Hi
everyone! Today's topic is 6 odd things dogs do, and what they mean!
Hopefully today's insights help unlock a little more understanding
with your dog! Be forewarned, there are a couple squeamish points in
this blog!
1) Dragging the bum across the floor or chewing on their flanks/anus.
The common assumption about this is that it is a game, or that it simply feels good. Most owners wish their dogs would not drag their hinds across the floor, especially on their nice clean carpets. Sometimes, all of a sudden, dogs will flip about and start ravenously chewing at their hinds, as if someone glued a steak to it. Sometimes people may think it's nothing to worry about - but is it?
When a dog is dragging it's bum across a carpet or chewing on their hind, it's one of a couple causes. In their anus, dogs have a sac that is filled with mucus that coats the poop so it isn't painful to the dog to secrete it. Sometimes, these sacs are so effective, the mucus builds up, and it needs expressing. A vet can show you how to do this, or you can pay them to do it - either way, the little sacs have become over filled, and since your dog has no thumbs, they have to try and express it themselves, by chewing the area, or dragging their bums across something in order to release the excess mucus. You can have a look; if the anus looks bigger than it should, or if they seem to be sensitive, you've found your cause.
If, however, the anus does not look large or sensitive, the cause is one of two other things - there is a chance your dog has an allergy. Not always do dogs get hives, or obvious symptoms such as loose stool or vomit; sometimes, they just get an itchy bum! If there is no obvious enlargening, you more than likely have an allergic pooch!
If there is no swelling, and your dog is not allergic, then you more than likely have a paracite in your pooch's pooper. Sometimes, you can see them - they can look like grains of rice, or bits of thread - but not always. In any case, your dog needs to see the vet, and quickly. If they are dragging bums or chewing often, this is a sign whatever is causing it is driving them crazy with itching - and a vet will need to intervene.
If nothing else comes up, if all avenues have been exhausted, and your vet has cleared the medical side, it means your dog is bored and has learned that doing this expends his energy. They need more exercise! They could also be suffering from a neurological condition, and if they can't seem to stop with exercise, your dog will need a psychological exam. (Yes, those exist for dogs). Your vet should have recommended this, if the medical side was inconclusive. If not, try a different vet!
2) Chewing/licking on their paws constantly.
Most people associate this with cats, or a type of grooming - but dogs do this too. Sometimes, it really is grooming - but dogs don't lick their paws as habitually as cats for a grooming reason. If they are grooming, they will lick other spots too, and only briefly. Dogs prefer to swim, unless they have a fear about water - which is a learned behaviour. So, if dogs aren't as super clean as cats, why is your dog licking or chewing all the time?
If they are chewing or licking a lot, more than a passing lick or chew every few days, check it for cracks, burns, sores, slivers, or heat sores. The pads should be leathery and soft, and the skin of the paw should be thin and warm. If there is nothing present, then your dog is bored. They wants to burn their extra energy, but have no way of doing so. Some dogs will get into trouble, but some just flop over and attend to their paws. Your dog is communicating that they need to walk or run.
3) Bringing items away and hiding them in odd places.
In a single-dog household, this is a symptom of a couple things - too much energy, and insecurity. Fearful-type dogs that are unsure if they are going to be able to keep something will hide it from everyone else. With food, when they take it and scamper away and look around, they think someone is going to come take it away. Its not a sign you're taking too many things away, its a sign your dog is unstable. Call in help at this point, as your dog no longer trusts anyone.
In a multi-dog household, the cause is the same, but instead of the cause being human, the cause is another dog. One of your dogs is causing the retreater to feel scared and like they need to hoard things to keep them. If this is happening, you will need help soon - because it is a sign that something is wrong in the pack dynamics. Call us when you can.
However, if your dog is confident in everything else and seems to be hiding things in obvious spots such as along a wall or taking food and leaving it around, chances are there is something neurological going on and there is some kind of disorder happening - or, they need more exercise. Sensing a theme, here? Dogs tend to break the norm when they're bored. First, try doubling your exercise for a week. If nothing is happening, see your vet, and call us for help.
4) Barking/Growling at nothing or at the wall.
