22 Odd Dog Behaviors and Want They Truly Mean

We all really love our dogs, but there are times when they behave in ways we don’t understand. And sometimes, your dog’s behavior may be amusing, embarrassing, or just needs to be captured on video.

Today, let’s talk about 22 odd things dogs do and the meanings behind them.

1. Your dog tilts their head

 It may be adorable when your dog tilts his or her head, but it actually is helping them collect sounds around them. The outside of the ear flap is called the pinna and dogs can use them much like a radar dish to hear better. This is why, when your dog hears a high-pitched or new noise, they tilt their heads back and forth.

However, don’t think your dog doesn’t know their head tilt is cute. Sometimes your dog is just milking their cuteness to get something from you, be it approval, attention, affection, or treats. 

2. Your dog gets the zoomies

 Has your dog ever gotten a crazy, wild look in their eyes and then just take off running with a burst of energy? This is called the zoomies and it’s completely normal behavior for dogs.

Zoomies are actually a sign your dog feels great, full of energy, and is really happy. Dogs tend to get zoomies after bath time when they feel fresh and clean, when you get home and they’re really happy to see you, or even right before a walk. Embrace the zoomies, since this means your dog is super joyful right then. 

3. Your dog kicks when you scratch his or her belly

Have you ever noticed your dog kicking his or her back leg when you scratch their belly?

This movement is an involuntary reaction called “scratch reflex”. When you scratch a dog’s belly, you activate the nerves under the skin that are connected to their spinal cord. These nerves send a message to your dog’s leg muscles to kick and twitch in an attempt to get rid of an irritant. This is what causes a dog’s leg to start involuntarily jerking.

4. Your dog kicks his or her feet after relieving themselves

While it may look like your dog is scratching the grass or dirt to cover up their mess, this is not what’s going on. Instead, your dog is releasing pheromones located in the scent glands of his or her feet. This is the main way dogs mark their territory; your dog wants other dogs to know this is his or her area.

Additionally, when you notice your dog sniffing around another dog’s stool, your dog is actually sniffing the pheromones left by the first dog. This is a unique form of communication where your dog is telling another dog if they sense danger or even to communicate about their sexual availability.

5. Your dog scoots on the grass or the floor

This one isn’t very humorous and it shouldn’t be embarrassing, although it may seem so at the time. Your dog dragging his or her behind on the floor is called scooting and is almost always a sign of infection, inflammation or worms. More often than not, this behavior is caused by anal sac problems. And while humans can’t relate to this at all, dogs have anal sacs located on either side of their rear end. These anal sacs can become blocked, inflamed or abscessed. This is why dogs start scooting. It is their attempt to relieve the pain and discomfort they’re feeling.

Read more: Why Your Dog Smells Like Iron

6. Your dog humps

Your dog may start humping your leg or the leg of a guest in your home. How awkward is that? And what is the meaning behind it? Oftentimes, it’s not what you think.

In general, dogs hump to establish their territory, even a stuffed toy. So when dogs hump, it’s not necessarily a sexual activity. It may be your dog trying to show you, your guest or even your teddy bear which dog rules the household!

Sometimes humping is a sign your dog is over-excited, seeking attention, trying to relieve their anxiety, or releasing energy. Although people generally associate humping with male dogs, female dogs do it too. If your dog is humping your guest, it may be your dog’s way of greeting them while trying to establish their dominance.

7. Your dog twitches in their sleep

Dogs dream during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of their sleep cycle, and their twitches are a response to whatever’s happening in their dream.

8. Your dog shows empathy

Dogs can sense when you are upset. They show empathy to comfort you when you are in distress.

9. Your dog sleeps on your clothes

If your dog sleeps on your clothes or in your bed, it means they love you. Your clothing and bed have your scent on them and dogs always want to feel closer to you.

10. Your dog sits on your feet

Dogs lay or sit on your feet as a sign of marking their territory. They are simply telling other dogs: “This owner is mine”.

Dogs also sit on your feet to show affection, just as you would choose to sit next to a friend or loved one.

11. Your dog stares at you intensely

Dogs stare at their owner for many reasons. More often than not, dogs stare in order to get signals as to what is happening next. Essentially, they are waiting for you to do something that will impact them, such as picking up the leash to take them for a walk, playing fetch or tug with them. Dogs also stare to get what they want. This is a common scenario with begging at the dinner table. Of course, many times when a dog stares it is out of an expression of love.

12. Your dog squints

Dogs squint their eyes to indicate peaceful intentions. If your dog squints at you when looking at you, they are expressing their love and desire for your attention.

Squinting their eyes indicates they are not interested in rough play or any type of aggression.

