Man's best friend has a funny way of communicating sometimes, but nearly everything your domestic dog does has meaning. From barking to whining, jumping to butt scooting, your domestic dog'south actions are something you lot should pay close attention to.
Learning about your dog'due south behavior is one of the best means you tin can care for your four-legged pal. While most things your pup does are nothing to worry about, noticing the signs and symptoms that something may be incorrect are very important.
The Play Bow
A play bow is when your pup is crouched down in the front with his backside up in the air. The position usually signifies that your 4-legged friend wants to play, and it allows your pet to run rapidly at a moment's find.
A play bow invites another dog or a homo to collaborate and, as the proper noun suggests, play. While a dog may growl or bawl while in the play bow position, the pup'south body language is meant to show you that it just wants to take some fun.
Information technology's no underground that dogs love to dig. Some desire to dig in the clay to try and notice a buried treasure, and some dig just because they're bored. While digging is ordinarily non harmful to a pup, you lot may desire to deter your dog from doing so because your pet may get dirty or start digging in places that are off limits — like your garden.
Many canine professionals will tell you that a dog that digs is one that needs to go some additional exercise. If you lot have a digger in your clan, spend some more time playing fetch.
Chewing
If your dog is chewing on just about everything in sight, chances are that the animal is having an issue with its teeth. Puppies chew when they are teething, and then it's important to make sure you have plenty of toys available, including bones and other teething-specific toys.
Even older dogs relish chewing — information technology'south just function of being a domestic dog. However, if you don't provide discipline early on, you may find some of your belongings completely destroyed. Make sure y'all introduce plenty of chewing options, and be stern when information technology comes to deterring your pup from chewing on things like the furniture.
Begging
You may notice your dog hanging around the dinner table looking all kinds of desperate for a taste of human food, but yous should resist. Dogs that are given a gustatory modality of food from the table volition almost always beg for more. They may begin to whine or bark while looking anxiously up at the table.
If the begging is getting out of hand, you may want to crate your pup or put information technology exterior until the meal is over. Nevertheless, it'south best to avert this altogether past not offer any table food in the first place.
Pulling on the Ternion
A dog that pulls on the leash while on a walk needs preparation. The behavior is usually caused by a dog being over-excited for a walk. Getting practise shouldn't be a stressful upshot for y'all or your dog, and so this behavior needs to exist squashed equally presently as possible.
The best way to do this is past keeping the leash short but loose. When your canis familiaris pulls and the leash goes tight, yous should stop walking. Your canis familiaris should also stop in one case information technology realizes you're non moving. Brand sure y'all apply positive reinforcement by manner of treats.
Whining
A dog'southward whine can mean a few different things. Virtually of the time, a whining dog just wants your attending. If your dog starts whining and yous immediately give the animal attending, however, y'all are demonstrating that whining will become your pet that attention. You should avoid doing this and only give your dog attention when information technology is non whining.
A domestic dog that is in pain may also whine, so information technology's of import to make certain you pay attention to your domestic dog. If y'all notice any other signs of pain, a trip to the vet may be in order.
Separation Anxiety
If your dog gets upset when y'all leave, information technology probably has separation anxiety. Since you are your dog'due south whole life, it is important to teach your pet that you aren't gone forever and will come back.
In the outcome this is happening to your domestic dog, you may want to attempt leaving for shorter periods of time, working up to longer times away. Sometimes leaving the telly or radio on while yous are gone can help every bit it makes it seem like people are talking in the business firm. Overall, this is very common and not a crusade for business concern.
Barking at the Door
A dog that barks at the door may want to go exterior. To avoid a potty accident, you lot should take your domestic dog exterior. Dogs may also bark at the door if they want to go outside to play, in which case you lot could appease your pup and go for a run.
Dogs also bawl at the door if they sense that someone is exterior. This tin can exist an first-class mode for a dog to alarm y'all that visitor has arrived. If the barking is excessive, y'all may want to talk to your vet.
Jumping
Dogs and jumping often go manus-in-manus. Dogs spring when they are happy, mainly because they are excited to greet some other being. However, jumping is often frowned upon considering a lot of people — especially strangers — practice not want to be greeted with such enthusiasm.
To go along your dog from jumping, be sure not to give the animal attention unless all four paws are on the footing. You lot may also tell your pup to sit before assuasive someone to come over and pet information technology. These things can significantly assistance control your pup's excitement, making meet and greets far more enjoyable for everyone.
Biting
Biting is how dogs protect themselves. No matter how calm a domestic dog's disposition is, a moment of assailment or fearfulness can turn ugly quick. A dog that bites likely feels threatened or nervous. Ideally, these feelings should be faced head-on from a young age.
Dogs should be socialized in a comfy setting where they practise non feel intimidated. Frequent trips to a dog park or pet store help with adjusting to new scents and making friends. It's of import not to put your dog in any state of affairs where the animal feels unsafe to keep potential biting at bay.
