12 of the strangest dog behaviors explained

Woman dog

Your dog might exhibit some strange behavior, but chances are it's totally normal.
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  • Dogs often showroom foreign behavior like sniffing other dogs' butts, eating poop, getting the zoomies, and more than.
  • Insider spoke with Dr. Leanne Jakubowsky, DVM to observe out the medical reasoning backside these strange behaviors.
  • Many strange behaviors are evolutionary or instinctual.
  • Near of the weird things dogs practice are completely normal, merely others can be signs of health conditions.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Any dog owner can ostend that dogs exercise some very strange things. Amongst the everyday behaviors like cuddling, playing, and giving kisses, our furry friends sometimes exercise things that we just don't understand.

Insider spoke with Leanne Jakubowsky, DVM, owner of All Creatures Mobile Clinic in Austin, Texas, to notice out the medical reasoning behind some of our dogs' strangest behaviors.

When your canis familiaris suddenly gets the "zoomies" it's because of the best possible reason.

It means they're happy.
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Every now and so dogs will get a random flare-up of energy that results in them doing laps effectually the house or chiliad. Commonly known as "the zoomies," pet parents ofttimes wonder what causes this hilarious activity.

As it turns out, the reason is elementary — happiness. Dr. Jakubowsky told Insider, "It's a way to release pent-up free energy, just just happy, good for you dogs get the zoomies." So, if your pet is doing the zoomies then you are doing everything correct.

According to Dr. Jakubowsky, many dogs too get the zoomies after a bath considering "it feels so practiced to move and shake off all that h2o and feet."

Although the zoomies are a completely healthy beliefs, Dr. Jakubowsky does warn that pet parents should always be on warning and cautious when their dog is running around. In gild to avoid injury to the domestic dog or people around it, she advises to "steer [pets] to prophylactic areas… and take care to protect yourself and your knees as a dog with the zoomies could crash into yous."

If your dog is constantly spinning in circles or chasing their tail excessively, it may be time for a vet visit.

They could have an inner ear infection.
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Although it is normal for dogs to occasionally spin out of happiness and excitement, Dr. Jakubowsky warns that "excessive spinning and tail chasing often has a more sinister crusade."

She said that frequent or constant spinning tin be signs of potential health bug such as "inner ear infections, brain lesions, and even seizures." She advises that if you lot feel your dog is circling or spinning likewise much to consult with your veterinarian.  A vet should be able to help you determine if the spinning is a genetic trait, a compulsion, or a sign of a more serious wellness problem.

However, doing circles before lying down is completely normal.

They're simply trying to get comfortable.
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Prior to taking naps, dogs ofttimes walk in circles and scratch at their sleeping spot. Dr. Jakubowsky said this is perfectly fine beliefs and that our pets are "only trying to make a comfortable spot."

In addition, they are likely showing signs of their species' lineage. According to Dr. Jakubowsky, "There is probably some instinctual basis for this behavior — wolves making a warm, safe spot to bed downwards for the evening."

Read more: 22 things I wish I had when I brought my puppy abode

If you lot catch your dog eating grass, information technology'southward probably just some other instinctual behavior.

Eating grass is usually nothing to worry about.
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There are a variety of theories on why dogs eat grass. In Dr. Jakubowsky's opinion, "There is probably some bequeathed basis. Our dogs' ancestors probably did it every bit a cathartic — it helped them clear out foreign bodies and parasites due to the high fiber content of grasses."

In addition to using it as a purgative, she said some dogs may just savour the taste. However, she urges dog owners to dissuade the behavior, because "it can lead to a mat of grass in their breadbasket" which can crave surgery. It can also cause internal injury since a dog's "sensitive oral mucosa and esophagus tin get a grass cut, but every bit your finger does."

On the rare occasion, she said some dogs may eat grass due to nutritional deficiencies, but this is less likely since mod diets typically are high-quality and contain all of the nutrients our pets need.

What if your dog eats poop? Turns out it'due south quite normal and there is actually a medical term for it — coprophagy.

It's not their error.
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Many dog owners know how alarming it is when we encounter our pets eating poop. Oft nosotros wonder why they practise it and how we tin stop it.

Co-ordinate to Dr. Jakubowsky, it's fairly common, with "some studies citing up to 25% of dogs exhibiting this beliefs." She said it can be acquired by malabsorption diseases, but the most common reason tin can exist traced back to ancestral survival instincts. When wolves relied on scavenging for food they likely would take eaten fecal matter if it was all that was bachelor.

She likewise said that when existence potty trained some dogs may eat their own poop out of fear of negative repercussions. Dr. Jakubowsky said to avoid this, "Don't spank or be heavy-handed with your canis familiaris when he has a house training blow." Doing so can cause your domestic dog to associate their poop with your anger, resulting in them eating it to go rid of the prove.

