Why Do Dogs Behave This Way? Part Two Explained

In our first "why do dogs..?" article, we explained some puzzling canine behaviours like digging at their bed or shaking when dry. This second part explores more fascinating dog behaviours with updated scientific insights and practical understanding for loving dog owners.

Why Do Dogs Roll in Stinky Things?

Many owners despair when their dog joyfully rolls in foul-smelling objects like animal faeces or decomposing wildlife. This behaviour, rooted in evolutionary instincts, likely helped wild dogs mask their scent to sneak up on prey, making them more effective hunters. It may also serve as a way to mark the stinky object with their own scent or communicate a discovery to their pack. Recent UK veterinary psychology notes this behaviour persists despite domestication, and brushing your dog with patience after is best to manage it.

Why Do Dogs Scratch or Kick Up Grass After Toileting?

Cats often bury their waste to hide their presence, but dogs do the opposite. By scratching the ground or kicking grass around their toilet spot, dogs create both a visual and scent marker. This behaviour advertises their territory to other dogs and potential intruders. This is a natural territorial instinct supported by canine behavioural studies in the UK, emphasising the importance of recognising these signals to better understand your pet's communication.

Why Do Male Dogs Cock Their Leg to Pee?

Leg cocking to urinate is not innate but learned. Male dogs often observe others or detect previously marked urine and adopt this stance to heighten their scent mark. Urinating higher spreads their scent farther, effectively claiming territory. Not all males do this; dogs lacking exposure to others or solitary males may never learn it, which is perfectly normal and not concerning. Socialisation plays a key role.

Why Do Dogs Rub Themselves on the Carpet?

When your dog rolls and rubs on the carpet, it may be relieving an itch or, more intriguingly, scent marking the home environment. Carpets, due to their size and traffic, hold many household scents. Dogs either leave their personal scent to claim ownership or absorb household smells to feel connected to their home. This multifaceted behaviour is a mix of comfort and communication.

Why Do Dogs Try to Lick Your Face?

Face licking is often affectionate, as dogs like the salty taste of skin. However, licking near your mouth reflects ancestral puppy behaviour, where puppies lick parents' faces to stimulate regurgitation of food. Although now mostly symbolic, this gesture is ingrained and shows bonding and anticipation. For hygiene, discourage licking near your mouth but enjoy your dog's affectionate displays.

Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership

Understanding why dogs behave as they do enhances the bond between owner and pet. Accepting these behaviours as normal or instinctual helps approach training and care with patience and empathy. Always source your dog from reputable breeders or adopt from trusted organisations, ensuring pets receive proper care and socialisation. If unwanted behaviours become problematic, consult with a professional trainer or vet rather than resorting to punishment.

For those interested in exploring dog ownership further, finding a puppy responsibly is the first important step. Responsible acquisition supports healthier pets and more positive human-dog relationships.

In summary, while dogs' quirky behaviours may puzzle us, they are rooted in ancient instinct and social communication. Embracing these traits with knowledge promotes a happy, well-adjusted dog living harmoniously with their human family.

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

Grass eating is one of the most common and talked-about dog behaviours in the UK, and yet there is no single definitive answer as to why dogs do it. Research confirms it is very widespread and, in most cases, entirely harmless. Several theories are worth understanding.

The most straightforward explanation is simply that many dogs find grass tasty — particularly in spring and summer when it is fresh and green. Dogs' wild ancestors consumed plant material as part of their diet, so there may be an instinctive pull towards vegetation. Some dogs also eat grass to add fibre to their diet, which can help with digestion. Others may chew grass when they have a mildly unsettled stomach; it can act as a natural emetic in some cases, though studies suggest the majority of dogs that eat grass do not vomit afterwards.

Boredom and stress are additional factors. A dog with insufficient mental stimulation or physical exercise may graze as a way of occupying themselves. Puppies will often nibble at grass simply as a means of exploring their environment — using their mouths to investigate the world around them.

In most cases, occasional grass eating requires no intervention. Make sure the grass your dog has access to has not been treated with pesticides or herbicides, and keep up to date with lungworm prevention through your vet, as slugs and snails — which can carry lungworm — move across grass. Standard flea and worm treatments bought from pet shops do not protect against lungworm, so ask your vet about appropriate prevention.

Should You Stop Your Dog Eating Grass, and When to See a Vet?

For most dogs, eating a small amount of grass occasionally is nothing to worry about and does not need to be stopped. It becomes a concern in specific circumstances: if your dog is eating large quantities of grass repeatedly, if they are vomiting frequently after eating it, if they are refusing their normal meals, or if they seem unwell, lethargic, or in pain. In any of these cases, speak to your vet.

Sudden changes in grass-eating behaviour — particularly in a dog that has never done it much before — can also indicate an underlying gastrointestinal issue and are worth checking out. A change in diet that increases fibre content sometimes reduces grass-eating behaviour in dogs doing it for digestive reasons, but discuss any dietary changes with your vet first.

If you want to discourage grass eating during walks, avoid telling your dog off, as this is likely to create anxiety rather than stopping the behaviour. Instead, redirect their attention with a recall cue, a favourite toy, or a treat, and reward them for responding to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a dog lacking if it eats grass?

There is no proven nutritional deficiency that reliably causes grass eating. Some theories suggest a lack of dietary fibre may be a factor, but dogs eating well-balanced complete diets will often eat grass too. If you are concerned about your dog's nutrition, speak to your vet before making any dietary changes.

Should I stop my dog from eating grass?

In most cases, no. Occasional grass eating is normal canine behaviour. Focus on ensuring the grass they eat has not been treated with chemicals and that their lungworm prevention is up to date. Only intervene if the behaviour is excessive, accompanied by vomiting, or associated with other signs of illness.

What is the real reason dogs eat grass?

There is no single confirmed reason — it is likely a combination of taste preference, instinct, a desire for fibre, boredom, or mild digestive discomfort depending on the individual dog. Research has not found one explanation that accounts for all grass-eating behaviour.

Do dogs only eat grass when they are sick?

No. The idea that dogs eat grass exclusively when they feel unwell is a common misconception. Studies indicate that fewer than 25% of dogs that eat grass vomit afterwards, and most grass-eating dogs show no prior signs of illness. Grass eating is often simply a normal, habitual behaviour with no medical cause.