While strange and seemingly haunting, as if they're reacting to a spirit, this is not the case. Dogs can hear things we can't - birds outside, kids playing across the street, cars driving past, ambulances a while away - all of these things can take them by surprise and make them bark in the direction of the sound, kind of like when someone startles you and you look at them and gasp or scream. Ninety percent of the time, they have heard something you did not. In the rare cases, dogs can have suspicious reactions to things, which they forget about, then suddenly think about it or see it, and cause them to bark or growl. Maybe a picture on the wall startled them when a door opened, or perhaps they tripped on the rug once. In very rare cases, the dog has a neurological condition, but this should only be suspect when you cannot break them from their attention and it occcurs all day every day type of behaviour. You can try exercising them more as a process of elimination, and then leave the radio on, and see if it stops. If the exercise stops it, they were bored. If the radio stops it, they were hearing something. If it does not stop, they have gotten a suspicious worry about something, or it is neurological in nature.
5) Darting under the table/into the crate/under items when someone comes over.
Dogs that are afraid often do this. It makes them feel safer, and as if they will not be hurt or confronted in these spots. Fearful dogs don't always slink away and cower; sometimes, they hide away and bark. If your dog is doing this, it means they need some confidence. Do not allow them to hide and bark; keep them on leash, and make them face the fear, and give them more exercise - if they're too tired to move away, they are too tired to fear as deeply as they were before. Call us to help you rehabilitate your scared dog.
6) Honking/Chortle sound.
Good news - it's harmless! Just like we sneeze and cough at smells, dust, and minor viruses, so do dogs! It happens to sound a lot worse given that their noses and throats are a lot bigger than ours. They also do it when pulling on a leash, because they cannot breathe. Teaching respectful walking and proper leash skills are essential so your dog does not choke themselves out - a harness also won't solve the root of the problem. Surprisingly, dogs can also be allergic to pollen and dander! It sounds funny, but it can make them react just like us! It's nothing to worry about unless they are also acting strangely, or with lethargy. If they are, see a vet immediately.
Overall, many issues with dogs can be solved with exercise - most people underestimate the amount of exercise their dogs need by HALF. Dogs also reset their exercise at night - so if you walk them before bed, you're essentially walking for nothing. Early in the morning, as early as possible, is the best time to walk your dog. Even little dogs like Chihuahuas and Pomeranians need at least 2 hours per day. If they don't get it, that energy carries on to the next day, unlike when they burn energy and it resets overnight, so your dog could very well have their entire age worth of too much energy! Larger dogs like Border Collies and Huskies top the list at needing an astonishing 12 hours of exercise every day, and not just walking, but running! If your dog isn't flopping over and can't get up to walk after you, they're not "done" yet!
1) Dragging the bum across the floor or chewing on their flanks/anus.
The common assumption about this is that it is a game, or that it simply feels good. Most owners wish their dogs would not drag their hinds across the floor, especially on their nice clean carpets. Sometimes, all of a sudden, dogs will flip about and start ravenously chewing at their hinds, as if someone glued a steak to it. Sometimes people may think it's nothing to worry about - but is it?
When a dog is dragging it's bum across a carpet or chewing on their hind, it's one of a couple causes. In their anus, dogs have a sac that is filled with mucus that coats the poop so it isn't painful to the dog to secrete it. Sometimes, these sacs are so effective, the mucus builds up, and it needs expressing. A vet can show you how to do this, or you can pay them to do it - either way, the little sacs have become over filled, and since your dog has no thumbs, they have to try and express it themselves, by chewing the area, or dragging their bums across something in order to release the excess mucus. You can have a look; if the anus looks bigger than it should, or if they seem to be sensitive, you've found your cause.
If, however, the anus does not look large or sensitive, the cause is one of two other things - there is a chance your dog has an allergy. Not always do dogs get hives, or obvious symptoms such as loose stool or vomit; sometimes, they just get an itchy bum! If there is no obvious enlargening, you more than likely have an allergic pooch!
If there is no swelling, and your dog is not allergic, then you more than likely have a paracite in your pooch's pooper. Sometimes, you can see them - they can look like grains of rice, or bits of thread - but not always. In any case, your dog needs to see the vet, and quickly. If they are dragging bums or chewing often, this is a sign whatever is causing it is driving them crazy with itching - and a vet will need to intervene.
If nothing else comes up, if all avenues have been exhausted, and your vet has cleared the medical side, it means your dog is bored and has learned that doing this expends his energy. They need more exercise! They could also be suffering from a neurological condition, and if they can't seem to stop with exercise, your dog will need a psychological exam. (Yes, those exist for dogs). Your vet should have recommended this, if the medical side was inconclusive. If not, try a different vet!
2) Chewing/licking on their paws constantly.
