Our dogs never stop to amuse us, there is always something that they are up to that grabs our attention and leaves us thinking, why are you doing that? Below are some common crazy things your pooch can get up to with some explanations.
Do Dogs Really Dream?
Dogs actually have a very similar sleep pattern to us humans and also go into REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) about 20 minutes after falling asleep. It’s during this state of sleep that your dog may have vivid dreams.
It’s known that small dogs have lots of short dreams while large dogs have less but longer dreams. This is why you may notice it more in your larger dogs.
You will notice that whilst sleeping they will do galloping actions, growl, softly bark and twitch. This is them having a dream.
So just like us they dream about their day and that favourite bone or catching a ball.
Do you know the saying “let sleeping dogs lie?” well this is good advice for when your dog is sleeping. Try not to wake them up when you notice them in a deep sleep and whilst dreaming as they could wake up confused and perhaps bite.
Why does my Dog Chase her Tail?
This brings much entertainment and laughter in the family. Your dog may enjoy your reaction and this attention and this is why she is chasing her tail.
Puppies are most intrigued by this toy attached to themselves and it can bring them lots of playtime.
If it is something that happens very often then it will require a bit of a deeper looking into. First start off with a visit to the vet as it could be an indication that there is something wrong medically like fleas or anal gland issues. Some dogs are known to develop compulsive behaviours and chasing their tail could be one of these issues. An animal behaviourist can help sort out obsessive behaviour.
Ideally tail chasing should be discouraged as soon as it makes an appearance – while this behaviour is often amusing to start with, it can very quickly develop into a compulsive behaviour which is almost impossible to stop. Your dog may start chasing his tail when you’re around because they react by laughing, but because it is extremely reinforcing internally (it releases a lot of the reward neurotransmitter Dopamine) the behaviour quickly becomes addictive and he will do it to the exclusion of everything else as a means to relieve boredom, frustration or just because he enjoys it so much.
Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise, has regular vet checks and has some toys to keep him busy during the day.
Why does my Dog Bury Bones?
The urge your dog has to bury his prized possessions, whether it be a bone or a favourite toy, stems from their ancient dog ancestors. Dogs are scavengers and when they had a good sized meal that was leftover they would bury the remains for later, this was to ward off future starvation. Burying in the soil hides the scent away from other scavengers and is said to keep the item from sunlight decay and adds some extra earthy flavours… yum!
So next time you see your pooch burying a yummy bone, know that it is his natural instinct and he’s saving this yummy treat for later- he didn’t mean to destroy your flowers.
Let us know what strange things your pooch does.