Your Puppy’s Odd Behavior (52 Strange Actions Explained)

Some of their little ways seem odd if you are unfamiliar with how puppies behave.

Here is the FAQ about the weird little things that puppies do.

Let Sleeping Puppies Lie

Just because your puppy is asleep doesn’t mean it can’t behave oddly.

1. Why Does My Puppy Shake and Twitch While Sleeping?

A part of a mammal’s brain keeps the body quiet while asleep, so you don’t get up and move around when dreaming.

This part of the brain is not as developed in a puppy, and puppies move more when they dream than adult dogs.

Effectively your puppy is acting out its dreams – the nose twitches as it hunts a dream bunny’s trail and the legs twitch as if it is running or walking.

You don’t need to worry about your puppy’s dreaming twitches.

2. Why Is My Puppy Falling Asleep While Sitting Up?

Adult dogs can fall asleep while standing or sitting in certain circumstances, but if your puppy is falling asleep, it is because it is tired.

You can see the same behavior in human infants, getting so tired but unwilling to lie down for a nap.

Your puppy needs a lot of sleep, but if it is having an exciting day, it may forget to go for a nap; then your puppy drops off while sitting still.

3. Why Is My Puppy Digging in Its Bed?

Hidden in your puppy’s instincts is the urge to make a comfortable den protected from the weather for sleeping.

Your puppy is creating a comfortable sleeping space; its instincts say you dig out a hole and maybe turn around to flatten long grass before settling down for a long sleep.

Some breeds are more active at rearranging their beds to their liking.

Some puppies are happy to flop down without a fuss, but others have a scrabble with their paws and may use their nose to sort things out.

4. Why Does My Puppy Jump in Its Sleep?

It may be startling, but this behavior is simply a more exaggerated dreaming twitch.

You may also get some whining or barking accompanying the sudden jump.

Perhaps your puppy was surprised by an unfriendly dog or is trying to bounce on a mouse in the dream.

5. Why Is My Puppy Up All Night?

Typically, your puppy (and you) will sleep through the night, but if your puppy is awake, restless, and howling for attention during the night, it will feel as if your puppy is awake all night.

A puppy newly separated from its mother stays awake because it is lonely and needs comfort. Leaving its mother is a huge change in its life, and it’s not surprising that it feels distressed.

A puppy may also wake because it is thirsty, hungry, or needs a bathroom break.

Your puppy will mature into a dog that sleeps through the night, but you can smooth the transition by allowing the puppy to sleep near you and keeping any nighttime potty breaks short and functional.

6. Why Does My Puppy Yawn So Much?

There are plenty of reasons why puppies and people yawn.

These include stress, anxiety, conflict avoidance, need for more oxygen, seeing someone else yawn, sleepiness, and boredom.

Yawning is a communication tool for your puppy, but you need to look at the circumstances and body language to determine what the yawn means.

Yawning is a natural process for your puppy, and most of the time, you don’t need to worry about it.

7. Why Is My Puppy Restless at Night?

Overnight restlessness for puppies is much the same as for you.

Your puppy may be too hot or cold, not get enough physical exercise, hear a noise, or move around while dreaming.

The simple measures include making sure your puppy’s bed is comfortable and ensuring that your puppy has a bathroom break outside before going to bed.

Some puppies, like people, are restless sleepers.

Sudden restlessness when otherwise your puppy sleeps soundly may indicate some form of discomfort. But if it is a hot or cold night, you may share your puppy’s restlessness.

Odd Behavior Around Eating and Drinking

You expect eating and drinking to be straightforward – regular small meals and water available on demand.

But some of the things your puppy finds acceptable may disgust you.

8. Why Is My Puppy Drinking Its Pee?

Some people insist that drinking their urine is a health measure.

Most doctors point out that urine is how your kidneys eliminate toxins from the body, and except in extreme survival conditions, no one should consider pee as an acceptable beverage.

