Understanding Dog Behavior

Ever wonder “what was my Yorkie thinking?” Sometimes dogs do things that seem really strange but once you get a better understanding, you will not have to wonder as much. The following are some quick steps to communicate better with your dogs:

None of these dog body language signals act alone. They are all part of a package. So, when you read a dog’s communication, look at every signal the dog is using from the tail height to the eye shape. Your dog is “talking” to you all the time.
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• Your Yorkie moves away when you pet his head
  A dog perceives continuous head patting as a signal of dominance, not affection. It also just does not feel good. Dogs prefer to be stroked, particularly on the side of the face, under the chin, or on the front of the chest. They also like having their rumps scratched.
• Paws and scrapes the ground after eliminating 
  A dog doing that is actually engaging in a kind of marking behavior to advertise his presence – the opposite of trying to cover up the “evidence”.
• Eats feces: 
  Eating feces is seen in some dogs, but it is not always harmless. Other animals’ feces can carry diseases and parasites. Pick up stools promptly and limit access. If the behavior concerns you, starts suddenly or occurs with diarrhea or weight loss, ask your veterinarian to check for an underlying problem. See VCA Animal Hospitals’ information on dogs eating feces.
• Eats grass: 
  Occasional grass eating does not by itself explain why a dog vomits. Do not assume vomiting is harmless because your Yorkie ate grass. Contact your veterinarian if vomiting recurs, and seek prompt advice if there is blood in the vomit, lethargy or a painful belly. See Cornell veterinary guidance on vomiting.
• Sniffs around “forever” before urinating: 
  To a dog, urinating is an elimination process and a way of communicating. So a dog has to take in the various olfactory notices left by other dogs before leaving a message of his own. He may even want to make sure that no other pup has previously urinated in the spot he’s considering. Thus, it may take some time so be patient.
• Sniffs another dogs behinds: 
  If smelling were seeing, humans would be considered legally blind by those in the canine world. Pheromones generated from the glands around a dog’s anus let another dog know the identity of another dog.