Dogs are loyal and intelligent animals who behave in ways we may find unusual or strange.
Some dogs pee on humans, others rub themselves on bushes, and some roll in dirt.
In this video, we will talk about 8 strange things dogs do and explain the meaning behind them.








Why Some Dogs Pee on Humans
You have probably witnessed that very awkward situation where your dog unexpectedly lifts their leg and pees on your guest or a total stranger in the park.
It’s important to remember that for dogs, peeing isn’t just simply peeing. Urine is also used for scentmarking, and as a way for dogs to mark their territory. At times, dogs feel uncomfortable when a person with foreign smells comes into their area. They therefore urinemark them with their own scent in hopes of covering their foreign smell with a more "normal," familiar scent.
Dogs may also pee on humans to claim a territory or to leave a message. A person’s legs offer the perfect vertical surface, which makes them an appealing "pee mail" substitute.
Why dogs roll on grass
More often than not, dogs rub against bushes, or roll on the grass, to scratch an itch or to deposit their scent.
By rubbing their scent off on an area, they are marking it as theirs so other dogs or animals know it’s their territory. This is also how a dog lets the next dog that comes around know that they have been there.
In some cases, dogs roll on the grass or even mud in an attempt to change their own body scent. What smells good to us may smell unpleasant to our dogs. For example, the smell of scented shampoos on a dog’s fur may send them running outside to roll on the stinkiest thing they can find.
Why dogs love being petted
Dogs get a secure feeling when you pet them. It helps them know that you still love them and care for them.
Interestingly enough, while many studies have shown that petting dogs have benefits for humans, there are studies that suggest that dogs receive the same benefits too.
Petting them lowers their blood pressure, reduces their heart rate, and increases a love hormone in them called Oxytocin.
And you have probably noticed that when you scratch your dog’s belly, they start kicking their back leg. This movement is an involuntary reaction called scratch reflex.
Why dogs pee on vertical objects
It's a common scene: You walk your dog and your pooch lifts his leg and pees on a vertical object. Common targets are trees, poles, bushes and the quintessential fire hydrant.
The behavior may seem quite odd if we think about it, but from your dog's perspective, there are valid reasons for aiming at vertical objects.
Dogs scentmark using urine, and they target vertical surfaces because the scents last longer on them. If a dog pees in the grass, that scent can go away rather quickly. Likewise, the scents on vertical objects are more likely to be carried around with the air and they are less likely to be diluted by the rain.
On top of this, dogs aim their pee at vertical surfaces because they want to “place their mark” closer to nose level, where it can be more prominent to other canines.
And while you may think only male dogs raise a leg when they pee, females do it too.
Interestingly enough, a paper published in 2004 looked at the urinary behaviors of both female and male dogs while they were being walked close to and further away from their home area.
The scientists found that when the dogs were further away from their home, they were more likely to urinate frequently and aim their urine at objects in comparison to when they were walked close to their home.
Why dogs constantly lick their nose.
Most people tend to think that dogs lick their nose just for cleanliness, but that’s not always the case.
Dogs also lick their nose to capture more scent particles. They use their tongue to take the odor to a second smelling organ in their mouth known as Jacobson's organ.
Dogs also lick their nose to improve their ability to smell. A moist nose is more adept at capturing scent chemicals.
If your dog constantly licks their nose in the summer, it’s a sign that they are hot.
Why dogs raise their hackles
A dog’s hackles are the hairs along their backbone.
Raised hackles is usually a sign that the dog is angry, aroused, stimulated, fearful, startled, excited, or nervous in some way. It’s an involuntary reaction and it happens in humans, too.
Why dogs lick their lips
Most people think dogs lick their lips when they are expecting some yummy treats, and where this is the most common reason, it isn’t always the case.
Dogs communicate via body language in many ways – licking their lips is just one of them.
More often than not, dogs lick their lips when they feel stressed or uncomfortable. It usually happens when there is something going on around them that they perceive as a threat.
Why dogs have dark spots on their tongue
The dark spots on some dogs’ tongue are areas of hyperpigmentation. It’s like freckles or birthmarks on humans.