Why Do Dogs Do Strange Things?

[Doc Tinker]

Tell me why dogs do funny things, like rolling on dead animals?



Can you think of another strange thing that dogs like to do?





Doc

 

[swamp rat]

Doc,

I believe I can answer this question. Maybe the only one ever posted here that I can say that about but here goes:



Dogs (which happen to be nothing less or more than domesticated and inbred wolves) roll on dead animals, in caca and other such behaviour for one simple reason. It is a basic instinct from the non-domesticated side of the wolf that helps them to disguise their scent in order to make hunting much more productive. When prey animals catch the scent of a wolf they run like Hades, but if the wolf can gain an advantage by getting closer to the prey animal before spooking them the end result is a full belly for the pack members starting with the youngest, and the Alpha pair through the hierarchy down to the Omega wolves. The Omegas are nearly alwqys the last to feed.



Mine usually find a fresh pile of horse poop in my neighbors field, then they come running back to jump on me to help disguise my scent, yeah like I want to go hunting with them. Or it could be they are just reminding me the auto feeder is low and Ineed to go to the feed store for another 500 lbs.

 

[swamp rat]

As for another strange activity, how bout sniffing each others butts. And just think, Pet Stores are making millions selling breath mints for dogs. When was the last time you saw two dogs smelling each others breath upon first meeting?



Reason they do is there is a scent gland back there and each one puts out a very slightly diffrent aroma. The dogs smell sensors are so keen, that they work with the brain like a computerized filing system. Kinda like a canine version version of the Instant Background Check when one buys a gun, but it works much better.

 

[Whitmore]

What up DOC with all the dog info? You must be the most knowed up dog dude in town, are you bored with the all mighty cummins or do just have an infatuation with dogs ?

 

[QRTRHRS]

Lick their balls because they can.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

My dogs LOVE eating cat turds from the litter box, then they try and lick you. Do cat turds taste good? Hey Doc, check that out for me

 

[QRTRHRS]

Mine don't bother with the cat poop but man they are nuts about horse poop which I have plenty of.

 

[illflem]

Swamp Rat is right on in his answer. Saw a program on Discovery that told all about it. Also said the reason they wag their tails is to spread butt scent better.

 

[merryman]

One of my favorite writers is Pat McManus. He writes mostly humorous outdoor short stories, and mostly from the point of view of a boy about 13 years old (some from adult point). and he has written often about his dog named "strange". The one bit I recall, is that when they had company, strange would get out in the middle of the room and behave beautifully till he had everyones attention, then, "...commence to noisily lick his nether parts. "

Or when hunting quail, the shooter who missed a bird would get his boot peed on.

If you like outdoor, and fun reading I would recomend him.



Vaughn

 

[SlyBones]

Originally posted by QRTRHRS

Lick their balls because they can.

Actually the reason that dogs lick their balls, is because they can't make a fist.

 

[The patriot]

My usuial greeting from my dog.......

My puppy likes to pee and run towards me when I come home from work. Is this normal, or is she just extra talented?

I'd hate to see if she was NOT happy when I came home.

Eric

 

[Doc Tinker]

She's just excited to see ya, patriot.



Doc

 

[Steve G]

I used to have a Westie that fell in love with it's bed. Yes the dog would hump it's bed. We would be watching tv and the dog would be humping the bed clean out of the bedroom into the living room. Funniest thing I ever saw. The dog had been fixed but I guess that didn't kill the urge. Man that dog had some hip action.



Steve

 

[The patriot]

Sister in law's dog was a "bucket lover".

It's not in doggy bucket heaven.

Eric

 

[Swamp Donkey]

merryman,



I also read McManus. One of the funniest parts about Strange was when the minister was over for dinner, and right at the dinner table he looks ouside to see Strange dragging his butt across the grass with his hind feet in the air pulling himself with his front paws. Of course Strange had this big perverted smile on his face as he was doing so.



I did not do the event justice, it is way funnier when reading it. Made my guts hurt I was laughing so hard.



I think dogs drag thier butts because they can't scratch them with their paws.

 

[Briar Hopper]

leg humping

When I was 13 we had this Methodist preacher, a real anal retentive type... uptight, not real bright. Came by to visit. My dog took an instant dislike to him. Jumped on the couch where he was sitting, and cut a long, slow, smelly one, that my dad could hear across the room. Then he jumped down and made himself a girlfriend out of the preacher's leg. This was the first and only time he ever, ever did anything this bad with any visitor.

We found another church to go to the next week.

 

[swamp rat]

Swamp Donkey,

That gland I mentioned is one reason why dogs scoot around on their butts like that. Worms are another reason but more likely the anal gland sac is filling with fluid and it itches like heck. It is easy to cure but you need a strong constitution and rubber gloves to do it. Most professional groomers will do it as part of the service if you mention it when dropping the dog off.



Come to think of it this post could go in the one about Worst Smells! Peeeewwwwwwww!!!!!





As a sidenote to the worm issue, if you have as many wolfies or dogs as I do an inexpensive way to prevent all sorts of internal parasites specifically heartworms is to orally dose them monthly with Cattle Injectible Ivomec with Ivermectin. 1cc/100lbs. body weight. A 20-30% overdose won't hurt as the 1cc/100# dose is nearly twice what is required to do the job, the extra makes allowances for any loss thru spitting it out and what not. Be a little more accurate with smaller animals 30# and under. A 50ml vial lasts me 10 months with 14+ animals (140+ doses) for a cost of $42 and no sales tax in TN since Ivomec is a livestock pharmaceutical. Just don't give it to Collies, and/or Collie mixes, and have your vet do a heartworm check before administering. I've raised two litters of pups totally wormfree from birth using the suff.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

A peak inside a dog's dayrunner reveals: To do today - 1. find a new way to drive my owner nuts trying to figure what I'm doin. - 2. sniff my butt - 3. sniff neighbor dog's butt - 4. howl in the middle of the day for no reason (see #1 above) - 5. nap until sunset - 6. get up stare blindly into empty space to really freak my owner out! (refer to #1). 7. Go to sleep, repeat tomorrow...

 

[Sled Puller]

better question,: Why does DoC do strange things?"

 

[RATTLINRAM]

DUH,,,,,,,,,,

They say pets learn from their owners ,,,,,,,,,,No wonder my animals are so strange !