FUN FACTS ON DAILY DOG BEHAVIOR

\n\nIn our last two articles, we have started a series explaining peculiar behaviors that you may have seen in your furry companion. In this month’s article, we continue to explain more fun facts of actions that your dog might display. As owners, we may find these to be odd, but in reality, they are not that unusual at all!\n\nDogs eating grass! You may have commonly noticed your dog chewing at some grass in the yard during his washroom breaks. As worrisome as this action may seem, it is in fact very natural for them! This instinct, arguably, can even be traced back to their ancestral roots from wolves. Wolves are known to eat grass as part of their herbivorous diet. As humans, we tend to eat probiotics after an uncomfortable meal. Similarly, wolves and dogs do the same! Dogs will naturally feel inclined to chew on grass if they feel the need to clear their digestive system of any unsettling food, foreign bodies or parasites. The high fiber content of the grass allows for the lining of their stomachs and intestines to cleanse of the unwanted materials. However, despite this natural inclination, some dogs simply prefer to eat grass for the taste! They enjoy the fiber content immensely to the point that some cannot contain themselves and end up eating too much. Too much of anything is bad. In these cases, sometimes surgery is the only method to help relieve them of this medical problem. Grass blades can be very sharp and such can also cause injury or tear inside the lining of the digestive tract’s organs. Thus, enabling more reasons for surgery. Certain cases of excessive grass eating can also be due to a nutrient deficiency in your dog; however, these situations are very rare due to the high balanced quality pet food that is now available in market.\n\nAnother very common habit seen in dogs of all ages is the act of them eating their own feces, also known scientifically as ‘coprophagia’. One of the most general reasons for why dogs enjoy doing this is because they simply like the taste of feces! Not only can they be seen eating their own feces or other dogs’ excrements, but they also may enjoy eating the waste of other animals, such as horses or cats. The taste is considered sweet and is full of many rich nutrients. If your female dog is nursing, you may see her eating the feces of her young to keep her space and den clean. Despite this being seen as a normal act for most, it can however signify a problem existing as well. Your dog may be trying to get your attention by doing this action. They may be waiting for their owner to say: ‘drop it’, ‘leave it’ or ‘stop’, as one would in a childish game. If your dog is experiencing other symptoms that are abnormal and unusual in nature, along with coprophagia, then this can be seen as a symptom added to the list! In these cases, it is highly recommended to see your local veterinarian as soon as possible. Your veterinarian may wish to perform some diagnostic tests in this case to determine a cause for this problem. The third reason for this being abnormal would be anxiety. When a dog is stressed out or feeling anxious, it may find comfort in eating its own feces as a treat to feel better.\n\n