Everyone drinks pee from rats and humans on the International Space Station but only after filtration and recycling to remove the waste products.

So, what happens when a puppy starts drinking its pee in this context?

Your puppy may drink its pee because:

• It is thirsty, and you are not providing ready access to clean water.
• Missing nutrients – ensure your puppy has an appropriate diet.
• Shame – trying to cover up an accident in the house.
• Health check – your puppy can tell how healthy it is from its pee.

Your puppy’s pee is sterile, so it will not come to any harm.

The best way to deal with your puppy linking its pee is to clean up any accidents in the house and provide the correct diet and plenty of fresh drinking water.

If your puppy tries to drink its pee while on a walk, distract it with training treats or a toy immediately after peeing to break the habit.

9. Why Is My Puppy Hiccupping So Much?

Hiccupping releases air ingested with food, and puppies are more prone to hiccups than adult dogs.

If your puppy gets a lot of hiccups, you can try any of the methods for avoiding bloat – slowing down feeding and drinking to reduce air intake and offering smaller meals more frequently.

Hiccupping can be a sign of a medical issue; if your puppy hiccups repeatedly for more than an hour, stops eating and drinking, seems in pain, vomits, or develops wheeziness – seek help from a vet.

Generally, hiccups are an occasional inconvenience for your puppy after eating or drinking, not painful, and will stop once the excess air expels from the body.

Most hiccupping sessions last a few minutes.

However, a puppy that gulps in plenty of air with meals may hiccup after every meal. Because your puppy has frequent small meals, it may seem that your puppy is always hiccupping.

Your puppy will outgrow this issue as it matures, and the amount of air swallowed in relation to size is lower.

10. Why Is My Puppy Obsessed with Eating Poop?

Ah, the dirty secret of the canine world – poop eating.

Some puppies like to eat cow poop, sheep poop, and rabbit pellets and will dig up and eat cat poop.

Why?

The technical name for poop eating is coprophagia, which isn’t only relevant for dogs. Plus, your puppy may retain the habit through adulthood.

Less than 20% of puppies are regular poop eaters, but if you have one of them, the cause may be:

• Missing nutrients – check the diet.
• Behavioral issues – attention-seeking, anxiety, or a bad habit.
• Not enough food and getting hungry.
• No reason at all.

Some people speculate that predators eat poop from prey animals to disguise their scent, but honestly, no one is sure why some puppies eat poop.

The simple answer is to be rigorous about cleaning your yard and garden of poop. If your puppy can’t access poop, it can’t eat it.

When your puppy is on a leash and approaches other feces in the park, use distraction to redirect your puppy’s attention away from the poop before it starts eating.

You can train your puppy not to routinely eat poop, but even adult dogs seem to find cat poop irresistible.

Cats typically eat more protein than dogs, and the cat poop may (to a dog’s instincts) contain useable amounts of protein.

11. Why Does My Puppy Eat Grass?

Your puppy enjoys a mixed diet of meat and vegetables.

Unlike cats, dogs need some vegetables in their diet. Your puppy probably eats grass because it enjoys the taste and texture, and eating grass is normal behavior in domestic and wild dogs.

Obsessively eating grass and vomiting afterward may be an issue. Most puppies don’t vomit after ingesting grass and don’t eat to excess.

In this case, have a chat with your vet.

12. Why Does My Puppy Eat Dirt and Rocks?

The primary driver for eating non-food items like dirt and stones is an instinctive need for a nutritional element missing in the diet.

Eating dirt for trace elements is something all animal species exhibit. A pregnant woman may nibble on coal because her instincts drive her to seek a trace element necessary for her baby’s development.

The behavior is intuitive and not conscious.

Other reasons your puppy may eat dirt include boredom, catching the scent of something interesting in the soil (the essence of a dead rat, perhaps?), or accidental ingestion while eating something else.

There are health risks for dirt-eating puppies, so discourage the behavior and perhaps chat to your vet.

