Dogs have behaviors that often seem strange or unexpected. Sudden heels, pursue shadows, or go around before bedtime are gestures that intrigue owners, but are part of the natural repertoire of these animals. Each action has a reason, often linked to instincts, communication or basic needs they inherited from the ancestors.
Canine greetings and personal hygiene
According to News to the Minute, veterinarian Joanna Woodnutt explains that some strange habits have clear functions. One of the most common is to smell the back of other dogs, a form of social compliance similar to a human hand grip that allows you to collect information about each other.
Another frequent behavior is to lick their own parts, a gesture of natural hygiene, even if it may seem uncomfortable for those who observe.
Play, instinct and exploration
Pursuing your own tail is often just a way of playing or spending accumulated energy, but in some cases it may be a sign of discomfort, pain or even parasites that bother the animal.
Diging holes is another rooted behavior, that is, an inheritance of ancestors who needed to look for food or find small prey.
Already the gesture of giving a “kick” after defecating is not limited to hiding the trail. According to the expert, it is a way of spreading the smell and leaving your brand, an instinctive way to communicate with the environment and other dogs.
Signs of comfort and safety
Going around before bedtime dates back to wild dog habits looking for safe places for rest. During sleep, involuntary spasms or movements indicate that the animal is dreaming, often pursuing something imaginary.
Uivar is another behavior that may surprise, being more frequent in some races. According to Woodnutt, dogs have made up to communicate with other distance dogs, to signal presence or even to respond to acute sounds that arouse attention.
This gesture refers to their ancestors, the wolves, and although not necessary for survival in a domestic environment, remains present in many species per instinct.
Protection and Hunting Instincts
Hiding toys is a behavior that is born from the accumulation instinct, but it can also reveal stress or the desire to protect your most precious objects.
On the other hand, when a dog lies on his back and asks for parties in his belly, he shows absolute confidence, exposing himself in a totally vulnerable way.
Already the jumps behind sudden shadows or movements in the grass are linked to the hunting instinct: dog vision is naturally programmed to detect any movement, and even the smallest stimulus arouses their attention.
As stressed, these behaviors, however strange they may seem to the owners, are perfectly normal and part of the canine world, and there is no reason to worry.
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