3 Strange Dog Behaviors Explained
After thousands of years of dogs being man's best friend, we're starting to learn more about their behaviors. Most people know that a wagging tail means their dog is happy, but what about the stranger things dogs do?
Sniffing Dogs' Butts
If you've ever taken your dog to a dog park or met another dog on a leash, you've probably noticed that one of the first things the dogs do is sniff the other dog's rear end. A dog's sense of smell is one of the main ways they explore the world, similar to how humans' main sense is our sight. Your dog's nose is over 10,000 times better than yours, having 300 million olfactory receptors as opposed to our six million. When they sniff the other dog's rear, they are smelling the other dog's body chemistry, which tells them if the other dog is male or female, if they're happy or sad, aggressive or scared, or even if the other dog is sick or healthy. In the dog world, it's a lot like shaking hands, only with the benefit of knowing everything about the other person instantly.
Moving Or Barking While Asleep
Does your dog twitch or whine in their sleep? This can be concerning at first, as no one wants their best friend to be whimpering or hurt. New research suggests that dogs dream like you do, and some breeds even dream about their breed traits. For example, a border collie about herding sheep or a greyhound chasing a deer. The most likely explanation for this behavior is that they're dreaming of their favorite thing, and talking in their sleep like humans sometimes do. However, if your dog's body is rigid and they're shaking violently, this can mean they're having a seizure rather than dreaming. If you're concerned, take your dog to the veterinarian.
Eating Gross Or Non-Food Things
You might have noticed your dog trying to eat gross things, like rotten meat or vomit, or things that aren't food, like grass, dirt, or even poop, and wondered why. For things that are still technically food, this is because the first dogs were scavengers who hung out on the edges of tribes of humans and ate their scraps, and your dog still has those instincts. Eating these things is normal for them. Consuming non-food can be a sign of a medical condition. While eating dirt or grass occasionally is fine, it can be cause for concern if it happens a lot. Dogs that eat poop might need more nutrients, or might have been mistreated in the past during potty training. If you notice your dog eating non-food items often, it's worth a visit to your veterinarian to check for medical issues or discuss switching foods or adding supplements.