13. Why Does My Puppy Act Like It Is Starving?

Individual puppies have different eating patterns, and your puppy can overeat and get fat.

Your puppy may enjoy eating or need regular small meals. Check how much food your puppy needs, weigh that amount, and divide it across five small meals.

Your puppy’s dietary requirements change as it matures, so have a timetable for each step change in diet.

If your puppy is putting on weight in the correct time frame, then your puppy is getting enough to eat.

If your puppy acts as if it is starving, it may have a parasite infection or be a food-obsessed puppy.

If your puppy is food-obsessed, training treats will make training super-easy.

Still, you may redirect your puppy’s attention to a clicker or provide lower-calorie treats between meals to avoid obesity.

Strange Ways of Moving

Although no puppy has made it to the stage as a standup comedian, you can see some funny walks and actions from your puppy.

14. Why Does My Puppy Drag Its Bum on the Ground?

Your puppy does not have access to toilet paper; its only option for cleaning its rear end (other than its tongue) is to drag it through the grass or dirt.

Your puppy drags its bum along the ground or carpet to relieve an itch. The itch may be from poo particles hanging to its rear end or intestinal parasites.

Responsible owners stay on top of their puppy’s parasite treatment, but your puppy can pick up an infestation between treatments.

If your puppy does the bum dragging outside after pooping, you can be reasonably confident that it is trying to get clean.

If randomly scooting across the carpet, it may be an itch, and you may want to check when its parasite treatment is due.

15. Why Is My Puppy Kneading and Suckling?

Kneading is a mixture of instinct and habit. Your puppy may be marking territory or simply finding the behavior soothing.

In a young puppy, it may be the memory of persuading its mother’s milk to flow. Terriers, working dogs, and crossbreeds are more likely to indulge in this behavior before sleeping.

It is not ordinarily destructive – provide plenty of blankets and soft toys in the sleeping area, and your puppy will probably confine its efforts to that space.

If your puppy is damaging carpets or soft furnishings, then use a combination of distraction training, additional exercise, and redirecting it to the appropriate sleeping area.

Young puppies may suck the blanket or toy while kneading, and your puppy will outgrow the suckling as it matures.

This behavior is typical in puppies that leave the litter early, but older pups may also suckle for a while.

16. Why Is My Puppy Knuckling?

Knuckling is when the puppy walks on the backs of its paws instead of putting the pads flat on the ground.

It can be one or all the paws, and it has many causes, some more serious than others.

Typically, this is from:

• Nutritional deficiency – muscles and ligaments are too weak.
• Spinal stroke – results from a ruptured cartilage disc in the spine.
• Degenerative myelopathy – is more common in older dogs.
• Intervertebral disc disease puts pressure on the spinal cord.
• Wobbler syndrome – difficulties in the neck and more common in bigger dog breeds.
• Carpal flexural deformity – found in large and giant breeds but develops before four months.
• Sore paw – a sting or burn may make the pad too painful to walk on, resulting in knuckling for a short time.

If your puppy doesn’t have a sore paw, then a trip to the vet is necessary to determine why your puppy is knuckling.

Depending on the root cause and early intervention, your puppy has an excellent chance of a cure.

Some reasons are degenerative, and your vet is the best person to determine appropriate action.

17. Why Does My Puppy Wobble Suddenly?

You can expect a young puppy to be wobbly on its overlarge feet.

Your puppy’s body is growing and changing, and occasionally it will misjudge where to put its feet.

But what if the wobble isn’t part of normal puppyhood?

What if the wobble looks a bit unusual?

Potential other causes of an unexpected wobble include:

• Inner ear imbalance due to infection or some other reason.
• Damage to the spinal cord – disease or accident.
• Muscle weakness – illness or nutritional deficiency.
• Brain issues – typically a disease affecting older dogs.
• Canine distemper is highly infectious, and if your pup isn’t fully vaccinated, it can pick this up when outside.
• Dehydration – if your pup doesn’t stay fully hydrated, you may see it staggering around.
• Anemia – a lack of oxygen in the blood can cause a wobble or two.
• Toxins – your pup is likely to chew anything, and many plants are poisonous to dogs.

