Our relationship with our dogs go back over time immemorial. Yet, when it comes to understanding our canines’ crazy quirks, we are often left stumped! With all the love and joy dogs bring us, they also manage to baffle us with their bizarre and often embarrassing behaviours. Today, we shall attempt to understand the ‘Doggie Rationale’ behind such gauche behaviours…
Why Does My Dog Poke His Nose Between People’s Legs?
The next time Banjo zeroes in on your Katy aunty’s crotch, don’t get uptight. You see, Banjo strictly views it as an information gathering mission. Canine behaviourists suggest that it’s very natural for dogs to home into an area where there’s lots of scent information to be found. The dog then places the data together to reveal a lot about Katy aunty. That gives him a chance to get to know her intimately. Once a dog has gleaned the information, he normally moves on to other pursuits. It’s a human equivalent of shaking hands and introducing yourself. If Katy aunty gets offended, next time just ask her to hold a purse in front of her. Interestingly, dogs that carry out this behaviour on humans are normally dogs that are of the correct height to do so. However, if your dog is carrying out this behaviour excessively with humans there could be a hormonal/sexual element involved.
Why Does My Dog Make A Meal Out Of His Poop?
Sushi may be a delicacy to some, but to others, it is just smelly raw fish. So before we start saying “Eww, gross!” at all the disgusting things dogs eat, let’s give them the benefit of doubt – even if it is poop that they are relishing! This absolutely disgusting and unhygienic behaviour may be repulsive to us humans, but most dogs don’t consider it yucky to grab a mouthful of canine crap. If fact, most dogs given half a chance, would grab a mouthful of animal manure when out for a walk in the countryside. ‘Coprophagia’ as the condition is known, may be repulsive to us humans, but to our dogs, it is a perfectly normal behaviour – nope, he’s not doing it just to gross you out.
There are many theories as to why a dog can become coprophagic – it can be a symptom of a dog suffering from certain medical conditions like diabetes or hyperthyroidism. Others believe that the eating of faeces may be a way for dogs to supplement a diet lacking in minerals and vitamins (who needs a multi vitamin when there’s some poop around?). It can also be a psychological condition caused by nervousness or a guilt complex instilled by an owner who was too harsh in housebreaking.
What Does My Dog Have Against My Mother-In-Law?
Ah, this is a sensitive issue. Before we delve into what relationship your dog has with your mother-in-law, we need to understand that dogs, like children, are not born with any prejudices – whether it is against a particular race of people, certain animals, or even in-laws. Hatred, biasness against people or animals, are all behaviours that are learnt in life. Now how does a dog learn to hate a certain type of person – whether it is a dark skinned person, a delivery man or even your mum-in-law? A lot depends on the variety of people a puppy is exposed to during his puppy socialisation period. Pups that have had positive experiences with a wide range of people usually grow up without much bias. You can also have dogs that learn to pick up on your personal bias against certain people and show their attitude by barking or even growling at that person. And then there are certain people who will probably always elicit suspicious behaviour from a canine – this is mostly due to their shifty or jerky body movements around the animal.
Why Does My Dog Sniff Another Dog’s Rear End?
This is one behaviour that can turn an owner crimson red. But there is a very good explanation behind (pun unintended) it. The dog’s anal glands lie on either side of its anus. They contain strong smelling fluid, which gets emptied regularly when the dog defecates. This fluid contains certain odours that can be ‘read’ by another dog. Another dog can seemingly tell the sex of the dog, its mood, health and state of mind. The glands secrete the fluid when a dog meets another and indicates whether it is aggressively aroused, excited, scared or even angry. Each dog gives off a particular scent that is peculiar only to him. In human society, we identify each other by fingerprints or photos, in dogs they do it with this special scent. So when two dogs meet, it is the norm to sniff the other’s nether region.
Why Does My Dog Enjoy Embarrassing Me By Scooting Across The Floor On His Butt?
Mainly because it itches and dogs are firm believers in the theory of scratching where it itches. Scooting across the floor does just that. When a dog’s anal sacs get impacted (filled to the brim) it causes the animal discomfort. Dragging his bum across the floor helps empty the fluid out (yes, onto your expensive carpet) and relieves the uncomfortable feeling. You can avoid all the drama by feeding your dog a good diet, getting the anal glands emptied by a vet or groomer on a regular basis, and getting your pooch checked by a vet for worms, allergy or even an injury.
So as you can see, most of our dogs’ charming habits are perfectly natural for them, even if they seem rude to us. Though in some cases, your dog may be acting out with the sole intention of getting your attention.
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