5 Weird Dog Behaviours Explained

“Why does watching a dog be a dog fill one with happiness?” – Jonathan Safran Foer

With best friends, we don’t always understand why they do some things they do, but we love them anyway. Sometimes, they make us chuckle, sometimes they make us wonder, other times they make us embarrassed or even slightly annoyed. 

Lucky for us, there are canine behaviourists to unravel puzzling dog behaviours. Here are 5 weird dog behaviours that have been demystified.

TAIL CHASING

While we are out bringing home that bacon, our dogs are usually left to their own devices, with over-familiar furniture, hollow sounds of clock ticks, and over-chewed toys. Boredom sets in, but a good dog must resist the urge to chew on that delicious-looking pair of new shoes. With no opposable thumbs to make Netflix and chill possible, dogs come to realise that chasing their own tails allow excess energy to be expended with a side of mild, self-founded entertainment.

Apart from relieving boredom, dogs may also chase their tails to entice a playtime out of us. This usually happens when tail-chasing behaviours have drawn a few chuckles. However, not all tail chases are boredom relieving and attention-grabbing behaviours. Excessive tail-chasing usually indicates an underlying compulsive disorder; accompanying chewing or nipping at his tail may signify other medical issues such as flea infestations.

HEAD TILTING

There are many reasonably theorised possibilities for this phenomenon, yet ‘just to look adorable’ is not one of them.

While mankind tends to lower the music’s volume in an attempt to see better, a dog’s adjustment to hearing better (allegedly) is probably more practical than closing his eyes. Our dogs’ hearing may allow them to pick up on sounds at frequencies beyond the human’s hearing range, but this superpower comes with a minor downside–they are less likely to identify the source of a sound.

One of the theorised possibilities cited that dogs tilt their heads to adjust their outer ear (especially for dogs with floppy ears) in order to hear better, either to identify the source of sound or to focus on recognising words when we speak to them (for example, words like “walk” and “treat”).

WALKING IN CIRCLES BEFORE LYING DOWN

Now, it’s our turns to tilt our heads as we witness this puzzling ritual that our dogs go through before they settle down on their designated resting spot. Fortunately, this is not a symptom of any compulsive disorders. 

Walking in circles before lying down is an intangible heirloom inherited from our dogs’ canine ancestry. This evolutionary trait is mainly an act of self-preservation that allows an assessment of wind direction (to pick up threatening scents) and potential predators.

This ritual also helps wild canines make their “beds” more comfortable–walking in circles flatten tall grass, moves uncomfortable objects (e.g. rocks, fallen branches) out of the way and uncovers snacks and insects. Additionally, repositioned grass, leaves, or snow serve as an indication to other wild dogs that the spot is taken.

Of course, anything in excess is a cause for concern. Excessive circling and struggles to find a comfortable position may be an indication of joint pain and discomfort. 

HUMPING

Witnessing dogs humping can elicit a few predictable reactions–amusement, embarrassment, and annoyance. It may be natural to assume that humping behaviours are related to sexual hormones and desires, but one might be surprised to find out that the reasons behind dogs’ humps are often otherwise. 

Very often, humping behaviours in dogs are a sign of energy arousal caused by energy build-up (and not completely released) and excitement. Sometimes, humping can be a sign of boredom, frustration, stress, or anxiety. In these situations, humping (or mounting) becomes a displacement activity and coping mechanism. Other times, this is normal behaviour for dogs (both intact and desexed, for both genders) during play and fights. 

With multiple reasons for humping behaviours, finding the root cause may take some detective work, patience, and thick skin. Observe other behaviours and the situations just before or during humping to determine the possible cause. Of course, there are ways to prevent this embarrassing display, but be sure to rule out medical causes before training your dog to stop!

HOWLING

Some probably understand that howling is a form of dog communication, but why do they howl and what are they trying to convey? 

Dogs howl as a signal to their pack, either to help pack members find their way home, or to call for a social gathering. Recognised dog expert Stanley Coren deciphered that a typical dog howl means “I am here, I am lonely, where are you?” To domesticated dogs, their human companions are seen as part of their pack; neighbours may witness howling when the family is out for an extended period of time. 

Sometimes, dogs howl to inform other dogs that they have claimed an area as their territory–this usually yields responses of territorial howls from other neighbouring dogs, creating an alternating chorus. Other times, dogs howl in response to environmental stimuli, such as vehicle sirens; dogs may also howl to express pain.

What are other weird dog behaviours that you have witnessed? Let us know!  

Tags: Dog Behaviours