16 Most Common Dog Behaviors and What They Mean

A panting dog is quite normal. Unlike humans, dogs don’t have sweat glands and instead sweat through their paws and nose or pant to regulate their body heat. Panting is especially typical on a hot day after they’ve been playing outside.

But, if you may be wondering: why is your dog panting and restless at night, and is it normal? There might be another reason for this pattern.

If your dog is restless, panting, and whining all of a sudden, you may need to keep your eye on them to see if there is more to it. But, when do you know when it’s a serious matter or just regular dog behavior?

Find out why your dog keeps panting and won’t settle down, and when to visit the vet when they do.

Sometimes it can be endearing and other times it can get on your nerves. Either way, the age-old question of ‘“why does my dog follow me everywhere?” is a tricky one to answer. This article lists some of the possible reasons why your canine companions insist on following you around.

While plain animal instinct and pack-mentality are definite factors in the situation, it may not be the only reason your pooch parades behind you like a personal second shadow. Dogs are sensitive, intelligent creatures and their reasons for following you can range from separation anxiety to too many dog treats.

It’s important to keep in mind that one of the main reasons humans bred dogs in the first place was for companionship. Loving their owners is coded into your dogs’ DNA so it’s no surprise why they’d want to stick by your side.

While some breeds are friendlier than others, even the most stand-offish of dogs will have moments of expressing affection for a loving owner. With all that being said, let’s take a look at a number of other reasons as to why dogs follow you around.

A great bonding experience with your dog is playing a fun game of catch. Mid-game, your dog might just stop in their tracks and throw up. Not only throw up but throw up and then proceed to eat it. Dogs are adorable, but sometimes they do some not-so-adorable things like eating their own vomit.

It is an odd thing that almost all dogs do, and it can have you thoroughly perplexed. Even with your dog eating the best natural dog food, they can still throw their food up. So why do dogs eat their vomit? Dogs vomit for a host of reasons and it’s important to know why when they do.

The most important answer to seek, before finding out why dogs eat their own vomit, is why they are vomiting. If it’s a serious cause, then you should take them to the vet. If it’s not for serious reasons then just monitor them.

Find out why dogs eat their own vomit and if you should be worried about it.

When you adopt a puppy, you can expect to have your hands and face licked a lot. It’s just what they do, and it’s usually accompanied by lots of tail wagging, excitable yelping, and even playful nipping. But why does my dog lick my hands?

First, the good news is that if a dog is licking your hand, it’s almost always a positive sign. But the exact reasons can be varied. It could be affection, submission, or even just tasting (you taste good).

So let’s take a look at some of the reasons and when you might want to take a closer look at their behavior.

Dogs communicate in a number of ways, including barking, licking their paws, whining, and more. They are very vocal companions and one of the many ways they communicate audibly is through whining. Why is my dog whining so much all of a sudden?

There can be many reasons for these moans, most of which are no cause for concern. However, while it’s easy to see your pup’s whines as cute or harmless, giving them immediate affection and failing to understand the reason for it teaches them to whine constantly.

Knowledge is power, especially in parenting. It’s very normal for your pup to whine when they are excited, seeking attention, anxious, or when they’re aiming to please.

But there are some worrisome cases to look out for in order to best care for your fur babies. 

New dog owners may be familiar with that awkward dog park moment of seeing your pup eat its own feces. If you’ve experienced this, maybe you were a little embarrassed at the time and wondered, “why do dogs eat poop?” For many dog owners, it’s a complete mystery.

We all know how mortifying it can be to see your precious angel doing something so gross. Many owners find it quite upsetting when their dogs eat their own feces, but it’s a more common behavior amongst canines than you might think.

This post will finally answer your question, “why does my dog eat poop?” All of the information below should explain this confusing canine behavior and the real motivation behind why dogs eat poop in the first place.

Watching your pup lick their paws can be a very cute sight to behold. Most of the time, this light afternoon licking is totally harmless and to be expected. The problem comes in when this modest tongue lapping turns to be excessive or consistent. In this case, there could be underlying reasons why your dog is licking or chewing its paws. Possible reasons include injury, allergies, skin problems, anxiety, or even boredom.

So while it is a totally normal self-grooming action across all dog breeds, it can also be indicative of a bigger root problem. Therefore, it’s handy to know all the possibilities in order to best care for your fur baby.

Our dogs are our friends. And we love them to bits. But even our best friends do things that annoy us even if they don’t intend to. With dogs, it’s that infuriating habit of barking at inappropriate times. When it’s at night, it can distress us, keep us out of sleep, and make enemies of our neighbors.

More often than not, there’s a reason for the barking, though. And with a bit of investigation and intelligent action, you can remedy the problem effectively. Let’s look at what may be causing the nocturnal nagging, the moonlit moaning, the barking dog in the darkness.

This guide will also look at a few possible ways to change the behavior by either removing the cause or altering the response. Here’s why your dog is barking at night. 

