loneliness, or even simply because they enjoy it. Either way, this is nothing to be worried about.
12. They do not take well to certain kinds of folks
Dogs sometimes tend to ‘reject’ some of the people they meet. It could be owing to a variety of reasons, but the most likely reason is that the person in question may be emitting pheromones which are different from the kind of scents that they are used to.
This can cause them to react adversely.
Conclusion
Science has made a lot of progress, indeed. But, in spite of that, much remains unknown about the complex behavior of different animals, including dogs.
Various aspects of animals are still being studied by veterinarians and scientists. Dogs are very fascinating creatures, right? And we love them. They are just like our family, and we do everything in our power to make sure that they are healthy and happy.
So if you see your dog do any of these aforelisted things, do not be alarmed. It’s normal, and most probably a sign of them being in good health.
