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3 Weird Things Your Pets Do and Why

August 28, 2017 by Mary Telesz

petsThere are many bizarre things pets do—and if we’re being honest, it’s a big part of why we love them! Each of our cats and dogs have a completely unique personality, complete with their own set of distinct quirks and eccentricities. Learning the ins and outs of your pets (sometimes) weird mind is absolutely one of the greatest joys of being a pet owner.

Owning a pet is a big responsibility, as we all know, but the rewards are worth it for anyone who truly loves their animal. Grooming, feeding, exercise, affection, discipline, and keeping an animal safe from potential danger are all part of owning a pet. The best way to enjoy a pet is to understand that there are many benefits to owning one, and to take full responsibility for its love and care. An animal can sense when you genuinely care for it: indeed, dogs have been called ‘man’s best friend’ for thousands of years due to their particularly close relationship with their human owners.

Despite this, even the most well-behaved pets that we think we know inside and out have the capacity to surprise us every day with some of their weirder behaviors. If you’ve ever been at a complete loss for words by some behaviors from your pet, or just caught yourself wondering “Why..?” while incredulously watching your pet around the house, this list is for you!

Humping

Dogs often hump people’s legs or other dogs, but did you know that they sometimes hump other things too? For example, if they have a soft toy or blanket, you might pop in to check on them and find them humping to their heart’s content! You may laugh or feel grossed out, and will almost certainly find it very odd. However, humping is a truly normal mode of behavior for a dog.

Why do Dogs Hump?

There are a number of reasons why a dog may be prone to humping both animate and inanimate objects. First, it is a sign of sexual behavior. It is a common assumption that only dogs who haven’t yet been neutered or spayed will hump an object, but this isn’t the case. In fact, any kind of dog can randomly start humping, whether it’s a male or female, neutered or not neutered. Interestingly enough, many dog owners aren’t aware that neutered male dogs can sometimes still get erections!

Dogs may also hump as a way of exerting power and control over the object. It’s a primal instinct that aims to show that they’re higher in the social hierarchy and have superiority over their object of humping.

Over excitement during play time may also cause a dog to hump something in close proximity. If this only happens occasionally it’s perfectly normal, but if your dog tends to hump every time they’re playing with other dogs or in the company of humans, it could be a sign that your dog is under-socialized. This problem can easily be amended over time by arranging more doggy playdates, so there’s no real need to worry.

Similar, dogs that have a particularly excited or easily agitated temperament may be more likely to hump when they start to feel out of control. If you have a docile, placid dog, it is less likely they will take to humping than a high-energy breed.

Is Humping a Problem?

There is generally little to no need to worry if you walk in on your dog humping an inanimate object. Things can get a little embarrassing when they regularly start to hump a particular friend, and may even cause awkwardness in the friendship. If your dog’s humping bothers you, you can train them to stop doing it by either distracting them or commanding them to sit. If they seem particularly stubborn about stopping, rewarding them will treats for obeying the command (even if they already know it) will gradually do the trick.

Eating Poop/Feces

The first time you see your pet eating poo, no doubt you will scream and shout at them for being so disgusting! It’s true that seeing a dog or cat eat poo is enough to make us want to skip dinner, and it just doesn’t seem to make any sense at all. Why on earth would any animal eat poo? Feces is the waste product of what we eat: it is what the body gets rid of because it has no use for it, so why does a cat or dog (particularly dogs) find it appealing and nutritious to eat?

Why do Dogs Sometimes Eat Poop?

The fact is that eating feces is normal for many species of animal (believe it or not). In dogs for example, eating it is sort of how they clean house: mothers with pups will often go around eating the poo in their space as a way of cleaning it! Therefore, if you want your pet to stop eating poo, you should consider cleaning their area as often as possible so that they can retain their sense of domestic pride!

Make sure that your dog is on the right diet and is getting enough daily nutrition. On occasion, dogs who didn’t get enough nutritional balance out of their food will eat feces in order to extract some partially digested food. This is not only disgusting, but also very upsetting to think that dogs would be so desperate for food. There are general guidelines on dog food packaging that tell you how much to feed them, so there is really no excuse for this happening.

Drinking out of the Toilet

Another bizarre and disgusting habit of cats and dogs alike, drinking out of the toilet is something weird that many pets do and we wonder why. It might make a little bit of sense if their water bowl is completely dry and they’re exceptionally thirsty, but more often than not, their water bowl has lots of clean water in it.

Why do Dogs Drink Out of the Toilet?

petsWhy, then, do they choose dirty toilet water over clean water from their bowl? First of all, unlike humans, pets aren’t very germ-conscious. It’s a well-known fact that toilets contain millions of germs and can potentially cause diseases such as shigellosis, staphylococcus, and salmonella.

However, you must remember that dogs don’t view the world they do. In fact, they have a completely different value system: including their perception of what is good or bad, or right or wrong. To a dog, drinking from a toilet is a highly logical choice and not disgusting in the slightest. The water in the toilet bowl is always cool and even more enticing just after being flushed: it’s rather like a waterfall! The water we serve them in their bowls is likely to sit around for hours, and it’s not uncommon for a bit of hair, dust, or crumb of food to fall into it. In a dog (or cat’s) mind then, toilet bowl water is much preferable!

If you really hate seeing your pet drink from the toilet, it’s quite simple: put the lid down!

If you need assistance with your pet in the Northern VA region, contact Paw Pals any time. We offer pet sitting and dog walking services, so you can be sure your pets are well looked after even when you need to be on the road, are working late, or are taking a much-needed summer vacation. For more information, check out our About page or Meet our Team of pet lovers.

Filed Under: Pet Advice

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Centreville – 20120, 20121
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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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