Strange Dog Behaviors and What They Mean

People often wish that they could talk to their dogs. Why? Well, apart from the usual “I wonder what goes on in my dog’s head” thoughts that people have, dogs can be very confusing in terms of their behavior. As such, it can be very difficult to understand what they’re trying to say to us.  We all wonder what the strange dog behaviors are and what they mean.

In fact, perhaps the closest we get to understanding what our dogs want is when they are wagging their tails when they are happy or whining each time they want you to give them something.

It can sometimes be pretty frustrating when we can’t understand what our best friends want at any given moment. The good thing is that there have been enough studies on dog behavior for us to be able to understand and analyze a whole lot of seemingly strange behaviors.

All you have to do is focus on certain cues, and you’ll realize just what your dog is saying to you.

Here are some commonly exhibited strange dog behaviors and what they most likely mean.

1. Puppy-Dog Eyes

If your dog is making puppy dog eyes at you, it is trying to tell you that it loves you. Your dog making eye contact with you is about the equivalent of a kiss from your furry friend. So if you notice a whole lot of eye contact, know that you are doing something right and that your pet adores you!

2. Bringing You a Ball/Toy

Many people mistakenly assume that if their dog is bringing them their ball or toy, that they should throw it for the dog to catch.

This can sometimes hurt your dog’s feelings, however. If your dog brings you its favorite a ball or a toy, he wants to play with you! Instead of throwing the toy, move it around in your hand and watch as your dog goes wild as it follows it around.

3. Sleeping in Your Room/Bed

If your pet would rather sleep in your room or bed instead of his own space, the only thing this means is that you’re number one in his heart!

Just like children sleep in their parents’ bed to feel safe, your dog wants to spend a whole lot of time with you and feels safest when he is with you.

4. Tackling You

You might not love being tackled by your dog each time you enter the house after a long day at work, but this might just be their way of showing you their affection and how much they missed you all day.

Your pup wants you to know that you are everything to him!

5. Staring Quietly at You

You may sometimes find your dog silently gazing at you whenever you’re getting ready to leave the house. There is no need to feel guilty when he does this. By looking at you quietly, your dog is putting his trust in you and telling you that he is not scared because he knows you will come back.

6. Communicating with his eyes

If you want to know what your dog is feeling at any point in time, all you have to do is to look into their eyes. A lot of research studies have confirmed that dogs tend to communicate with their owners through their eyes.

So, the next time you can’t decide what your pup wants, just look into his eyes for a better clue!

7. Cuddling with You After a Meal

If your dog often cuddles with you after a meal, it means that he feels safe in your presence. Animals are incredibly vulnerable after they eat (humans tend to feel sleepy and lethargic after they eat), and your dog will look for a safe place to rest after a meal.

8. Leaning on You

You might have noticed your dog leaning against you randomly as you are sitting with your laptop, working, minding your own business. It turns out, your dog only leans against your body because he can’t actually hug you. It’s just one of the many ways that dogs like to show affection.

9. Yawning in front of You

When animals yawn, they temporarily close their eyes. In the wild, this is incredibly dangerous as they’re temporarily blind to predators. If your dog yawns in front of you, it means that he trusts you completely. Not only does he know that you won’t harm him, but he also trusts you to keep him safe.

10. Flicking His Tongue

If your pup is flicking his tongue, he is apologizing for his naughtiness. It’s a gesture of innocence, and your furry friend simply wants you to forgive him.

11. Sitting on your Feet

If your dog deliberately comes and sits on your feet, this is a clear indication that he wants to protect you from some impending danger.

12. Chewing on furniture

Chewing on the furniture or on other items in the house shows that your dog needs more exercise. However, it could also mean that your dog has an issue with their dental health. Start taking your dog on more walks and take it to the vet to get its oral health checked out.

13. Raising One Paw

Sometimes your dog may sit or stand with one paw raised. This usually means that your dog is trying to find out something. Usually, he will also have his nose up and will sniff around in different directions at the same time – almost as if he is trying to crack a case Sherlock style.

14. Cocking Head to One Side

You’ve probably noticed that when you talk to your house, it tends to cock its head to one side. When you see your dog doing this, he is just trying to understand what you’re saying.

15. Howling

For a dog, sometimes, howling can just feel good. While wolves presumably howl to assert their power and to communicate, people believe that dogs usually howl just to feel good.

This guide to strange dog behaviors can better help you understand and communicate with your pet.


by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™

Facts About Animal Homelessness:

  1. Only 1 out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home.
  2. The main reasons animals are in shelters: owners give them up, or animal control finds them on the street.
  3. Each year, approximately 2.7 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full and there aren’t enough adoptive homes. Act as a publicist for your local shelter so pets can find homes. Sign up for Shelter Pet PR.
  4. Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats.
  5. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners.
  6. 25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.
  7. About twice as many animals enter shelters as strays compared to the number that are relinquished by their owners.
  8. It’s impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States. Estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
  9. Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. Overpopulation, due to owners letting their pets accidentally or intentionally reproduce, sees millions of these “excess” animals killed annually.
  10. Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
  11. According to The Humane Society, there are about 3,500 brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the US and 10,000 rescue groups and animal sanctuaries in North America.

Here are a some adoptions for consideration:  puccicafe.com/adoptions