There is a vast difference between a clumsy wobble and persistent staggering when walking.

If your puppy has plenty of fresh water to drink, but it is wobbling when it walks, you may need to take a trip to the vet.

Your vet will want to know if your puppy has been outside, has potential accidents, or has inappropriate chewing.

18. Why Is My Puppy Walking Sideways or Another Weird Walk?

Crabs are known for walking sideways, but generally, all other animals move backward and forwards.

If your puppy is walking or running forward, but its back legs are off-center, you see “crabbing” or sidestepping.

What causes this?

• Characteristic quirk – your puppy may simply move that way, slightly off-center, but nothing to worry about.
• Teenage bodies – your puppy’s body changes almost daily, leading to uncoordinated movements. When your puppy matures, this clumsy walking will stop.
• One leg is dominant and pushes a sideways movement.

The breeds most likely to quirky walks are German Shepherds, Border Collies, Spaniels, Pointers, and Vizslas, but any puppy can have a sideways gait.

If in doubt, or your puppy seems in distress, consult your vet. It’s probably nothing, but your vet can put your mind at ease.

19. Why Is My Puppy Acting Drunk?

Is your puppy staggering as if it is drunk or perhaps dizzy?

Is your puppy walking as if it is disorientated or super sleepy?

If your puppy hasn’t been tranquilized and isn’t ready for a healthy nap, vestibular disease is a potential cause. But this is rare in puppies as it typically affects older dogs.

However, congenital vestibular disease does show up in puppies.

Effectively, your puppy suffers from vertigo because of an internal issue with the inner ear.

Usually, the situation resolves quickly and without harm to your puppy. Most puppies grow out of this problem.

You still want to visit a vet to rule out other causes of wobbling and staggering.

20. Why Is My Puppy Acting Tired or Lethargic?

If your puppy is showing no interest in playing or eating but seems excessively drowsy, give your vet a call.

Your puppy may have:

• An infection – especially if not fully vaccinated.
• Problems with the heart or liver.
• Reaction to medication – worming treatments can make your puppy sleepy.
• Anemia – a parasite infection or nutritional deficiency.
• Poisoning – many human foods are toxic for your puppy.
• Pain – feeling sore may make your puppy feel sad and sleepy.

Any change in energy levels or sluggish behavior from an active puppy probably means something is wrong, but it is likely to be a minor hiccup rather than anything significant.

21. Why Is My Puppy Acting Confused?

An elderly dog may suffer from dementia, but a young puppy that seems confused and disorientated may be:

• Injured – perhaps your puppy has knocked its head while falling down the stairs or off a piece of furniture.
• Dehydrated – one of the symptoms is confusion and a staggering walk.
• Heat exhaustion – your puppy will seem like it is drunk.
• Toxins – a typical reaction to poisonous substances is confusion and disorientation.
• Seizure – following a seizure, your puppy is dazed and confused.

You can confuse your puppy if you give conflicting messages over behavior; one person says yes, and the other says no.

If your puppy doesn’t know what to do, it may look confused for a moment or two, but that confusion is temporary and doesn’t have an underlying issue.

The difference between a confused puppy needing a vet and a perplexed puppy needing clear communication is noticeable: the perplexed puppy remains alert and responsive, and the confused puppy seems spaced out.

22. Why Does My Puppy Jerk or Jolt?

Twitching, jerking, or jolting while awake may need attention as it may indicate an underlying disease or condition.

An otherwise healthy puppy may jerk or jolt if dehydrated or after consuming a toxic substance.

If you spot your puppy regularly jerking or jolting during the day, plan a trip to the vet. Many of the underlying conditions for these odd movements are straightforward to treat and manage.

