Why Dogs Do Weird Things

Why does your dog stare at you while they’re pooping? Spin in circles before lying down? Eat grass, steal socks, kick dirt after going to the bathroom, or suddenly sprint around the house like they’ve completely lost their mind?

As strange as these behaviors may seem, most aren’t random at all.

In this episode of The Recall Room, we explore the science and instincts behind some of the most common—and most puzzling—things dogs do. You’ll learn how evolution, communication, body language, and individual personality shape the behaviors we see every day, along with how to recognize the difference between harmless quirks and behaviors that may warrant a closer look.

Whether you’ve laughed at your dog’s zoomies, wondered why they sniff every inch of a walk, or questioned why they insist on making eye contact during bathroom breaks, this episode will help you see those moments from your dog’s perspective.

In this episode, you’ll learn things like:

• Why dogs spin before lying down or circle before going to the bathroom

• The truth about eating grass

• Why dogs sniff everything on walks

• What zoomies, head tilts, play sneezes, and other “weird” behaviors are actually communicating

• Why dogs roll in foul smells, steal socks, and stare while they poop

Sometimes the strangest behaviors have the simplest explanations—and sometimes they remind us just how remarkable dogs really are.

Because once you stop asking, “Why is my dog being weird?” and start asking, “What is my dog trying to tell me?” everything begins to make a little more sense.

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References & Further Reading

• Horowitz, Alexandra. Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know. Scribner.

• McConnell, Patricia B. The Other End of the Leash. Ballantine Books.

• Overall, Karen L. Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats. Elsevier.

• Yin, Sophia. Low Stress Handling, Restraint and Behavior Modification of Dogs & Cats. CattleDog Publishing.

• Bekoff, Marc. The Emotional Lives of Animals. New World Library.

• Coppinger, Raymond & Lorna Coppinger. Dogs: A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior & Evolution. Scribner.

• Hart, B. L. (1985). The Behavior of Domestic Animals. W.H. Freeman.

• Miklósi, Ádám. Dog Behaviour, Evolution, and Cognition. Oxford University Press.

• Coren, Stanley. Research and publications on canine cognition, sensory perception, and behavior.

• Hecht, Julie. Research on canine behavior and cognition.

• Hart, V., et al. (2013). “Dogs are sensitive to small variations of the Earth’s magnetic field.” Frontiers in Zoology.

As always, every dog is an individual. While many of the behaviors discussed in this episode are perfectly normal, sudden changes in behavior, compulsive behaviors, or behaviors accompanied by signs of illness should always be discussed with your veterinarian. If behavioral concerns persist after medical causes have been ruled out, seek guidance from a qualified, evidence-based behavior professional.