They Like To Drink Out of the Toilet Because…
…it tastes better to them. Seriously! Most dogs would prefer to drink cool, fresh water rather than sip from a bowl that’s been sitting all day. We may have domesticated dogs to an extreme degree, but basic instinct still runs deep in their doggie bones – drinking from running streams and rivers in the wild was usually a safer bet. Your ceramic toilet bowl keeps water cooler than room temperature. Toilet water sampling may be dangerous to your dog, however, as the water can contain harmful levels of bacteria or cleaning agents. Keep a lid on it, and consider a pet water fountain.
There’s a Reason They Take Ages to “Do it’s Business”
An experienced dog owner is all too familiar with the toe tapping, watch checking frustration of waiting for their dog to, ahem, do their ‘business’. Did you know that there’s a reason your pooch is circling that patch of grass for the tenth time? Recent research has found that dogs prefer to poop along the north-south axis that lines up with the Earth’s magnetic field. We wonder what lucky researcher got tagged for that study!
They Actually Hate Being Hugged
Raise your hand if you’ve ever joyously hugged your dog. Yep, most of us have. Your dog, however, probably enjoyed the experience far less than you did. As humans, hugging is one of the main ways that we show love and affection. To a dog, though, a hug around the neck often feels invasive, intimidating, or downright threatening. Although many dogs will tolerate hugging, the sad news is that this simple act is the cause of hundreds of dog bite incidents towards children yearly. Now, does that mean that your dog doesn’t love you? No way! Your best pal may just enjoy some awesome tummy rubs or butt scratches instead.
Yawning – It’s Not Because They’re Tired
Have you ever taken your dog somewhere new, or met a new friend, and then noticed that they were yawning all the time? Frequent yawning isn’t just a sign that your furry best friend might need to catch some ZZZZ’s. Dogs will often yawn if they’re anxious or stressed, and along with behaviors like squinting eyes, avoiding eye contact, and tense body position, yawning can signal that your dog’s patience with the situation is running out, and it’s time for a break. Of course, if your pooch has just spent a morning playing at the park, then expect snores to soon follow those yawns!
They Want a job to do !
We all like our downtime, no matter what our occupation in life. But can you imagine how boring it would be to do nothing, day after day? We tend to fall into the same day-to-day routine with our doggie companions – breakfast, walk, sleep, walk, dinner, bed. Dogs are smart, social creatures that, if not given something to do, will find their own jobs – like chewing your shoes, digging up your backyard, or ripping apart your couch. Keeping your pet exercised both physically and mentally, through regular training and activities that play to their breed instincts, will keep them out of trouble and keep you all having fun!