You’ve probably spotted your dog doing something weird. As long as she’s not hurting herself, you probably just let it go. But why is she chasing her tail or chewing on her foot or staring off into the distance? Here are some of our dogs’ weirdest behaviors explained:
1. Chasing her tail
This is usually just a way for dogs to get out their energy. They see their tail and they try to catch it.
Some puppies act as if they’re not aware that their tails are attached to their bodies! When they become bored — which happens frequently with young puppies — chasing that wagging end back there can seem like quite the cure for boredom!
Watching a puppy chase its tail can be very funny. If you laugh and give your puppy attention when it chases its tail, your puppy may chase its tail more often when it wants more attention from you
If you see your dog doing this constantly, especially if they’re older, they might have an issue with their anal glands that needs to be checked out by a vet. It could also be a sign of fleas or worms, so keep an eye on it if you have an older dog chasing her tail.
2. Kissing your hand
If your dog licks you, it really is a sign of affection. You’ll observe dogs lick each other, too. It’s how they show acceptance and love. It’s part of a dog’s social dialog. So while you might not love being slobbered on, just remember that this is how your dog says, “Hey, you’re part of my group.”
3. Tilting her head
This behavior is simply how a dog shows that she’s paying attention. She’s probably trying to pick out one of the words she knows like “walk” or “treat.” Your dog is listening to you even if it’s through your body language, so learning how to communicate with your puppy is always a first step in effective dog training.
4. Howling
I’m going to admit it, I think it’s pretty cute when our dog starts to howl when he hears even distant sirens. And while we know that wolves howl to communicate with one another, why do domestic dogs do it? While we don’t know for sure, researchers think it is simply an instinct that is inherent in all canines.
5. Staring
If you often find your dog staring at you, you could start to get a little creeped out. However, this is probably just your dog’s ways of asking for affection or a treat. Do keep in mind, however, that some dogs see eye contact as a threat, so make sure that she isn’t exhibiting signs of fear or aggression.