Most people associate this with cats, or a type of grooming - but dogs do this too. Sometimes, it really is grooming - but dogs don't lick their paws as habitually as cats for a grooming reason. If they are grooming, they will lick other spots too, and only briefly. Dogs prefer to swim, unless they have a fear about water - which is a learned behaviour. So, if dogs aren't as super clean as cats, why is your dog licking or chewing all the time?
If they are chewing or licking a lot, more than a passing lick or chew every few days, check it for cracks, burns, sores, slivers, or heat sores. The pads should be leathery and soft, and the skin of the paw should be thin and warm. If there is nothing present, then your dog is bored. They wants to burn their extra energy, but have no way of doing so. Some dogs will get into trouble, but some just flop over and attend to their paws. Your dog is communicating that they need to walk or run.
3) Bringing items away and hiding them in odd places.
In a single-dog household, this is a symptom of a couple things - too much energy, and insecurity. Fearful-type dogs that are unsure if they are going to be able to keep something will hide it from everyone else. With food, when they take it and scamper away and look around, they think someone is going to come take it away. Its not a sign you're taking too many things away, its a sign your dog is unstable. Call in help at this point, as your dog no longer trusts anyone.
In a multi-dog household, the cause is the same, but instead of the cause being human, the cause is another dog. One of your dogs is causing the retreater to feel scared and like they need to hoard things to keep them. If this is happening, you will need help soon - because it is a sign that something is wrong in the pack dynamics. Call us when you can.
However, if your dog is confident in everything else and seems to be hiding things in obvious spots such as along a wall or taking food and leaving it around, chances are there is something neurological going on and there is some kind of disorder happening - or, they need more exercise. Sensing a theme, here? Dogs tend to break the norm when they're bored. First, try doubling your exercise for a week. If nothing is happening, see your vet, and call us for help.
4) Barking/Growling at nothing or at the wall.
While strange and seemingly haunting, as if they're reacting to a spirit, this is not the case. Dogs can hear things we can't - birds outside, kids playing across the street, cars driving past, ambulances a while away - all of these things can take them by surprise and make them bark in the direction of the sound, kind of like when someone startles you and you look at them and gasp or scream. Ninety percent of the time, they have heard something you did not. In the rare cases, dogs can have suspicious reactions to things, which they forget about, then suddenly think about it or see it, and cause them to bark or growl. Maybe a picture on the wall startled them when a door opened, or perhaps they tripped on the rug once. In very rare cases, the dog has a neurological condition, but this should only be suspect when you cannot break them from their attention and it occcurs all day every day type of behaviour. You can try exercising them more as a process of elimination, and then leave the radio on, and see if it stops. If the exercise stops it, they were bored. If the radio stops it, they were hearing something. If it does not stop, they have gotten a suspicious worry about something, or it is neurological in nature.
5) Darting under the table/into the crate/under items when someone comes over.
Dogs that are afraid often do this. It makes them feel safer, and as if they will not be hurt or confronted in these spots. Fearful dogs don't always slink away and cower; sometimes, they hide away and bark. If your dog is doing this, it means they need some confidence. Do not allow them to hide and bark; keep them on leash, and make them face the fear, and give them more exercise - if they're too tired to move away, they are too tired to fear as deeply as they were before. Call us to help you rehabilitate your scared dog.
6) Honking/Chortle sound.
Good news - it's harmless! Just like we sneeze and cough at smells, dust, and minor viruses, so do dogs! It happens to sound a lot worse given that their noses and throats are a lot bigger than ours. They also do it when pulling on a leash, because they cannot breathe. Teaching respectful walking and proper leash skills are essential so your dog does not choke themselves out - a harness also won't solve the root of the problem. Surprisingly, dogs can also be allergic to pollen and dander! It sounds funny, but it can make them react just like us! It's nothing to worry about unless they are also acting strangely, or with lethargy. If they are, see a vet immediately.
Overall, many issues with dogs can be solved with exercise - most people underestimate the amount of exercise their dogs need by HALF. Dogs also reset their exercise at night - so if you walk them before bed, you're essentially walking for nothing. Early in the morning, as early as possible, is the best time to walk your dog. Even little dogs like Chihuahuas and Pomeranians need at least 2 hours per day. If they don't get it, that energy carries on to the next day, unlike when they burn energy and it resets overnight, so your dog could very well have their entire age worth of too much energy! Larger dogs like Border Collies and Huskies top the list at needing an astonishing 12 hours of exercise every day, and not just walking, but running! If your dog isn't flopping over and can't get up to walk after you, they're not "done" yet!
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