Excessive Barking
A barking canis familiaris is inevitable since that's how canines communicate. But what happens when your domestic dog barks excessively? Your dog could be experiencing anything from frustration to assailment to a desire to play.
Excessive barking can be annoying. Once y'all determine that there is null wrong, you can work to correct this behavior. If a dog barks excessively, the animal is trying to tell you something, but perhaps not in the most user-friendly way. Obedience preparation can help. Beingness consistent in training is vital, as a dog will learn to option up on whatever cues you lot offer information technology.
Butt Scoot
If your canis familiaris is scooting his butt across the carpet, at that place could be a multitude of things going on. A canis familiaris may drag its backside if it's itchy or something is stuck there. In these instances, there's nothing to worry near.
A dog may also scoot his barrel if in that location's something more serious going on. This could signify that your dog has worms or anal gland problems. If the behavior continues, yous should call your vet. If you suspect your canis familiaris'due south anal glands are the issue, your groomer should be able to help.
Growling and Baring Teeth
When dogs bare their teeth and growl, they are showing aggression. Your domestic dog may limited these feelings toward another dog or a human being. Whatsoever the source, you should go along your dog away from any the animal is fixated on. Y'all should not let your dog to approach another animal or human if this beliefs is present.
While you lot can try to calm your canis familiaris past providing a distraction or speaking in a soothing tone, it's important that you are careful likewise. If you interfere at the wrong time, y'all could get bitten.
Howling
If your pooch hears something loftier-pitched, like a train whistle, it may try to match the sound by howling. This may exist considering the sound annoys the dog or hurts the animate being'southward ears.
It's too possible that your dog is trying to limited itself in a unlike way. Some dogs howl when they are lamentable or lonely, which tin be absolutely heartbreaking. Some dogs howl to mimic humans, like when they are singing or laughing.
Low Growl
A dog may express a low growl if it hears something only is unsure what it is. Y'all may find that your dog depression growls while looking out the window. Possibly the animal sees something but is not quite sure if it's a threat or not.
A low growl may also signify that your canis familiaris is anxious or fearful. You should speak to your pup in an upbeat tone and try to distract it from whatsoever is causing anxiety. Try to encourage your pet or even as information technology to do some tricks to take the pup'due south mind off of the fear.
Superman
A canis familiaris gets in the Superman position when information technology is completely tuckered out but very comfortable. The Superman pose is credible as the animate being has its front paws stretched out and back paws sprawled direct back. The position is seen in dogs of all ages, but it's most oft seen in puppies.
A dog sleeping in the Superman position isn't on high alarm and is totally relaxed. It'southward hard for a dog to exist on guard when laying like this, and then yous know you take 1 super tired, super chill pup if you notice your domestic dog sleeping in this position.
Giving Gifts
Dogs bring gifts to their owners as a way to show affection. Your dog is trying to make you happy past bringing you lot something special. Most of the time, the canis familiaris volition bring something from around the business firm, similar your slippers or a favorite toy. However, sometimes you aren't lucky and your dog brings yous a dead animal, such as a mouse.
Sure, this isn't ideal, but the sentiment is still positive. Your dog wants you to know that it loves you lot and is loyal. Your pet wants nada more than than to make you lot proud.
Licking
Licking is a dog's love language. Your four-legged bestie may shower you with kisses as a mode to show you're its favorite. A dog kissing session can concluding a long time if yous allow it, and information technology tin exist a daily occurrence. There's cipher wrong with a dog showing affection, although some people go grossed out by it.
Your domestic dog may take every opportunity to osculation you on the hand, arm, face and fifty-fifty your mouth. Your dog's dearest has no boundaries, so if you'd prefer to skip the mouth licks, y'all'll have to pull away.
Licking or Biting Paws
While licking a man to show love is a cute thing, a dog who licks his own paws could be experiencing something that requires a trip to the vet. A dog that licks its paws after eating may be experiencing a food allergy. Alternatively, a dog that licks or bites its paws on a regular ground could be experiencing anxiety.
It's essential to pay attention to when your canis familiaris licks its paws and written report that information to your vet. Excessive licking can cause wounds, and that could lead to an infection, so practise not accept hand licking lightly.
Sneezing
Dogs sneeze due to irritants inhaled into their noses, non unlike humans. They can as well sneeze from allergies caused by grass and pollen. While most sneezing in canines is nothing to worry about, a dog that sneezes excessively or with discharge could require a visit to the vet.
For example, nasal mites cause sneezing and some unpleasant nasal discharge. Mites are contagious and tin exist transmitted from domestic dog to domestic dog, so it's important to go your pup checked out as soon as possible if you think there's something else going on.
