Any dog owner can confirm that dogs do some very strange things. Amidst the everyday behaviors like cuddling, playing, and giving kisses, our furry friends sometimes do things that we just don’t understand. We spoke with Leanne Jakubowsky, DVM, owner of All Creatures Mobile Clinic in Austin, Texas, to find out the medical reasoning behind some of our dogs’ strangest behaviors.
10- When your dog suddenly gets the “zoomies” it’s because of the best possible reason.
Every now and then dogs will get a random burst of energy that results in them doing laps around the house or yard. Commonly known as “the zoomies,” pet parents often wonder what causes this hilarious activity. As it turns out, the reason is simple — happiness. Dr. Jakubowsky told Insider, “It’s a way to release pent-up energy, but only happy, healthy dogs get the zoomies.” So, if your pet is doing the zoomies then you are doing everything right. According to Dr. Jakubowsky, many dogs also get the zoomies after a bath because “it feels so good to move and shake off all that water and anxiety.” Although the zoomies are a completely healthy behavior, Dr. Jakubowsky does warn that pet parents should always be on alert and cautious when their dog is running around. In order to avoid injury to the dog or people around it, she advises to “steer [pets] to safe areas… and take care to protect yourself and your knees as a dog with the zoomies could crash into you.”
9- Bad Breath
Dogs aren’t known for having wonderfully minty breath, but if you notice a marked change with even a little halitosis, it might be time to take a trip to the veterinarian. There could be something wrong with your dog’s oral health. A change in the smell of your dog’s breath may also be a cause for concern with respect to his gastrointestinal tract, liver, or kidneys. If your dog’s breath smells of urine, for instance, he could have a kidney problem. Sweet-smelling breath is a sign to vets that your dog may have diabetes (especially if he’s drinking more water and urinating more often). His overall dog mood may appear happy, but if his breath has changed, pay attention – let your veterinarian know.
8- Circling
Dogs who can’t stop walking in circles may have a health issue. Yes, sometimes it’s fun to chase your tail, but if your pup can’t shake the compulsion, there’s a problem beneath the surface. Ear infections may cause circling, but compulsive tail chasing may occur with bull terriers Of course there may be other reasons your buddy is circling. Older dogs may suffer from idiopathic vestibular syndrome, and, not to alarm you, but all dogs are at risk for poisoning or a brain tumor. Only your vet can determine the cause of your dog’s circling, so get him in for a checkup.
7- Sitting on your feet
With plenty of places to sit, your dog wants to sit ON your feet. When your pup does this, it means that he wants you all to himself. This is one sure way to mark you as his. Another reason dates back to a dog’s ancestors where they always sat at the feet of the leader. As you are their leader, they sit at – or in some cases, on – your feet!
6- Rolling in something nasty
In the wild, animals will mask their scent by rolling in whatever they can find on the ground. Domesticated dogs have no need to mask their scent and, while it is possible that they feel the old need to roll in something smelly, most likely it’s just because they want to. You’ll certainly want to give them a bath afterwards!
5- Sniffing another dog’s butt
Why has sniffing another dog’s butt become a typical way for a dog to get to say “hello” and get to know another dog? A dog’s sense of smell 10,000 times better than ours, so they get to know a lot of things about this new dog through the interesting smells coming from their fellow canine’s behind.
4- Showing Teeth and Biting
If your canine friend retracts lips to show teeth, he is aggressive or showing dominance. You should be very careful when your dog shows teeth as he can end up biting you. If this behavior is accompanied by snarling and muzzle wrinkling, you should understand that your canine friend is very angry. It is advisable not to come close to any dog showing this behavior.
3- Flicking Ears
If your dog is flicking his ears, you should know that he’s simply listening. Most animals usually flick their ears when there is an unfamiliar sound. So, if you see your four-legged pal flicking his ears forward and backward, you should know that he’s just trying to catch the sound clearly.
2- Licks You
While you might not always want your dog to cover you in slobbery kisses, his licks are actually his way of showing affection. Plus, your dog has probably figured out that licking you tends to get your attention. Of course, there are other reasons dogs lick you. Some researchers say licking is a sensory tool for dogs — similar to reaching out and touching something. Another explanation could be that canine mothers lick their puppies (and puppies lick their mothers and littermates) for grooming and social reasons. So this natural behavior continues into adulthood.
1- Howling
Howling is a multi-frequency sound that travels long distances. This can be used as a ‘contact’ vocalization in order to let others know where they are. Many dogs howl due to separation anxiety, whereas other dogs howl due to some environmental trigger or out of habit.