13. Your dog rolls on their back in the grass

Dogs roll in the grass for any number of reasons. They could be scratching an itch or attempting to change their body scent. What smells good to us may smell unpleasant to our dog. For example, they may not like the smell of the dog shampoo you used on them and they may run outside to roll on the stinkiest thing they can find.

Another reason your dog may roll in the grass is to mark their territory or deposit their scent. By rubbing their scent off on an area like a carpet or a new dog bed, they are marking it as theirs.

Interestingly, rolling on grass is also an instinctual behavior, harkening back to the days when your dog’s wild ancestors would mask their scent to sneak up on prey. Wolves, for example, have been documented rolling in the carcasses of other animals as a way to mask their scent. This is why you may notice your dog rolling around on the ground before rolling on it.

Finally, your dog may roll in the grass simply because it feels good.

14. Your dog hunches over

A hunched over posture in dogs can be seen when they are fearful or feel particularly vulnerable. When this happens, your dog is trying to make their self “small” or almost invisible.

Dogs also hunch over when they are abused, attacked or scolded.

15. Your dog licks you

Dogs may lick you for a lot of reasons. They may lick you to show affection and love. They may even be grooming you to show you they care about your well-being. Or they may simply enjoy the taste of your skin.

However, your dog’s licking behavior could also be a part of his or her survival instinct. For example, when wolves return to their pups after a meal, they regurgitate meat from the hunt. The pups, too young to hunt on their own, will lick the meat from their mother’s mouth. It is believed by some this licking behavior has been passed down in the DNA, causing dogs to instinctively lick sometimes.

Licking behavior gets reinforced by a person’s reactions, like laughing, smiling, or petting. Your dog will feel rewarded and encouraged by any kind of attention from you.

16. Your dog urine marks

Some dogs scent mark by urinating small amounts on vertical surfaces. Dogs use their urine to mark areas they consider to be theirs. Marking their territory lets other dogs know they are present.

Urine also signifies the reproductive status of the dog and their ranking. Both male and female dogs can urine mark. Dogs who aren’t neutered or spayed are more likely to mark than those who aren’t.

17. Your dog sleeps in the fuzzy bagel position

If your dog tucks its paws beneath itself and curls up so his or her head rests on their tail, it means your dog might be trying to conserve body heat and provide protection to the fundamental parts of his or her body.

This is the most common sleeping position for animals in the wild too, as it helps conserve warmth and protects the vital organs.

This sleeping position is called “fuzzy bagel” or “donut”.

Read more: 9 Dog Sleeping Positions and What They Mean

18. Your dog digs

Dogs dig in your yard for several different reasons. They may be burying toys or bones to keep them protected from other predators. They may also dig to cool themselves off on a hot day, pregnant dogs may dig a hole as a nesting instinct to make a den for her pups, but more often than not, dogs dig to alleviate boredom or simply to have fun.

Read more: 14 Solutions for Dogs Who Dig Under Fences

19. Your dog brings you gifts

If your dog brings you a gift, like a shoe or their favorite toy, it means they love you. It also means your dog wants your attention.

20. Your dog trashes your furniture

Chewing on a wide variety of objects in the house, regardless of whether you are home or not, is probably the result of boredom or separation anxiety. Your dog probably needs more play, exercise, and physical activity to work off some energy.

Read more: Destructive Chewing: Why is My Dog Chewing Everything?

21. Your dog howls

Dogs howl to communicate, attract attention, and announce their presence. Dogs may also howl in response to high-pitched sounds like ambulance or police sirens. Believe it or not, these sounds are on the same frequency as their hearing, so when a dog howls at a siren they are simply responding to their fellow helpers.

22. Your dog yawns

Most people tend to think a dog who yawns is tired, but that’s usually not the case. For dogs, yawning is a form of communication. Dogs yawn when they are feeling anxious, like when they are in a new environment or surrounded by other dogs. You will see this behavior more often in puppies when they are around unfamiliar dogs.

Dogs also yawn to signal they are not a threat. If an animal or person approaches a dog, that dog may avert their gaze and yawn. It’s a dog’s way of saying they feel threatened or anxious but they are not going to attack. Dogs use this type of body language to avoid conflict.

Dogs may also yawn when scolded by a human or in other stress-inducing situations. Yawning is also a way for dogs to curb their enthusiasm when they are anticipating something, like when you get out the leash to take them for a walk.

Final Thoughts

Whether dogs are yawning, digging holes, or rolling in the grass, or displaying other quirky and sometimes funny actions, these behaviors have physiological and emotional reasons behind them.

When you start to learn why the behaviors are happening, it allows you to gain a better understanding of your dog and connect to them on a deeper level.

What odd behaviors does your dog do? Please share in the comments below…