Why dogs show jealousy, muzzle-grab each other, stare at you when they poop, and 8 more dog behaviors explained
Why dogs jump on you when you hug someone
You have probably noticed that your canine companion is against public displays of affections, such as hugs or kisses. They may bark, jump up, or even attack their owner if they are being hugged by someone else. You might think they are just jealous, but the reasons are more complex than that.
Kissing and hugging are human behaviors that are not normal to dogs. We wrap our arms and squeeze tightly. Dogs see this form of close contact as threat. They feel the need to intervene by wedging their way in between the two partners in an attempt to deescalate what they perceive to be a fight.
Another reason dogs could interrupt a hug is when they want attention.
Why Dogs Turn their Butt Toward you
When a dog shows you their bum, it means they trust you. When having their back towards you and teeth farthest away from you, your dog exposes their vulnerability to you and indicates that they don’t intend to harm you, and they feel safe around you.
Greeting is another reason that your pup turns his back toward you.
Why dogs stare at you when they poop
You probably have noticed that dogs keep their eyes on you when they poop. That's because they are looking out to you to protect them.
Going to the bathroom puts anyone in a vulnerable position, and if a dog is squatting, they cannot protect themselves from predators. They are depending on you to give them a body language signal or 'heads up' when a threatening situation occurs.
Dogs also stare at you when they poop to get your blessing. They are checking for approval to be sure that they are using the correct location to do their business.
Why dogs bite each other's mouths in play
If you’ve had a dog for a while, then you probably know that dogs often play with their mouth open. The two dogs clash their muzzles and teeth together, and it looks like they are biting each other. As you watch them playing, you may think the pups are about to rumble, and you wonder if you should step in.
This form of play is called Jaw-sparring and it is a healthy way for a dog to play with other canines. This is also how dogs exercise proper control over their mouths.
You can tell your dog is playing, and not attacking another dog, when they have a loose body language, are bouncing with happiness, or keep going back for more. The dogs voluntarily make themselves vulnerable by “falling” down and exposing their bellies. They take turns when chasing each other and allow themselves to be caught while playing. On the contrary, stiff body language, raised hackles, and flattened ears are signs of a real fight.
Why dogs stretch their front legs
Most people tend to think that dogs stretch just to warm up their muscles, but that’s not always the case. Stretching is one of the most recognizable body language signs in dogs. It is one of the ways that they express their emotions or feelings.
More often than not, dogs use this communicating technique to show you or another dog that they are happy and feeling comfortable around you. It is a friendly gesture that shows mutual respect and a willingness to play.
Why dogs eat their own vomit
Dogs actually think that eating their own vomit is perfectly natural.
In fact, when pups are being weaned, mother dogs will regurgitate food for their young to help them adjust to eating solid foods.
And it’s important to remember that there’s a difference between vomit and regurgitation.
Vomiting is the ejection of contents of the stomach and it’s more concerning. Regurgitation, on the other hand, is composed of undigested food that never made it down to the stomach. Oftentimes, dogs regurgitate when they’ve eaten their food too quickly or the pieces are too big for their esophagus.
Why dogs make noises and movements in their sleep
You may have noticed that dogs bark, whimper, or growl in their sleep. This is because dogs dream in REM stage of their sleep, and those vocalizations or muscle twitches are responses to whatever that is happening in their dreams.
Interestingly enough, studies have shown that most animals dream on a regular basis. In fact, their dream pattern seems to be very similar to humans’, and they can replay long sequences of events when they are asleep.
Why Dogs Muzzle Grab Each other
A Muzzle-grab is when dogs put their mouth around another canine’s snout. It’s neither a bite, nor an aggressive behavior. It’s a hold that is done without much pressure and does not cause physical harm.
Muzzle-grabbing is how dog parents discipline their puppies, or let their them know they have gone too far. You often see this during weaning. When a mother dog wants to stop breastfeeding their puppies due to the emergence of their sharp teeth, she muzzle-grabs them to deter them from sucking.
Among adult dogs, gentle, inhibited muzzle-grabs are often part of a ritual greeting.
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