Reasons Why Your Dog Is Acting Weird

paw
blogDetails.blogPreviewImage

While dogs are among the most popular pets in the world, they can be weird because of their unique personalities. These quirky activities often make you laugh out loud and love your pet even more. However, what if your dog is acting very weird all of a sudden and doing things that it never did in the past?


If you have the same concern about why your dog is acting weird, this article is for you. Here, we will discuss what behavior of your dog is considered weird, what are the common reasons for those acts, and what you can do to prevent them. Let’s discuss:

Typical Dog Behavior

Before discussing what weird dog behavior you should be concerned about, let’s talk about some typical behavior that might seem weird. Why? Dogs are adorable, and they instinctively repeat behaviors that might seem weird to first-time or even seasoned pet parents. 


So, if you are struggling to determine between weird and typical behavior, here are some common dog behaviors:

Head Tilting

You may often see your dog tilting its head like it is confused or puzzled about something. This is one of the cute peculiarities of dogs. While most of the time, your dog might actually be confused, sometimes your pet may tilt its head to see things from a better angle.

Poop Eating

Some dogs have a tendency to eat poop, known as Coprophagia. While experts are still divided about the exact reasons, some blame this tendency on dogs’ overall hygiene. Some puppies might lack insights to differentiate between food and faeces and carry this behavior into their adulthood.

Tail Chasing

If your dog lacks toys or playmates, you may often find it chasing its tail. It is one of the playful things dogs often do to entertain themselves. However, lingering itchiness or curiosity can be another reason for dogs to chase their tails.


Howling and Barking

With howling and barking, dogs communicate with their owners. If your pet is barking for a while, it might have seen something that stimulated its interest. Other times, your puppy might howl to communicate with other dogs nearby.

Scooting of Butts

Another immensely funny moment all the dog parents have experienced is the butt scooting of their pets. It might seem weird to some. However, your dog does this either to scratch or remove something from that area.

Licking People



Dogs lick people or other pets to express their affection and gratitude. It might feel unsanitary to some extent; however, if your dog is doing this to you, it often means it trusts you completely and enjoys your company. 

Humping

Humping for dogs is a sexual outlet that increases significantly when they are in heat. From objects and other pets to people, dogs hump everything. While this is not a harmful behavior in general, you might be concerned about the decency and safety of your furniture.

Sniffing Butt of Other Dogs

Dogs retain a significant amount of information through smell. These creatures have a great sense of smell, and they will sniff anything suspicious in their path. For the same reason, your dog will sniff the butt of other dogs to get introduced to each other and determine if it likes the other pet or not.

Leaning Towards People

While most dogs project this behavior, large dog breeds are more prone to this behavior. These furry canines are very affectionate and will bow when near you so you can pet it and show affection.

What Weird Behaviors You Should Keep an Eye for?

Now that you know what behavior is normal for your dog, it’s time you learn what behavior you should be concerned about. These weird behaviors often occur due to underlying health issues. Therefore, if you see your dog is projecting any of the following behaviors, take it to a veterinary institution as soon as possible:

Vomiting and/or Diarrhea

The first place of dog weird behavior is marked by vomiting and/or diarrhea. Dogs don’t usually vomit or poop uncontrollably. If your dog is showing any sign of this behavior, it is a clear indication of some underlying health condition.

Lack of Appetite

If your pet loses interest in eating, it is often caused by internal pain. Your beloved pet might suffer from this pain for medical or psychological reasons. If you see your dog is not interested in eating, you should administer immediate medical care as advised by professionals.

Excessive Thirst

Among pets, dogs are not much of a water drinker. You might see them drinking water only after their meals or after exhausting activities. However, if you see your dog drinking more water than usual, consider this as a weird behavior. You should take proper steps to investigate the reasons. 

Frequent Urination

Like humans, dogs can be diagnosed with diabetes. The primary indication of this condition is frequent urination. However, any undesirable conditions in the kidney, liver, or adrenal gland can be the cause of your pet peeing frequently.

Movement Difficulties

You might see your dog struggling to stand up or shaking while doing simple movements. This may be happening because your dog is suffering from pain from physical injuries. This can be very concerning and cause permanent health damage if not treated immediately.

Common Causes Behind Your Dog Acting Weird

As you now know why your dog is acting more unusual than usual, there is a common theme in the causes. Most peculiar acts dogs perform are caused by underlying mental or physical conditions. It might come from chronic health diseases or any mental imbalances. Let’s take a closer look at those reasons:

1. Injury and Illness



If your pet dog is suffering from any kind of injury or medical condition, it will start acting strange all of a sudden. For example, if the furry pet is vomiting or pooping uncontrollably, it might be suffering from food poisoning. It may also feel nauseated when it sees food and lose its appetite.


On the other hand, if your dog is suffering from muscle, joint, or bone injuries, it will have difficulties moving and will start limping or jumping. Some dogs might suffer from jaw deformities or gum pain, leading them to starve even if they are hungry.


If you suspect any of these symptoms, make sure to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. This will help your dog to get well from its physical condition and lead a long and healthy life. 

2. Stress and Anxiety

Like humans, dogs can also be diagnosed with stress and anxiety. Generally, dogs get stressed due to environmental, physical, or psychological causes. In some cases, your dog might be stressed due to all the elements happening around it, which can overwhelm its mind.


Anxiety is the primary cause of psychological stress in dogs. Canines are affectionate beings with a strong sense of attachment. So, if it is separated from its cubs or shifted to a new house, it will project signs of stress and anxiety. 


You might detect your dog’s anxiety or stress symptoms by its whining, barking, constant pacing or shaking, panting, or fur shedding. While in some dogs, these symptoms might be subtle, you can clearly point them out by your dog’s body language. 

