Eating grass, eating your own poop, licking yourself…

Several signs indicate a problem with your pet that your veterinarian can treat.

He gets aggressive with some people ( 1/10 )

When a dog sees certain people, it may become very reactive and exhibit unusual behavior;

She may look at them strangely, move away, approach, or even try to attack.

But why do dogs react differently depending on the person? Thanks to their sense of smell, which is 10,000 times stronger than that of humans, our dog can sense something that we cannot notice or see with the naked eye, and then react and bark. A dog’s reactions are based on past experiences; sometimes they become aggressive towards people who remind them of danger, or towards something they associate with something negative, such as bad memories.

For this reason, dogs often bark at people they know when they are wearing hats or holding umbrellas, or at people under the influence of alcohol; in general, many dogs are afraid of what they do not know. In any case, if your dog is behaving inappropriately, do not hesitate to seek help from a professional dog trainer.

• He digs holes ( 2/10 ) This instinctive behavior of our canine friends comes from their wild relatives, such as foxes and wolves, who dig dens to raise their young. These dens provide safety and comfort: the young are well protected from predators inside, protected from extreme heat or cold. In the wild, this behavior was vital, as it allowed them to store food in case it became scarce.
• Today, dogs are more likely to dig the ground for fun, out of boredom or to find relief from the heat. They also dig to create their own cozy place to sleep or to bury their “treasures” in the ground – things they consider valuable, such as a treat, a toy or even your last pair of sneakers!

• He rubs his butt against the ground ( 3/10 ) If you’ve ever seen your sweet pooch move forward using his front paws, dragging his backside along the ground, this way of locomotion has probably made you laugh, but in fact this behavior, known as “jumping”, usually appears when your dog has intestinal parasites or worms, or anal gland disease, which are the most common causes. The dog will try to relieve this discomfort and the rather painful itching by rubbing his backside against the ground. Also, if your dog has recently been dewormed and is still adopting a sledding pose to relieve the discomfort, you should not delay and make an appointment with the vet immediately to get rid of your pooch!

• He eats his own excrement or the excrement of others ( 4/10 ) This rather disgusting but nevertheless common habit of some dogs is known as coprophagy, a behavior that consists of eating excrement, both his own and that of other animals. There are many explanations for the origin of this unpleasant phenomenon. Depending on the case, it may be the result of a medical problem in the dog, such as digestive irritation, in which case eating feces can bring relief; or the dog may be suffering from a deficiency and simply looking for nutrients in the leftover food contained in its feces; or it may have been injured during training and is hiding its feces from its owner to avoid punishment. In any case, if your dog has the habit of doing this, consider consulting a veterinarian, since this behavior is not necessarily beneficial for your dog’s health, coprophagy can lead to your dog being infected with pathogenic genes or parasites.

• He’s playing with his tail (5/10) Again, a rather amusing dog behavior that should be of concern to us, a dog trying to catch its tail by spinning around or “chasing its tail” is not doing it to entertain the crowd, but there are several reasons for this. This behavior is usually seen in puppies who just want to play, but sometimes even larger dogs seek entertainment in this way or try to attract the attention of their owner. Another, more worrying reason could be a sign of pain or discomfort localized to the tail, or worms. In many cases, this can be a form of neurosis; the dog is not getting enough exercise, which leads to repetitive movements.

• He licks his nose for no reason ( 6/10 ) A dog may instinctively lick his nose to keep it moist and thus develop his sense of smell, which will allow him to distinguish smells better. However, licking his nose, or “licking” in English, indicates that the dog is uncomfortable in an unexpected or unfamiliar situation. If, in addition to licking his nose and lips, for example, the dog accompanies this behavior with barking and growling, then this is undoubtedly a strong sign of stress and anxiety in your canine companion. This is their way of communicating; licking is a common calming signal that indicates that the dog is uncomfortable, for example in our presence, when meeting another dog or even during a visit to the vet. Of course, Fido does not want to signal his discomfort when walking them or preparing their food! In any case, the truffle licking is a warning sign because the situation needs to change so that Medor can regain his composure.

• His paws smell bad ( 7/10 ) Dogs have sweat glands that produce odors, and they can’t sweat like humans. Our four-legged companions sweat through their paw pads, which is where that characteristic odor, often described as popcorn, comes from. They also sweat through their hair follicles. In fact, this odor is a byproduct of the life of yeast and bacteria. Dogs have billions of bacteria living on their bodies, which are the real breeding grounds for this persistent and characteristic odor. If the odor is normal, no treatment is needed, as bacteria are present even with perfect hygiene and are necessary for most people. However, if the odor becomes too strong, it could indicate an infection, so be vigilant about your dog’s health. Nothing will stop our little four-legged friends!

• Scratches the ground with his paws after defecating ( 8/10 ) It’s a rather strange but nevertheless instinctive behavior of dogs, who scratch the ground with their hind legs after defecating, unlike cats. In fact, the dog simply marks his passage with his “olfactory signature”; that is, the dog releases his scent with the help of pheromones secreted by his paw pads, which are full of scent glands and leaves them in that particular spot. A real olfactory message and visual signal to mark his territory and let other dogs know they’ve been there – smart one, Fido!

• He rides other dogs (9/10) By using this normal, yet quite annoying behavior, the dog seeks to gain dominance over both objects and people, as well as to spread his scent. This phenomenon of arming or “mounting”, which dogs do naturally, can also occur when the dog finds himself in a stressful situation or is overly excited. Thus, this behavior can help him relieve stress and manage his emotions. It also simply reflects the desire to play or a natural reproductive instinct. Although mounting other dogs is normal and natural, if it becomes persistent and destructive, and if the dog starts mounting you, or if it creates discomfort for the other dog, this behavior should be stopped.

• He eats grass! ( 10/10 ) Dogs, like their noble wolf ancestors, are carnivores by nature, but sometimes they graze on grass like true ruminants. Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain this behavior, but enriching the dog’s diet with fiber or inducing vomiting by swallowing grass are often considered the most plausible. If your dog is having trouble digesting properly, he will spontaneously try to induce vomiting; the dog eats grass to purge. Your dog may also enjoy grass, preferably wheatgrass, which is his favorite grass as it is rich in fiber, making it an ideal food to ensure a significant fiber intake for your canine companion. It is also possible that your dog is suffering from a bout of hiccups, which is why he tends to eat various and particularly unusual materials, such as grass, soil, wood or pebbles. It is especially important to take the time to observe your dog, and if this behavior becomes regular and causes concern, or in case of doubt, always contact your veterinarian for further action.