Why Dogs Do What They Do - Part 2

For the past 60,000 plus years, man has tried to control the majority of the behaviors of their dogs. We have bred them for war. We have bred them for sport. We have bred them to herd livestock, hunt wild boars, pull carts, find bodies and guard our homes and businesses. We have bred them to entertain us, assistance us and to comfort us. We have bred them for money. We have bred them because we are so passionate about a determined breed, we cannot fantasize why everybody doesn't want one.

The interesting thing is, in spite of all our tinkering with genetics and training, some dogs just cannot help feeling the call of the wild. They display that natural instinct in some of their rather interesting behaviors.

Carts For Dogs To Pull

Male dogs hike their leg to urinate, is a way of setting scent markers as territorial claims, to show the dog world how big they are and how much territory is theirs! Males rarely if ever, empty their bladders. As anyone who has ever owned a male dog knows, they have to save squirts for as many markers as possible. The more and higher they spray, the bigger and more dominant they appear to any dog passing by. That is also why some kick up dirt and grass after they urinate...it spreads their scent ticket around, to make them look as if they are enormous!

Dogs circle before finding a resting place, has to do with flattening out twigs and stick, interesting rocks, production sure no snakes are around, setting a boundary and production a nice soft place to rest. It is also believed, when circling, they can find out which way the prevailing wind is blowing. That way, even if they are sleeping, they can smell a predator creeping up on them. The exception to the rule are sled dogs; which rather than facing the wind, curl up into a ball and turn their backs to it.

In the wild, wolves often make a number of larger circles, each one getting smaller, as a way of setting a boundary, before production their final circle to sleep in. To many dogs, their sleeping area is a personal space. Most learn to respect each others sleeping area.

Dogs eat grass could be for a number of reasons. Most dogs do seem to need grass now and then. We think of dogs as being carnivores, which they primarily are, however they are also omnivores. They have learned to eat anyone is available, which sometimes was only plants and berries.

Most prey wild dogs and wolves dine on are herbivores. Leaving small to waste, they may have learned to acquire their taste for greens, when devouring the contents of their prey's stomach and intestines. Hence, a hankering now and then for greens!

Some claim dogs have learned to eat grass as a way of inducing vomiting. Other reasons consist of as a source of fiber; as a sort of homemade remedy for diarrhea or constipation.

It is also believed dogs may eat grass as a way to rid themselves of worms or other stomach and intestinal parasites.

Hopefully, this information will help you appreciate and understand the wolf in your living room!

For more interesting dog facts, see Why Dogs Do What They Do - Part 1.

Why Dogs Do What They Do - Part 2