Williams: Why does my dog do that?

I receive a lot of inquiries from my students and clients about different behaviors their dogs are exhibiting. Everyone wants to know if what their dog is doing would be considered normal. I thought I’d take some time to address a few of the behaviors I get asked about the most.

Why does my dog eat grass?
Dogs are primarily carnivores, so why do they seem to crave grass? To make matters worse, when they eat it, sometimes they vomit it up almost immediately. This has led many to believe that the behavior might be caused by an underlying digestive deficiency or stomach upset. Drs. Karen Sueda, Ben Hart and Kelly Cliff of the Veterinary College of the University of California at Davis surveyed a group of dog owners to find out just how common the behavior is. Seventy-nine percent of respondents reported that their dogs regularly ate grass or other plant material. The majority also reported that their dogs rarely exhibited any signs of illness prior to eating the grass or afterwards. In the few cases where illness was present, the dogs were much older. So, while we still don’t know exactly why dogs eat grass, we can at least take comfort in knowing it is rarely a cause for concern. Just watch for the presence of any other symptoms indicating illness. If any are noted, consult your veterinarian. Otherwise, just consider your dog enjoying a brief vegetarian moment.

Why does my dog eat his own feces?
Warning: Do not read while eating! Coprophogy, the scientific term for eating feces, is likely one of the most unappealing behaviors a dog can exhibit. The good news is, as repulsive as it is, it’s usually pretty harmless. Some dogs just like the taste of it, and not just their own, but the cat’s, the duck’s, the horse’s, and even the llama’s if you have one! Animals, including humans, don’t always fully digest everything we eat. When digestion isn’t complete some dogs will still sense nutritional value in the feces. After eating it repeatedly, the behavior can become habitual, especially when it manifests during puppyhood. Some scientists feel habitual feces eating can be an indication of a dietary deficiency. A change in a dog’s food, and or nutritional supplements could be in order.

However once any medical reasons are ruled out, it becomes a matter of predicting the behavior so you can prevent it. While there are different all natural remedies available to discourage the behavior, I haven’t found any to be overly effective. What has been effective is not allowing the dog opportunity to eat it by cleaning it up right away. Once the dog has been prevented from eating it for several weeks, the behavior is often extinguished. In the meantime, if your dog has been outside for a while, I advise doing a quick breath test before you let him lick your face!

Why does my dog lick me so much?
There are many reasons dogs lick us. Licking can be a sign of affection, especially when the behavior occurs while you’re petting and cuddling him. Some dogs just like the salty taste of our skin. Licking can also be a calming signal, demonstrating your dog’s desire to maintain the peace and diffuse the situation. For a while there had been a school of thought that believed licking was a display of dominance. However in my experience, dogs that repeatedly lick their humans are often more submissive in nature. All in all, licking is rarely a problem unless it becomes uncontrollable and unusually excessive. Just like any behavior carried to the extreme, excessive licking could become an obsessive/compulsive disorder. In this case veterinary and/or behavior modification intervention should be consulted.

Why does my dog turn in circles and scratch the floor before lying down?
Most scientists agree that this digging behavior is related to a dog’s instinct to prepare his own shelter. Similar behavior has been noted in wolves and wild dogs before lying down on the grass or in wooded areas. First the dog sniffs the chosen spot, digs with his front paws, and then after circling a few times, lowers his body in a tight position so he can fit into an imaginary nest. Dogs might repeat this process several times before finally settling on a spot. What I like best about when a dog does this is it usually indicates he will be laying there for a while. There’s nothing like seeing a dog peacefully sleeping while you get all your household chores finished.

Let’s face it, dogs can do some really strange things, however I’m sure they think the same of us! Have you ever wondered what a dog thinks when we put on shoes, brush our teeth, or watch television? These are just a few of the most common questions I get asked. If you have more, please feel free to send them to me.

Stafford resident Laurie C. Williams is a certified pet dog trainer and local business owner. She appeared on the television reality show “Greatest American Dog” with her Maltese, Andrew. Reach her at onesmartpooch@aol.com.