Strange Behaviours You've Probably Noticed in Your Dog

Why Do Dogs Chase Their Tails?

As with head tilting, tail chasing has a number of possible causes, says Canine Journal. Some dogs appear to chase their tails simply because it's fun or to alleviate boredom. Some dogs also do it to express excitement or a desire to play. And dogs with high prey drives are likely to chase after anything that moves in their field of vision, including their own tails.

However, tail chasing isn't always fun and games for your dog. It could also be a sign of something more serious, such as a medical condition or an anxiety disorder. If your dog is a frequent tail chaser, you should talk to your veterinarian about the following possibilities:

1. He has a medical or skin condition. Problems with the anal glands might be causing your dog to turn in circles trying to reach his posterior and provide some relief, which looks a lot like tail chasing. Similarly, flea allergy dermatitis might be causing his rump to itch like crazy, and he's simply trying to reach the itch.
2. He has high cholesterol. This might sound like a strange reason for tail chasing, but according to Vetstreet, a study published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice found that tail chasing occurs more frequently in dogs with high cholesterol. One theory is that the extra cholesterol blocks the flow of hormones that control mood and behaviour, causing dogs with this condition to be anxious or excitable.
3. He has obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD is an anxiety disorder that is fairly common to dogs, and frequent tail chasing is a common symptom of this disorder. One way to tell if this behaviour might be related to OCD is to see if your dog can be easily distracted from it. If not, or if he also displays other obsessive behaviours, you should discuss the possibility of OCD with your vet.

Of course, if your dog doesn't chase his tail very often, or if he only does it when he's clearly excited or it's time to play, then it's most likely nothing to worry about. Still, it might be worth mentioning it to your vet during his next checkup, just to be on the safe side.

Why Dogs Scoot Across the Carpet?

If you are a dog parent, you have undoubtedly seen your dog scoot his bottom across the carpet or grass from time to time. While you might think it is funny, it is actually a sign of an issue for your pup. When he scoots, he is trying to soothe an uncomfortable or irritated bottom. The irritation can be caused by a number of things from inflamed anal sacs to tape worms to allergies. If the problem persists more than just once or twice it is best to take your dog to the veterinarian to have him checked out. Your vet can help you diagnose the issue as well as provide you with treatment plans to prevent it in the future.

Why Do Dogs Sniff Each Other's Butts?

We know, we know, we have the 411 on dog butts apparently, but admittedly you're probably curious. Dogs sniffing each other's rumps is nothing new to dog parents. In fact, it is probably one of the first things you notice when you introduce your new pup to another dog because it seems so abnormal and contrary to human behavior. But for dogs it's actually quite normal.

Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, 10,000-100,000 times better than humans, and they use that sense of smell to investigate other dogs through their derrière. While it seems disgusting to us, it actually is a wave of discovery for dogs. Dogs have anal sacs that produce pheromones and scent molecules that tell your pup a lot about their new friend including age, gender, diet, reproductive status, and more. While it is their way of saying hello, they're getting in a full conversation with a few whiffs. This is why you'll notice that dogs that meet often and know each other quite well don't succumb to butt-sniffing very often. So, while you might think it is disgusting and you're trying to prevent your pup from partaking in a butt-to-nose greeting, just remember it's their instinctive way of getting to know each other better.

Dog tendencies can seem quirky and, at times, downright strange from a human perspective. But when you think like a dog, they start to make a lot more sense. If you're someone who's ever asked, "Why do dogs tilt their heads?" or another question relating to your dog's behavior, having a better understanding of dog psychology may help you feel closer to your furry friend.

Contributor Bio

Jean Marie Bauhaus

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a pet parent, freelance pet blogger and novelist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she usually writes under the supervision of a lapful of furbabies.