Head Tilting
Just about everyone knows all about the domestic dog head tilt that volition undoubtedly melt your center. Take y'all noticed that when y'all talk to your canis familiaris, it looks right at y'all and tilts its caput? This is the animal being curious. Dogs tilt their heads as a way to accommodate their outer ears so that they can hear you ameliorate.
A dog that tilts its head while you talk is hanging onto every word coming out of your mouth. Your pet is attentive and wants to know if you have anything to say — especially if it involves a trip to the park!
Barrel Sniffing
While well-nigh of the things that dogs do are cute, in that location are a couple that simply aren't. Yous may fifty-fifty say they're gross. That brings united states to the butt sniff. If your canis familiaris meets another canis familiaris and immediately sniffs its butt, this is totally normal.
A butt sniff is the equivalent of a human shaking another human being'southward hand. Your dog is trying to become to know another dog — or a human. Yes, dogs sometimes sniff human being butts, too.
Chasing Their Tail
Ah, the tail chase. A favorite pastime of so many doggos. Dogs chase their tails for a variety of reasons, but nigh of the time, it is all in good fun. A puppy may hunt its tail because it doesn't realize it's attached to the canis familiaris'due south own body torso. An older dog may chase its tail just because the animal is goofy and beingness playful.
All the same, this also happens when something else going on. It's possible that your dog has fleas needs its anal glands checked and examined, specially if tail chasing is a frequent occurrence.
Eating Grass
Does your canis familiaris eat grass whenever it'due south outside? While this behavior is normal, it is a crusade for concern. Most of the fourth dimension, a domestic dog eats grass for one of two reasons. Your pet is either missing a specific nutrient in its nutrition or trying to brand itself vomit. The worst-case scenario? The dog has intestinal worms.
No matter what the reason may exist, eating grass is not a good thing. You should talk to your vet well-nigh your pup'due south nutrition and overall health if the dog is eating grass every time you get for a walk.
Eating Feces
A dog that eats its ain feces is most likely on a medication that isn't digesting properly. If this medication comes out in the domestic dog'due south stool, the animal may be enticed to gobble it back up, which is zip short of gross.
Some mother dogs eat their puppies' feces in an endeavour to keep the babies clean. While eating feces isn't considered harmful (unless your dog has worms), yous should deter your dog from doing this. If you are outside, pick up your domestic dog'southward poop right away. If your dog uses a pad, attempt to distract the beast right subsequently information technology poops.
Humping
Dog humping isn't ordinarily a cause for concern. Some dogs mount or hump in a sexual manner fifty-fifty after being neutered or spayed. Dogs instinctively do the behavior, specially if they are unaltered. Dogs may as well hump as a way of flirting.
While some people recall that dog humping is a sign of hormones, this behavior is often a way of exerting say-so. Your dog may hump another canis familiaris, a human being or fifty-fifty a toy, just it's usually nothing to be concerned near, even if it is super embarrassing.
Sitting or Sleeping on Your Feet
Do you e'er notice that your domestic dog is continually touching you? Whether your pet is lying correct next to you or cozying up at your feet, this is entirely normal behavior. The dog not only wants you to know that it's in that location, only it also wants to make sure it knows if you leave. By resting on your anxiety, the dog will be forced to wake upwardly if you get up from your seat.
A dog resting on your anxiety may also be a way to mark her territory. Yous are the dog's homo, and the animal wants everyone to be clear on that.
Raising a Single Paw
Dogs are very intelligent creatures, and they endeavour to communicate however they can. If your dog raises a single manus in your presence, it could be requesting your attending. Ix times out of 10, your dog does this to let you know that it wants to play.
Yet, your dog may also raise its paw because it wants you to pet it. Y'all'll know this because the beast will likely put that raised paw on your arm. The moment you finish petting, the mitt will pop upwardly again. Your pet may too do this to let you know that it's hungry.
Barking or Moving Paws While Sleeping
A dog that moves its paws or barks in its sleep is most probable having a vivid dream. If your canis familiaris is laying on its side and its feet are moving, the animate being is likely dreaming about chasing a bunny rabbit through a field or something similarly exciting.
Nearly of the time, a dreaming domestic dog is nothing to worry about. If you notice that your dog'due south stature is more rigid, however, information technology's possible that it'southward having a seizure. If you are worried, gently endeavor to wake the dog up. Dogs can be roused relatively hands from a deep slumber, but do not wake them up if y'all think they're having a seizure.
Yawning
Yawning isn't a behavior that is hard to figure out. Similar humans, dogs yawn when they are tired. Dog yawns tend to be extremely cute and tin fifty-fifty be highlighted with a scrap of a bark. Dogs may too yawn if you yawn, which further proves the theory that yawning is contagious.
There isn't too much to worry near when your pooch lets out a big yawn. It may exist time to let the dog arctic for a bit and catch upwardly on some much-needed shuteye. Being a dog is merely so ruff. See what we did there?
