Our pets can do some really strange things. People who know and love their pets can spend hours watching their pets throughout the day, and wondering why they do the things they do. Like why do they tip their heads to the side when you talk to them? Why do their tails wag when you walk in the door? Why do they grunt when they are excited? Why do they roll around on the floor and your feet whenever they can? There are a lot of different pet behaviors which may have you puzzled, but with just a little bit of understanding about animals, you will be able to better understand just what your pet means when he does certain things.
Not all dogs tilt their heads when being spoken to, but a lot of them do. It is quite amusing to watch, and it often encourages pet owners to carry on a conversation in a ridiculous sounding voice to keep dogs engaged. In many cases, it is actually a learned behavior. It may begin as your dog initially perking up his ears to try to hear what you are saying, and then the more you engage with your dog that way, the more he will continue to do it. Pets love to engage with their owners, even if it is just a short “conversation”, and the more you do it, the more your pet will respond to it.
A wagging tail is something every dog owner is familiar with. When a dog wags his tail, it is usually an indicator of being happy and excited, though not always. The way your dog’s tail moves will indicate a lot of things to his owner and to other animals. A wagging tail does not always mean a dog is friendly and wants to be pet. When a dog’s tail is wagging high, back and forth, it usually indicates a happy pooch. A wagging tail low to the ground or horizontal may indicate the dog is frightened or irritated, and it usually will want to be left alone. Understanding your own dog will help to differentiate what different tail wags mean.
Some dogs growl or grunt when they are happy. It is usually pretty easy to decipher these happy growls from stressed or angry growls. When you look at the dog, he seems relaxed, ears relaxed, and muscles at ease. Dogs will often use a combination of a happy growl and grunt and wagging tail to indicate they are very happy and excited. It may sometimes sound like a Wookie from Star Wars, and it is usually an indicator that your dog is fairly happy and would like to continue doing whatever is causing the grunting.
If you ever have had a dog that loves to roll around on something, particularly your bare feet, it is your dog’s way of saying he loves the way something smells and he wants the smell on him. It is an appreciative and loving gesture, and not all dogs show such affection. It is an indicator that your dog loves the way you or your feet smell, and it is something your dog really likes.
Pets–dogs in particular–can behave in really strange ways. Pet behavior is complicated in some areas, but you can almost always be certain when your pet is happy and carefree by his body language. Your pet, while complicated, will be pretty good at letting you know what makes him happy, and he will certainly let you know when he wants you to keep engaging in a certain behavior.