If your puppy only jerks or jolts occasionally while sleeping, you probably see involuntary twitches as a response to dreaming.

Weird Noises from Your Puppy

Your puppy can produce many different sounds, from a whine to a bark.

Happiness or sadness depends on the frequency, duration, and pitch of your puppy’s noises and its body language.

23. Why Does My Puppy Keep Whining?

Whining is a plea for attention because your puppy may:

• Need a bathroom break.
• Want a treat.
• Want to play.
• Feel anxious.
• Be in pain.

A whine can mean many different things, depending on the context.

If you’ve been concentrating on work for a couple of hours, your puppy may feel it needs some of your attention.

Your response to whines teaches your puppy what you think the whine means. If you get up and let your puppy out every time it whines, then the puppy understands that whining means it gets to go outside.

A whine by itself is not the whole story; if your puppy is whining with a droopy body, it may be unhappy or in pain.

If your puppy is whining with a wagging tail, it may want to play.

In time, you and your puppy will develop your understanding of what you mean when you say certain words and what your puppy means when it makes certain noises.

24. Why Is My Puppy Yelping for No Apparent Reason?

A yelp typically means surprise or pain. Although you can’t see a reason for your puppy to yelp, there will be a cause.

Perhaps a sudden breeze startled your puppy, or it may have an injury from playing outside, like a thorn in its paw.

It is worth investigating if you hear your puppy yelp, even if you simply cuddle the puppy to reassure it that all is well.

25. Why Is My Puppy Yelping When I Pick It Up?

This yelp is either through pain or fear.

If your puppy has bruised ribs from a tumble, it hurts when you pick it up.

If there are no apparent injuries, you need to think about how safe your puppy feels when you pick it up.

Your puppy prefers to keep its feet firmly on the ground. If you need to pick up your puppy, ensure that you support both its chest and back end and tuck it close to your body.

In the early stages, sit on the ground so that your puppy gets familiar with the process at a low level before you try and pick your puppy up while you are standing.

Most babies and small children enjoy playing airplanes with their feet and arms dangling in the air, but most puppies find this action terrifying.

26. Why Does My Puppy Make Weird Noises?

Maybe your puppy heaves a huge sigh before lying down?

Is it bored?

Probably not; sighing in dogs is usually an expression of contentment.

Grumbling while sleeping is probably in response to an exciting dream. Sneezing (without mucous) is a way to gain attention other than whining – a kind of “made you look” moment. Snorting, or the reverse sneeze, is your flat-faced puppy’s way of attracting attention.

Sometimes it may sound like your puppy is choking, but it is only another funny noise your puppy can make.

Throwing up or gagging noises will get your attention in a hurry, so don’t be surprised if this noise becomes your puppy’s favorite noise for a while – like a baby learning to blow raspberries for attention.

27. Why Is My Puppy Moaning?

Could your puppy provide the soundtrack for a haunted house with its low-pitched moaning?

Is your puppy really sad and missing its mum?

Your puppy is most likely to moan when snuggled up next to you, and this noise is a compliment. It means your puppy is happy and content.

Your puppy will outgrow this noise; it is the equivalent of a human child humming when it is happy.

28. Weird Breathing

If your puppy has a flat face, you can expect it to breathe heavily when it gets hot and have other snorting and odd sounds.

Flat-nosed breeds are prone to respiratory infections.

A dry heaving sound may indicate a respiratory infection, or your puppy may be trying to clear its throat. A one-off noise is probably nothing to worry about, but a persistent gagging, heaving, or retching noise is probably an infection.

Your vet may advise a wait-and-see approach or prescribe an antibiotic.

Your puppy can catch a cold, and it may sort itself out in a day or two.

29. Why Is My Puppy Gagging?

Like you, your puppy will gag if it tries to remove something from its body.

One cause of gagging may be something stuck in the throat, but typically excess mucous or saliva will cause this action.

Call your vet if the gagging is persistent and your puppy seems unwell. Your puppy may have an infection and need treatment.

