Canine Behaviours
Sniffing
When a dog sniffs the smell, molecules are trapped in the dog’s nasal passages and stay longer through sniffing. The air is trapped through a series of rapid short breaths, forced into the space inside the nose. Dogs use sniffing when greeting other dogs, which allows them to tell the sex, age, emotional status and maybe even the other dogs social status. On a first meeting they sniff the dogs face or near the groin first.
Urine
When a dog urinates on something it is only surmised that it is to mark territory and to identify themselves to other dogs. When urine marking the dog tends to raise one leg, which is seen more in un neutered males.
If a dog marks territory it usually urinates in several places with a small …show more content…
The anal sacs secrete a smelly substance containing pheromones, which may contain information such as a dogs age, sex and identity. A dog will often urinate over another dog’s faeces, but it is yet unknown how important the marking is in terms of territory and identification. Sometimes in stressful or frightening times the secretions may be released without faeces.
Humans although are often familiar with the above behaviours can be quite disgusted when the dog displays them.
Sounds
Dogs can make many different sounds, depending on the message they want to convey which can range from grunts, yelps to growls or even howling. Situations can vary, and some sounds are used in play or as a meeting while other sounds can show pain, anxiety or come from a need such as attention. Humans find some sounds endearing or funny but if a bark is continuous can be quite annoyed by the sound.
Body Language
A dog uses a varied and complicated body language to communicate with other dogs and humans.
These can be divided into either a communication to â€oego away― or â€oecome here―. The dog will display these behaviours in its head, ears, body posture and stance, eyes, mouth/teeth, tail and …show more content…
Chasing Tails
The dog may chase its own tail, circling around and around. Humans think it is funny much of the time but, as dogs are social animals, and love to explore things the behaviour denotes the dog is bored and lacks stimulation.
Rolling in unpleasant things
If there are things that causes a right smelly smell such as a cow patch, fox poo or anything decaying rest assured a dog will find it and roll in it! Humans find this abhorrent!
There isn’t rally any evidence to know why they do this, one thought is that they are using the smell as a form of camouflage used in hunting, or as another form of communication (telling other dogs about their fantastic find) or even as a kind of high!
Tail between the legs
In situations where the tail is placed between the dog’s legs, it shows that the dog is either fearful or scared of something. The tail will cover up the scent signals between its legs and show to other dogs that they are submissive. A dominant dog will raise its tail and expose the scent glands for the other dog to smell.
Eating grass
This behaviour is still not understood. Some people think it is because of boredom, or to ease an upset stomach or as a way of adding roughage to its