10 dog behaviors explained

Do you want to understand your dog better? Are you trying to be the best dog guardian for your dog?

1. Head tilts

The most adorable of all dog behaviors

Sometimes, dogs may tilt their head to one side to simply hear better. If your dog is tilting his head in the absence of a sound, it may be because your dog has seen something that is particularly intriguing to him.

2. Eating poop

The grossest of all dog behaviors

Dogs eat poop if they have malnutrition. If the dog is not getting adequate nutrition in his diet, he may resort to eating poop. If the puppy you have adopted was raised in a puppy mill, there is a high chance that he may develop behavioral issues.

3. Tail chasing

Another of the most adorable of all dog behaviors.

Most often, the activity of tail chasing is playful and natural. Dogs are very curious creatures. They tend to follow everything that moves. It is a similar case with tail chasing. When the dog notices his own tail wagging, he sees the tail as prey and wants to catch it.

However, if your dog starts to chew on the tail, this can be an indication of a problem. This can also be an indication of your dog suffering from an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Even though OCD amongst dogs is not a very common problem, it can still occur.

4. Howling

Dogs use howling to alert you to danger.

Howling can also mean a variety of other things. Dogs howl to tell other dogs about their location. Howls can travel long distances. Some breeds may howl more than others. If you notice that your dog is howling excessively, especially when you are not home, this is a sign of separation anxiety.

5. Barking

Another of the dog behaviors focused on vocalization.

Barking indicates danger. Alternatively, a bark may also indicate that your dog does not like the person he is being introduced to. However, if you notice your dog barking excessively, it may indicate boredom or distress.

6. Bum scooting

Indicates problem with anal glands

Dogs will most often scoot their bums on the floor if something is irritating them around the bum region. Most often, the irritants are the anal glands. Anal glands are located on either side of the anal region. These sacks usually get filled with a stinky and oily fluid. During bowel movements, the anal glands most often empty themselves. However, some dogs may need help from their humans to express their anal lands occasionally.

7. Licking

One of the most common dog behaviors

Certain studies have shown that the salt present in human sweat makes the skin tasty for the dog. Therefore, there may be some instinctual licking involved as well.

8. Circling before laying down

Indication of nesting

This is the dog’s way of making the place comfortable before he settles down. You may like to fluff the pillows. Your dog likes to circle the region. Circling the place allows the dog to feel more secure and safe since this gives them a sense of control.

9. Submissive urination

Sign of submission

If you notice two dogs interacting with one another, and you see that one dog lays down and urinates on himself. This is a sign of submissive urination. This behavior is most commonly observed in puppies. Once the puppy grows into an adult dog, this behavior fades away.

10. Digging

Is a part of most of the dog behaviors list.

Digging is an instinctual behavior in most dogs. Sometimes, dogs will dig only for fun. During summer seasons, dogs may dig to cool themselves. When dogs dig, they remove the hot soil from the top. They expose the soil underneath that is much cooler. They will sit on the cool soil to bring their body temperature down.

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Hi I am Dr Shruti. I love writing on everything related to dog care. Welcome to your one-stop destination of dog care. Articles focus on dog care, grooming, psychology, training, diseases and everything else dog-related.

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