Eating poop is also most common in dirty or overcrowded weather. She advises owners to go along a pet's environment make clean to reduce temptation.

Should your domestic dog requite you lot a wink, it's most probable because they have something in their centre.

It'south non strictly because it's cute.
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As cute as information technology can be when y'all take hold of your domestic dog giving y'all a wink, Dr. Jakubowsky says it probable is only a sign that they have something in their eye or are experiencing dry eye. Heart drops or flushing their eye with fresh h2o or saline can help.

She likewise said a wink could be a dog's way of "breaking their gaze." Staring tin exist seen as a threatening deed to a dog, so by winking your dog is reminding you that they're being friendly.

A dog's way of saying hello — past sniffing butts — may seem silly to us, but it's an evolutionary trait for dogs.

It has to exercise with dog's incredible sense of smell.
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A simple butt sniff can tell your domestic dog a lot of helpful information about new dogs that can exist useful for keeping themselves safe. The closer a dog tin get to a source of body chemistry, the improve they can sense if new dogs are friends or foes.

"Imagine you take 300 one thousand thousand olfactory receptors in your nose," said Dr. Jakubowsky. "With a quick sniff, they can decide whether their sniff-ee is male or female person, happy or sad, scared or stressed."

Read more: 18 dog breeds that have long lifespans

When dogs roll around in the grass, they're just playing.

Information technology's only for fun.
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According to Dr. Jakubowsky, "Dog scroll in the grass for the same reason children roll on the grass — it's soft, smells skilful, and is just fun."

She besides said that if at that place is something smelly on the grass such as a dead insect, dead creature, or a loftier concentration of urine or musk smells, they're likely rolling in information technology to cover themselves in the smell. Fifty-fifty though we call back it smells disgusting, dogs actually love foul odors.

If your dog has a addiction of conveying their food from i location to some other — don't worry — it'southward a common behavior.

Your dog is most likely protecting their nutrient.
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Many dogs will carry bits of food and even their unabridged basin from ane identify in the firm to another earlier eating. According to Dr. Jakubowsky, "Your canis familiaris is just protecting his valued resource." In the dog's mind, by moving the food from i location to another they are keeping it away from anyone that may steal it.

Dr. Jakubowsky also said that if you lot smile or express mirth when your dog does this behavior, you could be encouraging it, every bit dogs' behaviors are highly influenced past positive reinforcement.

Humping can be a sign of dominance but, yes, it can also exist sexual.

It'south often but for play.
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When your dog humps another animal, a human, or an inanimate object like a pillow or stuffed animal, take solace in the fact that information technology is completely normal.

Dr. Jakubowsky explained, "Of form, this [beliefs] tin exist sexual, merely oft [information technology] is just play or even [a brandish of] aggression/dominance." She said the beliefs is most common in dogs that are poorly socialized and occurs a issue of too much excitement or a desire to exert dominance during playtime.

As for when dogs hump objects, Dr. Jakubowsky said that dogs probable practise it "just because it feels good." While there is zero wrong with this beliefs, she does warn that it tin can become a problem with older dogs, since it could lead to dorsum hurting and strain. If you feel your pet is humping objects too often, schedule a visit with your vet.

When your dog is moving their feet or barking in their sleep, information technology's probably because they're dreaming.

Scientists believe dogs do dream.
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According to Dr. Jakubowsky, "Nearly researches say dogs do dream ." So, information technology is prophylactic to assume that movement and noise made by a pet during sleep is a result of vivid dreaming, like to how humans can feel sleep talking or walking.

If your canis familiaris exhibits these behaviors during a nap, Dr. Jakubowsky said yous can look at their eyes and that typically "you will see the rapid eye movements happening behind their closed lids." Indicative of the REM state of sleep, eyes that twitch and move simply hateful your pet is in a deep slumber bike.

Dr. Jakubowsky did say, withal, that seizures tin can occur during sleep. Seizure-like activity during sleep consists of a rigid, stiff body and violent shaking or seizing, and this is, of form, indicative of a greater health trouble. Exist sure to visit your veterinary if you think your dog is experiencing seizures during sleep.

Information technology may be adorable when your canis familiaris tilts their head, only it actually is helping them collect sounds effectually them.

They may tilt their caput in an attempt to hear ameliorate.
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"The outside of the ear flap is called the pinna and the domestic dog can use it much like a radar dish to hear ameliorate," said Dr. Jakubowsky. This is why when your dog hears a high pitched or new racket, they tilt their heads dorsum and forth.

Only don't think your dog doesn't know that their head tilt is beautiful. Dr. Jakubowsky confirmed that, aye, sometimes your domestic dog is just milking their cuteness to get something from you, exist it approval, attention, affection, or treats.

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