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Dog owners often find themselves melting at the sight of their furry friends twitching their legs while dreaming or tilting their heads in adorable confusion. It turns out that every canine behavior has its own explanation. Dogs communicate with humans in their own special ways to express love, admiration, or even concern.
Here are some intriguing facts about man’s best friend to help you understand their behaviors and the reasons behind them.
1. Chasing Their Own Tail
This quirky action can be explained by three main reasons that shouldn’t be ignored. First, a dog might do this out of sheer boredom. Second, parasites could cause itching or irritation near the tail. Third, if tail-chasing happens frequently, it might be linked to OCD, as the dog could be experiencing stress due to anxiety or past trauma.
2. Licking Their Owner’s Face or Feet
One of the most common ways dogs express their love is by licking their humans. If your dog does this, it might simply be trying to figure out how your skin tastes because they can infer your mood and feelings from it. Sometimes, dogs also lick to grab your attention.
3. Tilting Their Head
Possibly one of the cutest dog gestures, tilting their head helps them understand us better. Some researchers believe dogs can better identify sounds and words this way. Others suggest that a dog’s unique facial structure might hinder their vision, prompting them to tilt their heads for a clearer view.
4. Bringing You Their Favorite Toy
Spending time with their owners is incredibly meaningful to dogs. When a dog brings you their favorite toy, it’s not just a way to play. It’s akin to humans giving a gift to someone they care about.
5. Shaking Their Toys Around
As distant relatives of wolves, dogs retain certain genetic traits. For instance, they often treat toys as prey, shaking, tearing, and chewing them as a way of expressing their hunting instincts.
6. Scratching Their Face
When a dog scratches its face with its paws, it’s often trying to alleviate discomfort caused by allergies. If your dog covers its eyes with its paw while being scolded, it’s showing submission to its owner.
7. Zoomies After a Bath
Dogs often race around the house or yard after a bath, and it’s no coincidence. Bathing can be quite stressful for them, and zoomies are their way of regaining a sense of freedom. It also helps them dry off and reclaim their natural scent, as many dogs dislike the smell of shampoo.
8. Circling Before Lying Down
Though dogs have been domesticated for ages, they still display behaviors inherited from their ancestors. Circling before lying down is thought to ensure their “bed” is safe. Nowadays, it’s more of an unconscious instinct.
9. Sitting on Your Feet or Leaning Against You
In the wild, dogs stick together in packs, and domestic dogs see their humans as part of their “pack.” Sitting on your feet or leaning against you is their way of showing loyalty and marking their territory. Sometimes, they simply want attention and affection.
10. Twitching While Sleeping
Dogs sleep deeply and often enter the REM stage, where vivid dreams occur. This explains the involuntary twitching of their bodies or jaws. It’s best not to wake them suddenly, as they might wake up disoriented or grumpy—something we can all relate to!
11. Intense Tail Wagging
Tail wagging can mean many things. Most commonly, it signals that the dog is ready to play. Another common reason is sheer joy, especially when you return home. Dogs are incredibly loyal, and even the slightest tail wag can signify immense happiness.
12. Leg Twitching During Belly Rubs
This reflex is known as the “scratch reflex.” When you pet or scratch certain spots, it triggers nerve endings that respond to external stimuli. Dogs often enjoy this and may find the sensation highly pleasurable.
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