They're called "man's best friend" for good reason, but we don't always seem to understand them. From eating grass to chasing their tails, there are a handful of dog behaviors that will even make a seasoned pet owner scratch their head. What's behind these actions, and should you be concerned?
In this article, we will try to go over some of those common, strange behaviors of dogs and explain what might be going on in your fur friend's mind while they perform their antics. Whether you're a new dog owner or have had dogs all your life, understanding these behaviors is going to bring you much closer to your dog and ensure their well-being.
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1. Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?
Grass eating probably stands as one of the commonest activities underlined in most dogs. Therefore, whenever at the park, out in the backyard, or when they are set to walk, many dogs frequently stop and start to feed on grass, a thing that leaves a lot of owners scratching their heads. Below are some possible rationales.1.1 Nutritional Deficiency
Some experts believe that dogs may eat grass because they're looking for what's missing in their diet, particularly fiber. While commercial dog foods are formulated to be nutritionally complete, some dogs might instinctively look for extra roughage, much like their wild ancestors did.
1.2 Digestive Aid
Another common theory is that dogs eat grass as a way to induce vomiting when they have an upset stomach. Sometimes, grass can irritate the lining of the stomach, which may lead to vomiting and consequentially alleviate the feeling of discomfort if the animal has eaten something that doesn't go well with its stomach.
1.3 Boredom or Anxiety
Play and exercise are essential parts of a dog's day. Being a curious animal, sometimes a dog will eat grass just out of the anxiousness or plain boredom of the moment. Lack of play can make the dog eat grass because he might want to do something at that time, or it might make him feel a little better if he is stressed.
1.4 Instinctual Behavior
It might also be an instinctual or natural behavior that they learned from their wild ancestors, which had eaten plants as part of a regular diet in consuming the plant material ridden in the stomach of herbivorous prey.
Is It Harmful if dogs eat Grass?
Generally speaking, there are no risks from just eating grass, but as a rule, grass is treated with chemicals mixed with pesticides or fertilizers. When dogs consume lots of grass and vomit too often—that is cause for concern, and a veterinarian should be sought in order to rule out underlying health problems.
2. Why Do Dogs Chase Their Tails?
Among a wide variety of tail chasing being one of the most amusing and a bit confusing behaviors of your dog. Commonly, it is perceived as an ordinary, amusing activity; though, chasing its tail may have serious preconditions for your dog:
2.1 Playfulness
Chasing the tail is athletic and playful for many dogs—puppies in particular. In fact, the action may be a distracting way for the dog to focus on otherwise unreleased energy. The sight of the tail whizzing around may just be so appealing that a merry chase seems like a grand idea.
2.2 Attention Seeking
Some dogs chase their tails for attention. If the dog learned to get a laugh or attention from the owner by acting foolish and chasing its tail, the dog will then repeat the same behavior simply to keep the owner's attention on the dog.
2.3 Boredom
A bored dog, or one that has too little mental and physical stimulation, may move in boring as well as nonsensical circles, chasing its tail. It may be a sign that your dog needs more playtime, exercise, or even just some challenging interactive toys to keep them interested.
2.4 Fleas or Itching
For me, sometimes tail chasing may mean that a dog is irritated or worse, in discomfort. Fleas, tick, and other skin conditions may turn the dog to tail biting, as it causes the dog to chase its tail. When you see heavy tail chasing or see a dog tail chasing with a lot more scratching than usual, ensure there is no problem with the skin and visit a vet.
2.5 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
More rarely, tail chasing can be a component of canine obsessive-compulsive disorder. Dogs who have OCD may do really compulsive tail chasing, which can cause injury even to the point of damage. A veterinarian or animal behaviorist can give you guidance in how to manage the behavior.
How to Manage it?
Tail chasing is a result of boredom or lack of exercise and inadequate mental stimulation. When this progresses to a more obsessive or continuous behavior, or one that results in uncomfortable signs, then veterinary advice is required.
3. Why Do Dogs Tilt Their Heads?
Relatively little can be cuter than when a dog tilts its head as you talk to it. But what are they trying to do? Here is what might be happening:
3.1 Hearing Better
Dogs can hear well enough, but perhaps by dropping or cocking their heads, they can better find the origin of the source of the sound. Moving the ears enables that dog to determine from which direction the sound is coming from, such as your voice, another animal, or some unfamiliar noise.
3.2 Understanding You
Dogs tilt their heads in those cases because they are trying to understand what is being said. Dogs are known for being sensitive to people's voices or conversational tones and might actually be trying to hear the tone in yours or possibly see your facial expressions better.
3.3 Vision
Others have also suggested that head tilting could also improve the field of vision for a dog, say, experts. A dog slightly tilts its head to enjoy a better and clearer view of your face, enabling it to read all the emotions and intentions.
3.4 Empathy
Dogs are empathic animals, and perhaps tilting their heads is a way for them to prove that they are listening and attempting to understand you. It's their way of saying, 'I'm listening.
How to Encourage it?
If you notice that you can't get enough of your dog's head tilting, realize that the behavior can easily be triggered by speaking excitedly or engagingly to your dog, or by using words that your dog is familiar with like "walk," "treat." Just don't overdo it; dogs may become puzzled or even develop anxiety if they don't understand what is being said.
4. Why Do Dogs Bark at Nothing?
It's not unusual for respectively nothing at all to have changed, but dogs bark as though something is up. So far as their humans can tell, it's often a case of:
4.1 Heightened Senses
Dogs' senses far surpass those of humans-easily in terms of hearing and smell. Something that works out to be "nothing" to you will just turn into a sound or odor too faint for you to detect. Dogs will bark up a storm when they recognize the sound of another dog at some distance, someone walking by, or even wild critters outside your area.
4.2 Alerting
Dogs are normally defensive, and by habit, they bark when they pick something out of the ordinary. Your dog may sense something unusual and will want to make sure you are aware of it, although you may not see or hear something that triggered this barking.
4.3 Boredom
When the dog is bored or anxious, it may start to bark either to release that energy or to draw attention from whoever is around. The former may bark without anyone to play or work with it, leaving it to endure loneliness and isolation.
4.4 Territorial Behavior
Indeed, dogs are territorial animals; they bark with acts of assertion of presence, or warning to go away to potential intruders, no matter how strangers are associated with them, or the passer-byes at near gates or fences.
4.5 Compulsive Behavior
In some cases, the barking at nothing can become compulsive, especially when a dog is under-stimulated or stressed. You have to try and contain compulsive barking because it's one of those behaviors that are so hard to control once they get started, and you may need to have the intervention of a professional trainer or behaviorist.
How to Deal With It?
Exercise the dogs a lot and give them play for their bodies not to rest but tiredness. Ensuring you mentally tire the dogs will likely eliminate unnecessary barking due to some level of exhaustion. Training using certain commands, such as the word "quiet," might also be successful if it's reinforced properly. If the barking seems like it cannot be controlled and is excessive, compulsive, contact a veterinarian or animal behaviorist immediately.
Conclusion
Understanding dog's unique behaviors can bring a lot of value to the bond you share with your fluffy friend. Be it to chow down on grass, chase its own tail, bark at the wind with a tilt of its head the list could go on, all behaviors are explained by one possibility or the other. instinct, communication regarding the surroundings, or environmental factors. Taking note of these behaviors and knowing how to act quickly can surely assure the well-being and happiness of your dog. The more you know the habits and quirks of your pet, the better equilibrium will be your felicitous facility to provide them with good care and companionship.
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