Potentially Aggressive Behaviors

Most puppy behaviors may make you anxious about your puppy’s health, but aggressive noises and actions make you worry about yourself and your family.

30. Why Is My Puppy Growling at Me Suddenly?

Your puppy’s growl is a form of communication, and it may mean:

• Pain – your puppy may growl because it feels discomfort or hurt from an accident. If your puppy growls when you touch some part of its body, you can identify that it is sore in that part. Don’t try and diagnose why your puppy is hurting; take it to a vet to establish the cause of the pain.
• Fear – instead of cowering or hiding, a bold puppy may growl at something that makes it afraid to try to scare away the cause of the anxiety.
• Possessive behavior – some breeds are possessive of food, toys, and people, and this growl says go away because they wish to keep possession of the desired object.
• Frustration – this growl is a grumble because your puppy wants to reach a toy, a treat, or something else that isn’t quite right in the puppy’s view.
• Play – if the growl accompanies play behavior, your puppy may be vocalizing its wish to play a game.

Growling sounds aggressive, but it is only a vocal sound as part of your puppy’s communication, part of its developing language skills.

Your calm response and understanding of why your puppy growls will go a long way to preventing the growl from changing into an aggressive display.

31. Why Is My Puppy Trying to Bite Me?

Your puppy uses teeth like you use hands.

If your puppy is teething, it may bite you because it is trying to relieve the heat and pain in its mouth.

Provide a suitable chew toy as an alternative, and the biting will stop.

Puppies bite during play – a sharp yelp from a playmate means don’t bite so hard next time. Although puppy nips are relatively harmless, an adult bite can injure.

During play, you need to discourage your puppy from biting you by withdrawing whenever the puppy bites, and this feedback tells your puppy that biting people is not acceptable.

A puppy may nip in fear because of rough handling or a surprise touch, but generally, if your puppy is biting you, it is either (mistakenly) playing or teething.

It is best to train your puppy not to bite at this early stage by remaining calm and redirecting teeth to toys.

32. Why Does My Puppy Bark at Me?

A bark does not have a single meaning, and you need to see the bark in the context of what is happening and your puppy’s body language.

Your puppy starts learning to bark from three weeks, and its range of barks develops as it matures – like a toddler increasing its vocabulary.

Your puppy can bark because it is:

• Anxious – this bark calls out for someone to come and give reassurance.
• Bored – this bark seeks a playmate.
• Excited – a cheerful welcome home or the approach of food.
• Defensive – an alarm call that there is an intruder or other situation the pack needs to deal with.

A puppy bark seeks attention either to show you something interesting or because the puppy wants something from you.

Barks are not always aggressive displays.

33. Why Is My Puppy Acting Vicious?

Vicious or aggressive behavior with frequent nipping, growling, and biting may be normal dominant behavior for a puppy, but it is undesirable for you and your family.

Normal puppy behavior includes:

• Nips, bites, and tugging on your hands, feet, and clothing. This behavior mimics how puppies play together.
• Barking and growling while tugging on a toy is a way of communicating how much your puppy is enjoying the game.
• Chasing and nipping your heels is instinctive herding behavior with some puppies.

Most aggressive behavior in older puppies arises from personality, dominance, fear, prey instinct, or guarding.

Some breeds are more aggressive than others, but these characteristics were bred into them for specific working roles.

The answer to dealing with a “vicious” puppy is recognizing normal behavior and calmly training your puppy into acceptable behavior.

If this is your first puppy going to obedience and socialization classes will help you and your puppy to communicate and set appropriate boundaries.

The key to dealing with a vicious puppy is spending more time training and curbing (gently) those natural aggressive instincts.

Odd Licking Behavior

Your puppy uses its tongue to test the quality of drinking water, put food in its mouth, and for cleaning.

But what happens when your puppy’s licking gets a bit weird?

