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Laughter is the best antidote for stress, and when it comes to our beloved four-legged companions, you can count on daily giggles. There’s just something about these cuddly pooches that gives us immeasurable amounts of love and care in our lives (and some pretty hilarious moments too!) Besides being the most adorable furballs on the planet, they give us comfort by staying by our side no matter what, and they conquer our hearts by never passing up an opportunity to make us smile.
"I think dogs are so special to us because they're non-judgemental and always there for us," a qualified animal behaviorist Kate Mornement, Ph.D., told Bored Panda in an email. Specializing in companion and captive animal behavior, training and education, Kate strives to help people better understand creatures living under their care, so she was more than happy to share some insights into goofy dog behavior.
According to Kate, dogs are always so happy to see us and spend time with us. "I think we're fascinated with them because of their adorable antics, personality and behavior and because they live in the moment," the founder of the consultancy Pets Behaving Badly said.
When asked about the reasons our dogs seem like they "malfunctioned" by striking weird poses of simply being their goofy selves, Kate explained that our furry friends can be weird and total dorks sometimes.
From dogs who roll around in the grass like there’s no tomorrow to pooches who figure out the strangest ways to get the most pets from passers, there's no shortage of kooky behaviors they express.
Kate mentioned some of the most common ones: "Some dogs sleep in bizarre positions or appear to malfunction when they get the zoomies. Sometimes odd behavior can be caused by a serious health or medical issue so it's important to have your dog checked by a vet if their behavior suddenly changes."
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It’s easy to see why their funny antics are so entertaining, and the pups themselves look like they’re having fun. But animal behaviorist Kate pointed out that this seemingly derpy, dorky, and foolish behavior can also be a sign that’s something amiss.
"If you notice your dog becoming clumsy and knocking into things or they're pressing their head up against a wall or chasing their tail or shadows/reflections it suggests they may have an underlying issue. Take them to the vet for a check-up," Kate warned. Moreover, it’s important to tighten the bond with your pet and understand what is normal for your dog so you can pick up the subtle signs that your dog is unwell.
One of the dangers of our dogs’ adorable looks is that we may misclassify some of their behaviors as sweet when they actually pose a threat to their health and well-being. This can lead to problems if not addressed, so it’s important for owners to stay alert.
"Common dog behavior we tend to see as cute include jumping up and mouthing in puppies," Kate told us. "This becomes problematic when dogs grow into adults, especially the larger breeds, as it can hurt being jumped on or mouthed by a 30kg dog!"
"Another cute behavior people often laugh at is when dogs steal things they shouldn't have. This problem should be addressed early though to prevent resource guarding," Kate added.
Snoring is also a behavior you might want to examine more deeply. Even though we all love to be startled by our sleeping doggos suddenly barking, howling, or twitching as they’re dreaming about taunting your cat, it may be a sign of an underlying health problem.
"Loud snoring can indicate compromised airways making breathing difficult. This issue is especially common in brachycephalic (short-faced) breeds. Owners of dogs who snore loudly should have this checked by their vet to see whether something can be done to improve their breathing," Kate told us.
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To get to know your furry friend better, animal expert Kate advised you to observe their behavior and take note of what things and activities your pet enjoys tremendously. "Most dog breeds were originally developed to do a particular job. Although most dogs no longer need to perform those jobs these days, many still retain the desires and instinct to perform jobs such as herding, retrieving and guarding as well as normal canine behaviors (e.g. digging, sniffing, barking, etc.)"
"Try to provide daily appropriate opportunities for these activities. Every dog has an individual personality, their own likes and dislikes. Providing for the needs of your individual dog can help them feel happier and less stressed," Kate concluded.
