Logan Voss
Life would be a whole lot easier if we could simply talk to our furry best friends. While our canine companions are unable to verbally speak to us, they can relay meaning and emotions through their daily demeanors or peculiar behaviors. Dogs utilize a plethora of cues and actions to communicate with humans and other dogs around them. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the common meanings of strange dog behavior.
Walking in Circles Before Lying Down
Why do dogs do this day in and day out? This continuous and seemingly never-ending ritual is a part of a canine’s DNA. Since dogs are believed to have come from ancient wolves, dog behaviorists think the behavior is inherently part of their nature.
As your pet dog’s wild ancestors were not creatures that knew modern comforts, the circling, stamping, and scratching were a nightly routine for them to get comfortable enough to sleep outside in the natural elements. This is simply a common nesting dog behavior.
Leaning or Sitting on You
Is your dog a needy leaner? If your dog typically leans or sits on you while you’re standing in the kitchen cooking or sitting down on the couch, there’s a reason behind this odd behavior. Leaning is simply a sign of fondness or a way to get attention. This physical touch displays their own need for affection. Since dogs can’t give hugs as humans do, a lean is considered as close as you can get to one.
Moving in Their Sleep
Have you ever noticed that dogs move when they’re sound asleep? Most of the common meanings of strange dog behavior have to do with their own nature, but this one demonstrates how alike they are to humans. Dogs dream and go through various cycles of sleep, similar to what humans experience each night. Animal experts believe that dogs also dream during the REM stage of sleep, and act upon such dreams by either twitching around or moving their paws.
Intense Aggression or Excitement Towards Other Dogs
As canines are incredibly curious animals, they often react strongly to the presence of another canine. This is why it’s important to choose a dog leash that aids in control and safety. Because they originated as pack animals, dogs are strongly social creatures. It’s normal, natural, and almost instinctive for them to get excited over seeing another dog.
Other times, however, they can get aggressive, uncomfortable, or scared of other dogs in their vicinity. This could be due to inadequate early socialization, past experiences, or their genetics. Dogs can even be oddly wary of other canines but super friendly towards humans, or vice versa. We may never fully understand dogs and their baffling behavior, but it makes them the animals we all know and love today.
