Do you think you know everything about your dog? Are the two of you really as close as you think? Well, there's a good chance your dog has been keeping some big secrets from you.
But we're about to break the silence on four of your dog's biggest secrets.
#1 - Doggie Dreams
All dog owners have watched their sleeping pets begin to move or make noise while not waking up. Well, those are all signs that your dog is dreaming. Just like humans, dogs can go into a deep sleep and dream. It's just one of the many things we have in common - like a love of hamburgers and a dislike for rainy days.
But what are dogs dreaming about?
If your dog is a sound sleeper, you might be able to get a good idea just by paying attention to his body movements. When your dog's legs are moving a lot, he's probably dreaming about walking or running. The faster his legs movement the faster he's running in his dream. If your dog's nose is twitching a lot, then he's probably sniffing around some doggie paradise in his dream.
#2 - Coprophagia
What bizarre secret is your dog keeping? Well, he may possibly be a backyard coprophagiac. What is that? That's the technical name for a dog that eats feces - either his own or other animals' feces.
Yes, it's a disgusting and gross habit, but it's surprisingly common among puppies and even some mature dogs. Usually, the cause of this behavior has nothing to do with nutritional deficiency. Dogs eat feces because it has a strong smell, and strong smells seem tasty to dogs.
Other dogs may pick up the habit by imitation. One dog in the house starts eating feces, then you have your entire pack munching on their own bathroom in the backyard. It's an ugly secret.
The good news is it is a habit you can break. First, talk about your dog's secret with your vet so health problems, such as parasites, can be ruled out. Next, make sure you clean up after your pet more often or make his bathroom less tasty either by adding pumpkin or meat tenderizer to his food or by putting hot sauce on his feces.
#3 - Crotch Sniffing: It's Like Saying "Nice to Meet You."
One of the most embarrassing parts of dog behavior is, sadly, not a very well-kept secret by most dogs. And that's their tendency to sniff people's crotches. Having your Great Dane's ample nose shoved between the legs of a guest in your home is probably not altogether pleasant for you and definitely not for your guest so why does your dog insist on being so rude?
For dogs, this behavior isn't rude at all. Dogs get to know each other by their scents - in a way, when a dog sniffs another dog's behind it's the equivalent of humans exchanging business cards. And, let's be honest, there are a lot of smells going on in that part of the human body - no matter how many times we shower. It's just another type of dog greeting and, unless your dog gets pretty obsessed with the action, it's perfectly fine to let him do it.
#4 - Making a Dog Happy
Probably the biggest secret your dog is keeping from you is how to make him the content canine you want him to be. The truth is that all of the dog cookies, designer sweaters, and leather pet beds in the world won't make your dog truly happy. What he really wants is structure and leadership - two things only you can give him.
Remember that dogs are pack animals and that means they want a leader they can trust and follow. If you can't be that leader, then they have to pick up the slack and most of our family dogs just aren't ready for that responsibility - plus it's frustrating trying to control a pack of unwilling humans (ask any kindergarten teacher).
Train your dog. Exercise your dog. And work on being a leader he can respect, follow, and care about - if you do, then you'll have a very happy dog.
Well, there you have it: your dog's big secrets. Just don't tell him we let the cat out of the bag!
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