34. Why Is My Puppy Licking Its Private Part?

Your puppy’s tongue serves as a washcloth, and as part of self-cleaning, your puppy will lick its private part a couple of times per day.

Obsessive concentration in that area for cleaning may mean a trip to the vet because it can mean:

• Urinary incontinence – licking is accompanied by trails of pee and urine-soaked fur.
• Urinary tract infection – this itches and burns, hence the soothing licking.
• Parasites and skin irritation cause excess itchiness.
• Obsessive behavior to counter boredom – licking this area is something to do.

35. Why Is My Puppy Licking Its Paw?

Your puppy can lick its paw if it has an injury or other irritation like a bit of grit or dried mud.

Your puppy can also choose to lick its paws out of habit, allergic reaction, or parasites.

It is worth checking the paws for any foreign object or evidence of inflamed skin between the pads.

If licking the paws is becoming an obsessive habit, it is worth mentioning it to the vet in case there is an underlying infection.

36. Why Does My Puppy Lick Everything?

Licking is a primary way of exploring the world for your puppy.

Your puppy licks itself to get clean and possibly scratch an itch. If your puppy is hungry, it will test lick everything in sight on the off chance that it can find something to eat.

Puppies lick your hands as a greeting, mutual grooming, and taste how you feel today.

As your puppy matures, it will be more discerning when it applies its tongue.

Puppy Obsessions

Sometimes it may seem like your puppy is obsessed with behaving a certain way.

Some breeds do become obsessed with the strangest things like sunlight sparkling on the ground, but often your puppy is behaving naturally despite appearances.

37. Why Is My Puppy Obsessed with Water?

Your puppy can be obsessed with water, either drinking or playing.

A puppy that is always drinking may have a health issue like a kidney infection or diabetes. Some breeds (collies, for example) have a higher rate of diabetes than others.

If your puppy is persistently drinking far more than expected to quench its thirst, it is worth having a vet run some tests.

Puppies with a lot of dry food will need more water than those with a wet diet. Plus, your puppy will drink more on hot days or if it is feeling under the weather.

However, some puppies drink water as a soothing mechanism when they feel anxious, stressed, or bored.

Your puppy can drink too much water, and excessive water loading is toxic.

If your puppy drinks dangerous water levels, it will show all the signs of poisoning – lethargy, pale gums, and excess drooling. An excess of water means a trip to the vet.

A puppy that wants to go out in the rain, play with the sprinkler and splash in every puddle is just having fun.

Invest in some water toys and teach your puppy how to swim so it is safe in and around the water.

38. Why Is My Puppy Obsessed with My Feet?

Your puppy may attack your bare feet with a need to lick and nibble or attack your socks and shoes.

The reasons why your puppy is obsessed with your feet vary, and your feet are typically a part of your body that are available at the puppy’s level.

Walking past your puppy may trigger an automatic hunting response, and your puppy pounces or chases.

It is a great game for your puppy, and when you jump about and squeal, the puppy gets a reward of attention.

If you want to stop your puppy from attacking your feet, distract it with a better toy and regard the puppy when it ignores your feet.

Licking your feet is part of exploring the world. Feet may taste good to the puppy, and feet licking can become a habit.

If you don’t like your puppy licking your feet wear socks and train your puppy out of the practice.

39. Why Is My Puppy Running in Circles?

A healthy puppy has plenty of energy, and running in circles is an excellent way to keep you in reach and burn some calories.

Many dogs see a vast expanse of sand or a large field and immediately make a few circular loops in excess excitement and joy.

Running loops around your living room or bedroom may signify your puppy is bored and looking for something to do. Perhaps it is time to go for a walk and invest in some new toys.

The one medical condition that sees your puppy running in circles is distemper. But after it runs, it will have a seizure and is likely to have a runny nose and eyes.

Typically, a healthy puppy running in circles burns some calories and has fun.

40. Why Does My Puppy Chew Its Paws?

Chewing is a more aggressive form of licking and has the potential to inflict damage on your puppy’s paws.

