Understanding Dog Behavior: Pet Care Advice for Beginners

Since dog behavior can at times be baffling, you should really take the time to understand the signals your pet gives you, so that you can develop a good relationship with each other.

Although your pet can't speak, he does have various means of communicating with you. It’s important that you understand these modes of communication, in order to have better rapport with your dog. Some dog behavior may be impossible to understand and this might make you worry. However, such behavior might be natural for a dog. It’s therefore essential for you to understand how your pet experiences the world.

Understanding Dog Behavior

Pet owners often wonder why their dogs move away when their heads are patted. As a general rule, dogs do not like to be petted on their head as they take it as a sign of dominance over them. They prefer to be stroked along their jaw or on the sides of their face. A pat on the rump is also welcome, but a pat on the head should be avoided.

Dogs grunt when they’re happy about something but may whine when they’re experiencing discomfort. A whine might mean that your pet is hungry or cold, but a grunt means that your dog is pleased.

More Insights on Dog Behavior

Most pet owners are concerned about some of their pet's more unfathomable behavior. Your puppy might circle the bedding area before sleeping. This behavior is a relic from the past when dogs in the wild flattened down their sleeping area for comfort. Circling the bedding area does not mean that your pup is unhappy or uncomfortable.

Another unusual and worrisome form of dog behavior for most pet owners is the ingestion of feces. Dogs tend to eat their own feces, but this does not point to any nutritional deficiency. This is specie specific behavior that has nothing to do with the food your pet is fed.

Yawning is an indication that your pet is stressed or tired. Dogs are also known to lick their lips when they’re anxious or nervous. Your pup might also eat grass to get rid of a stomach upset. Dogs will also often paddle their feet when they’re asleep. In these instances, your dog is generally chasing other animals in their dreams. Although such behavior may seem strange to you, it is perfectly natural behavior for your pet.