3. Fear and Trauma



If a dog has received mistreatment and abuse, it can put permanent mental scars on its mind. It will be scared to face anything and either act aggressively or be very submissive. Due to this stress and trauma, it might be difficult for your dog to trust anyone or anything. 


Restlessness, cowering, excessive barking, panting, and avoidance are some of the common traits your dog might project if it is suffering from fear and trauma. These pets might act very scared even if you scold them and withdraw the trust they built with you.


Therefore, if your beloved pet has a traumatic past, you need to make sure not to stress them more. Be patient and loving towards your pet to make it comfortable around you.

4. Hormones

Overwhelming hormone discharge can cause your pet to act strangely. This is a very common situation for dogs in heat and want to procreate. 


While this might not need immediate medical treatment, it can be overwhelming for you as a dog owner. You can effectively manage this situation by neutering or spaying your pet for its overall wellbeing.

5. Cognitive Dysfunction

With age, dogs’ senses can become disoriented. This situation is called cognitive dysfunction, which is similar to Alzheimer’s Disease in humans. This is a very common situation in older dogs, typically that are over 9 years old.


Due to this condition, your dog might get lost even in its familiar places, can become clingy or avoidant, soil your house, or even project anxiety symptoms. While this is an inevitable situation, the symptoms can be managed through dietary changes and enrichment activities.

6. Boredom

A bored dog can be a very weird pet. Once they get bored, they will stop moving from their designated places and even stop socializing with you or any other pets in your house. As they are not moving as much as they should, they might not get hungry and lose their appetite. 


To avoid such a situation, you should follow a strict walking and exercise routine for your dog. With proper exercise, your dog will be stimulated and lead an active life overall. This will prevent their strange activities.

7. Diet Issues



While dogs are not as much drama queens as cats about their food, some of them come very close. They are very choosy about what they eat. However, like cats, dogs rely very much on their sense of smell to choose their food.


If your dog chews something that has a very pleasant smell but tastes weird, it will show signs of a lack of appetite. It is also possible for your dog to act peculiarly because it is not getting enough nutrients from its food.

8. Changes in Routine

Being a dog parent, you need to be very consistent about the routine you follow with your dog. Any changes in routine, like feeding or walking time, can cause your dog to get stressed. 


Canines do not like changes as they are creatures of habit. So, any changes around them can bother them severely and they will start acting strangely. 

What Can You Do to Stop Your Dog’s Strange Behavior?

While strange behavior of your dog is often a sign of chronic health conditions, it can be very concerning for you as a pet owner. So, you need to take immediate action to prevent permanent health damage and bring back the silly and happy little pet you had in the past.


Here are some measures you might take to help your dog stop behaving unusually:

  • If the weird behavior occurs due to boredom or routine changes, be patient and start taking measures to stimulate your pet slowly yet consistently.


  • If your dog is being strange due to psychological aspects like fear and anxiety, shower your pet with affection till it becomes confident when around you.


  • If the dog is suffering from any medical condition, make sure to take it to your vet immediately for a swift diagnosis and recovery. 


In addition, you can take the following measures to prevent bizarre behavior of your pet:


  • Maintaining a proper feeding selection and schedule.


  • Be affectionate to your dog and use positive reinforcements to train your pet.


  • Do not spoil your dog by giving it more toys or treats than it needs.


  • Do not scold or beat your dog. It will make the pet fearful and act weirdly.


  • If you are having trouble training your pet, enroll it in an effective dog training program.


  • Monitor your dog’s movement, see if it is acting weirdly, and find the underlying reasons.


Final Words

Dogs are very loyal companions of men, and you cannot be concerned when they act weirdly. So, the moment you see your dog acting strangely, you need to start acting fast. 


Firstly, record the weird behavior, and then find out the reason behind it. Once you have a good understanding, make sure to take proper steps, like going back to a consistent routine, arranging activities to mentally stimulate your pet, or taking it to a vet. 


If you are struggling to understand the strange behavior, you can leverage PawMaw to ask questions to our engaged pet community. Our community members will be more than happy to help you seek the reasons behind your dogs' unusual behavior and give you advice on how you can manage it.


Are you struggling with your dog’s behavior right now? Let us know in the comment box.

Categories

  • All Post arrow
  • Lost & Found Pet Tips arrow
  • Pet Behavior arrow
  • Pet Training arrow
  • Pet Food arrow
  • Pet Health arrow
  • Pet Care arrow
  • Pet Safety arrow
  • Others arrow

Get Your Pet Back Home

Over 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen every year. You can report your missing pets with PawMaw.

https://pawmaw-images.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/Blog-Image/what-to-do-if-dog-bites-me.png
Pet Behavior
January 14, 2025 Pawmaw

What To Do If Dog Bites Me?

When a dog bite appears on your skin, you might need to take precautions such as treating the injury immediately, identifying the owner, and cleaning ...

https://pawmaw-images.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/Blog-Image/what-to-do-if-a-dog-attacks-while-walking.png
Pet Behavior
January 12, 2025 Pawmaw

What To Do If A Dog Attacks While Walking?

Stay safe, remain calm, and avoid eye contact with aggressive dogs. When a dog attacks, protect yourself with shields and ask passersby for help.

https://pawmaw-images.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/Blog-Image/how-to-safely-break-up-a-dog-fight.png
Pet Behavior
December 31, 2024 Pawmaw

How to Safely Break Up a Dog fight

Learn practical strategies for safely breaking up a dogfight. Learn essential tips to protect yourself and your pets in tense situations.

Get Your Pet Back Home

Over 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen every year. You can report your missing pets with PawMaw. We can notify thousands nearby within a minute.

Report Lost Pet
dog-image-01.webp