Why is my dog acting weird ?
Dogs act in ways that we, as humans don’t normally accept and yet we expect these animals to fit in and accept our social parameters. How arrogant are we? But dogs are not mini humans no matter how often many of us want to project human sensibilities upon them. A dog has different priorities from you and I and never the twain shall meet!
Most importantly a dog needs to know his or her ‘place’. A dog is never really at peace until he knows his place in the ‘pecking’ order – and like most animals this equates to food issues. Who eats first, or controls the food, controls the pack!
So many of us get this wrong! Feeding our dogs before feeding ourselves – no wonder the dog is confused! In one aspect he’s senior to us i.e. eating first and yet we expect to dominate him when we choose. So many dogs in this world are completely f&*c£t up by this aspect of bad pet management alone – no wonder that occasionally they act a bit weird!
All a dog want’s is an easy life!
He wants to know who’s in charge, that the food supply ( for today and tonight) has been sorted out by those in the pack above him i.e. you and I. And that he’s safe. That’s about it!
If your dog is acting weird then it’s because he is uncertain as to, possibly, a number of things, for example:
- Who’s in charge? (Does your dog regard you as the leader of the pack?)
- Where’s my next meal coming from? (Fair enough don’t you think?)
- I had a walk yesterday morning but didn’t have one today ( Dogs like a ROUTINE!)
- Who’s that new person who keeps bugging me? ( New arrivals? The dog needs to know where they sit in the pack culture.)
I could go on and on ( but won’t!)
Suffice to say if your dog is acting weird I suspect that it’s got 90% to do with something YOU are doing wrong and not the dog!
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Stan | Sep 20, 2007 | Reply
People are to quick to ‘anthromorphise’ dogs, to regard them as humans. They’re not! They are animals – and all the better for that.
Their reaction to situations is therefore honest and not concerned with appearances. It’s unfair to expect dogs to behave as if they were mute humans.
Alfred | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
just a qiuz on who am going to train my dog on potty handling i will truly appreciate if you give me the guide on how to handle the situation
Cassie | Mar 1, 2009 | Reply
what about out of character abnormal behavior?
my dog is suddenly acting mean, untrusting, and just spacey…
today she actualy bit me! i have no idea what to do!!!
Dawn | Dec 21, 2009 | Reply
My dog was spayed a few days ago, and 3 days after she started getting all of her stuffed animals and carrying them around and whinning. She takes them with her when she is going to bed one by one. Is this normal behavior, or not? I am not sure what to do about this, or just let her be. I have 2 other dogs and neither of them went through this when they were fixed. Thanks for any help that you can give me.
Krista | Jan 19, 2010 | Reply
My 15 yr old cocker spaniel has started pooping in the house. Sometimes he does it right after he has been outside to potty. He hasn’t done this since he was a puppy. He is in surprisingly perfect health. This behavior feels like acting out and I can’t understand why.
tom | Feb 24, 2010 | Reply
I have an 11 year old lab. Lately he has been reluctant to walk from the living room to the kitchen and back. He needs to do this to access his food, water and the back yard. Any suggestions?
Kath | Feb 28, 2010 | Reply
My dog, is the softest, daftest, friendliest dog you could meet. Brilliant with all ages, strangers, friends etc..however..I have one friend who I don’t see often, but she’s lovely, kind and generous..and..my dog won’t go anywhere near her, he backs away growling throatily, won’t stay in the same room as her.
Last week, I went to answer the door, my dog, curious, at my side, when I opened the door he literally jumped off the floor in fear and ran off into the kitchen, where he backed up into the units, as far away as he could get.
My friend loves dogs, and has had dogs of her own, she was upset, I felt terrible. As soon as she left, he ran in and out of the rooms, checking she’d gone. Anybody out there with an explanation, please??