You know your dog better than anyone! However, sometimes, it can be difficult to understand what certain dog behaviors mean! In this article, we will go over 10 dog behaviors and the meanings behind them.
Wagging their tail
Dogs wag their tail because it is an important part of a their body language. They used to live in packs and to communicate with other dogs, it was necessary to develop useful body language.
Two different types of tail wagging exist. The first is usually done with a lot of enthusiasm, moving rapidly. On the other hand, if their tail is wagging low, it can express fear or anxiety.
You might also like reading this article: Why do dogs wag their tails?
Sniffing other dogs
Smell is a very important sense for dogs. For this reason, it is important to let dogs sniff each other. However, if you notice any signs of aggression, it is best to keep the dogs away from each other. Dogs sniff other dogs because it is their way of introducing themselves. They can get to know other dogs by exchanging certain information.
Running away
Has your dog ever run away? There's no need to panic! It does not mean that your dog is unhappy. There are several reasons associated with behavior. For example, it could be because they are curious and want to see new things. It could also be because of their instincts or because they noticed that a female dog was around. It might even be because they are simply bored. Therefore, it is important to keep an eye on your dog and not get too angry when they return home. If you do this, they could start to associate returning home with punishment.
Chasing their tail
When a dog tries to chase their tail, it is sometimes because they want to attract your attention and get a reaction out of you. The more you react, the more your dog will continue this behavior. That is because your reaction is perceived as a reward for them. On the other hand, if you do not want your dog to do this, all you have to do is not pay attention to your dog when they chase their tail. As their goal is to get your attention, they will not succeed and they will stop this behavior.
Licking continuously
When dogs lick, it could mean many things. It could be a sign of submission or a sign of affection, or sometimes both. They can also lick because they remember when they were puppies when they would lick their mom to have something to eat.
Barking when you return home
Barking can express joy, anger, distrust, enthusiasm, or warn their owners about the arrival of someone. If your dog barks when a visitor comes, it is normal. They are protecting their territory and warning you. But when they bark at you, it's not normal. It can mean that they do handle your absence well or show that they are not doing well. It can also mean that you petted them once when they when they were barking and they now see their barking as a way to have a reward.
Eating their excrements
This behavior can have many explanations. The first being that your dog is suffering from deficiencies. Because of their deficiencies, they may want to eat their excrements because they contain food residue. The second explanation is that your dog suffers from a digestive irritation and eating their excrements brings them comfort. Another reason your dog is doing this could be caused by a trauma. Punishment during their training when learning to do their business can cause this trauma for you furry friend. They might be eating their excrements to hide them and not get in trouble.
Stealing your belongings
Has your food, toys, toilet paper rolls, socks, or shoes ever disappeared? It could be because your dog is stealing your belongings. It's important to understand that this behavior is not meant to be mean. If your dog does this, it might be because they were hungry and were searching for something to eat. To avoid this, you need to feed your dog at the same time every day and do not let your dog's cuteness convince you to feed them when you are enjoying a meal.
Destroying everything
Dogs can be real bulldozers. Sometimes dogs destroy everything in their path when you aren't home. This behavior has many reasons behind it as well. The first being that your dog is bored when you aren't home. Another reason is that they do not exercise enough or do not go outside enough. The third reason is their age. If they are still young, they might be destroying things by accident to explore and have fun. Another reason dogs destroy everything is because of separation anxiety. However, there's no need to worry, several solutions can help to fix this issue. You could, for example, exercise more or buy toys specifically for your dog.
Walking around in circles before sleeping
Does this behavior surprise you? This is a behavior that dogs have kept since they lived in the wild. They would walk around in circles to flatten the grass around them and cause parasites to move away, in order to sleep peacefully. Today, dogs continue to do this even though they don't have to because of their instincts.
Does your dog have any other strange habits?
Source: 30millionsdamis.fr