Head shaking, ears flapping, collar jangling — you probably see your dog doing this at least once a day. But is there any reason for this behavior? Or should you be concerned? Why do dogs shake their heads?

Rest assured that head shaking is a common behavior that all dogs do on the regular. While you use your hands to solve most problems, for your pooch, there’s little that a good shake of the head can’t fix. However, just like with most behavior, when something happens too frequently, there may be cause for concern.

If your pet is constantly shaking its head, there may be an underlying issue causing the behavior. This post covers some common reasons for head-shaking behavior that you don’t need to worry about. Then it discusses possible concerning reasons why your dog might be shaking its head, and what you should do about it.

Many dog owners wonder why their believed pooches like to snooze on top of them throughout the night. Maybe your dog sleeps on your husband instead of you which may also have you perplexed. All pooches often have strange quirks that raise some questions like why does my dog sleep on me?

As pup parents, you want to know that your fur baby is happy and healthy and that their behavior isn't indicative of an underlying concern. So if you’ve found yourself at a loss about your canine's sleeping habits then rest assured, this article will cover all your questions and concerns. Read on to dive right in.

You may have wondered why pups lie on you or why dogs lick their noses but have you ever wondered why does a dog lick your face? While this can be an endearing display for some pet owners, others may be wondering what the reasons behind it could be.

Our pups usually show undying love and loyalty through non-verbal communication. This includes barking, wagging, and licking - you know the drill. And your face is not exempt from this.

This article will cover everything you need to know about your furry friend when it comes to this quirky quality. We’ll also uncover whether this licking behavior is normal or something to be monitored more closely. Let’s dive right in.

Your dog may be your best friend, but sometimes they do really strange things. You’ve probably seen it many times: Your dog spots a patch of grass, immediately flops down on his back, and starts wiggling around.

Although it may seem like odd behavior from our perspective, it is actually quite a normal thing for dogs to do. But why do dogs roll in the grass? Is it for fun, or is there some deeper reason behind this behavior?

In this article, we’ll explore the different reasons for this dog behavior. We’ll also look at when you should stop your dog from rolling in the grass and how to achieve it.

For those of you who like long walks on the beach and are real ‘dog people’ - you might adore the wet kisses and cuddles from your dog. Some may consider moments like this, ones they look forward to the most.

But why do dogs lie so close to you? And what drives them to want to do it? Should you be concerned about your dog laying on you? Why does my dog lay on me?

Many dog parents experience having their dog lie right against them, or perhaps even on top of them. And others may have noticed that their dog loves to lean against them frequently.

All these needy-looking types of behaviors will be explained in this post by considering the real nature of our domesticated dogs. And, also help give you and your dog a chance at improving your puppy love.

‘He put his foot in his mouth again’, can be a common joke among friends and family when one has said something a little embarrassing. But what does it mean when your dog does the same thing - literally? Is there reason to be concerned? Why do dogs chew on their feet?

In this guide, we decipher what makes a dog chew at its feet and how you can curb this behavior. 

What some dog parents may not know is that dogs chewing and licking their feet is very common behavior. Plenty of owners observe this behavior in their dogs and wonder if they should rush their four-legged friend to the nearest vet. But, it’s best not to overreact immediately. Most dogs will gently nibble and lick at one or both paws as a soothing gesture.

If you have observed that the behavior has come on suddenly and intensely for extended periods. Or perhaps you’ve noticed that your dog is now chewing on their toes - then the behavior needs to be addressed seriously.

If the chewing gets out of hand or if you notice your dog developing “hot spots” on their skin, bleeding, or loss of fur then you should bring your dog to the vet, immediately.

However, don’t go speeding off to the vet just yet. Take a look at these common factors that could be triggering the chewing and see which suits your pup.

They say a dog with a wet nose is a happy dog. Anyone who has ever met a happy pooch knows that a pup’s excited nose licking means good feelings all around. So why do dogs lick their noses?

In many cases, it’s a positive sign, but there are also those instances where you may want to take a closer look. From nervous ticks to health concerns, it’s a good idea to carefully note when nose-licking is comfortable, or when it feels out of the ordinary.

Noses are a very important part of a dog’s life. It’s a critical tool for telling lots of things about the environment, people, and other animals. For this reason, it’s important for it to be healthy.

So here are the reasons dogs lick their noses, both good and bad.

Do you have one of those dogs that love to sleep on top of you? Are you curious as to why it’s chosen to always sleep on top of you and not your partner? Have you ever wondered why does my dog sleep on me and not my husband? The reasons for this could be simple in principle, but interesting to explore nonetheless.

Dogs are pack animals. They have a natural instinct to group into families, so when you are a family unit, it’s no surprise that they will do as many things with you as possible. This includes bedding down together to sleep. They also assume a protective role at this time.

Why it chooses you over your partner may have a lot to do with your individual relationship with the pooch. So let’s look into the context of why your partner might be the mattress of choice.