Different dog behaviours – Petcover Australia Have you ever scratched your head in confusion or wonderment at your dog’s wacky behaviour? I’m sure most dog owners have at some point pondered why on earth their pet engages in behaviour that seems completely nonsensical to us. From chasing their tail, sniffing other dog’s butts to slobbering you in kisses and howling at the doorbell, Petcover have demystified some common canine behaviours that are both humorous and bizarre. CHASING THEIR TAIL There are a few possible reasons why a dog chases their own tail. A dog may just find the dangling appendage on their backside curious and chase it to amuse themselves or out of boredom. If this is the case then most dogs will easily be distracted from tail chasing by an alluring toy or attention from their owners. But if you notice your dog is constantly chasing its tail, it may be an obsessive compulsive trait or your dog may have fleas and is attempting to bite at them. If you think your dog’s tailing chasing is excessive than it may be time to call on a vet or behaviourist.
COCKING THEIR HEAD Dogs are very alert and attentive animals and if you’ve noticed your dog tilt their head while you speak you may assume this is your pet responding with a quizzical gesture as they attempt to decipher what you’ve just said. This is not far from the truth! While dogs may not have the capability to understand exactly what you’ve said, they do become familiar with certain words and phrases. I’m sure you’ve noticed your dog perk up when they hear the magic word W-A-L-K! Dogs cock their head to open the ear canal which helps them locate the source of a sound and listen out for familiar words or phrases. STICKING OUT THEIR TONGUE
So next time your dog sniffs another dog’s butt you should applaud its curiosity and interest in learning about the world and others!
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DOG WORLD September 2021
Pexels
SNIFFS OTHER DOG’S BUTTS Among the social faux pas our dogs commit, sniffing other dog’s butts is one of the most cringe worthy (just after eating poop and humping other dogs). But while we might turn up our noses in disgust, this behaviour is actually completely normal for dogs. Their keen sense of smell is far superior to humans and is used to gather information about their environment. And a dog’s anus happens to have important glands which secrete chemicals that tell them everything they need to know about their friend. A fellow dog’s gender, health, diet and emotions can all be picked up by a sniff of the rear. For some dogs sticking out the tip of their tongue is a sign of relaxation. A dog’s tongue is also used to cool the body down. If your dog has just done some laps of
