Why Do Dogs Do What They Do?

Have you ever wondered exactly what goes through your dog’s head when you are spending time together?

Are you ever confused by some of the things your dog does, such as “bathing” your feet with his tongue (Charlie Bear does that!) or following you around the house for no apparent reason?

Dr. Jon of PetPlace in a recent newsletter said this:

Today I will explain to you the basics of healthy bonding with your dog.

Your dog will do many strange things in an effort to bond with you as its owner. Your dog may think that these things are endearing (in dog terms) but you might find them to be a little weird. This can include tongue-washing, following you, or eliminating inside in a busy area.

All your dog is looking for when doing these bizarre things is attention and love from you. Dogs bond very often with their owners, especially if they view you as their “pack leader.”

So, the question is how can you correctly bond with your dog?

The answer is fairly simple: spend time together doing activities that you know your dog loves. Most often this includes:

• Playing with toys
• Petting or rubbing
• Physical activity that will tire your dog out
• Allowing your dog to lay down and sleep next to you

These are by no means the only ways to bond with your dog and they don’t work all the time, but most dogs really do enjoy these methods of getting closer to their owner.

So, the next time you see your dog acting strangely, try spending a little quality time together and see if the bizarre activity stops.

www.petplace.com

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Now, when I see Charlie Bear tirelessly licking Dad’s arm, or shadowing me from room to room, I’ll know that he needs a little extra TLC.  : )  Don’t we all once in a while!

B.J.