The underlying reasons are the same as licking paws:

• Injury from a thorn or scratch.
• Itchiness from parasites or infection.
• Sore pads or broken nails.
• Boredom or anxiety.
• Habit.

If the behavior is habitual, you may prefer to train your puppy away from chewing its paws and direct its attention to a more hygienic replacement.

41. Why Is My Puppy Acting Crazy?

You may be surprised the first time your puppy gets hyper as it runs around your home as if possessed.

The other name for this crazy behavior is the zoomies.

Your puppy may seem possessed or hyper, but it simply indulges in natural behavior.

Your puppy may outgrow the zoomies, but some continue to have episodes when mature.

42. Why Does My Puppy Chase Its Tail?

Your puppy chases its tail because it doesn’t recognize the tail as part of its body, which is why a baby will grab its feet.

Once your puppy catches hold of its tail, it learns that the strange floating thing is part of its body.

In older puppies, tail-chasing may become a habit, something to do when no other toy is available, like a toddler spinning in circles.

Most puppies typically give up tail-chasing as they mature and have more exciting things to do.

Other Antisocial Behaviors

There are some natural activities that most people find unpleasant – bad smells and drool tend to top the list.

43. Why Does My Puppy Fart So Much?

Puppies, like babies, occasionally fart to release the air trapped in the body.

But excessive flatulence accompanied by bad smells means you may need to change something to restore your puppy’s party manners.

Excessive flatulence results from:

• Diet.
• Swallowing air.
• Genetic heritage.
• Inactivity.
• Poor health.

Some foods ferment in the stomach and result in excess gas. Typically, your puppy will fart rather than burp.

Ensure your puppy is eating appropriate puppy formula and consult with your vet about proper tweaks to your puppy’s diet to eliminate gas-producing foods or allergic reactions.

Some puppies gulp their food and water and take in a lot of air, and this can potentially lead to issues with bloat, and that excess air must come out.

You can slow your puppy down by using a snuffle mat or adding a chain to the feeding bowl.

Some puppies are predisposed to farting; these include the flat-faced breeds and those with sensitive stomachs.

Inactive or overweight puppies are windy puppies. Part of the benefit of movement is that it keeps everything moving as it should.

When your puppy is outside playing, you don’t worry about the occasional fart or smell.

Finally, some health issues can result in excessive gas production.

Still, these all revolve (unsurprisingly) around digestive problems, so addressing your puppy’s diet will probably point towards an underlying health issue if that is why your puppy farts so much.

44. Why Is My Puppy Drooling (Suddenly)?

The sudden onset of drooling in a previously dry-mouthed puppy can be alarming.

Potential causes for your puppy’s sudden drooling include:

• Something painful stuck in the mouth or jaw.
• Heat exhaustion.

Excess salivation can occur because your puppy has something (like a thorn) stuck in its mouth.

If the drool is sudden and unexpected (not in response to food), then check your puppy’s mouth for an issue.

45. Why Is My Puppy Drooling in the Car?

If your puppy drools while traveling in your car, it is probably suffering from motion sickness, and the next step is vomiting.

Your puppy may outgrow its motion sickness at around one year, but in the meantime, chat to your vet about potential medication.

If you have a puppy that suffers from motion sickness, make life easier by ensuring you have a clean-up kit to hand.

Alternatives to motion sickness are:

• Excess heat – your puppy will drool if it is too hot, the temperature in the car can rise rapidly, and your puppy may be dehydrated.
• Excitement – an excess of enthusiasm for the new adventure may promote excess drooling.
• Teething – it may not be the car but some other reason causing your puppy to drool; you just happen to be in the car when you notice the drooling.

46. Why Is My Puppy Acting Sick, Sad or Depressed?

If your puppy is usually a ball of fluffy energy and happy to engage, then a behavior change probably means excess tiredness and possibly illness.

To work out what is up with your puppy, review where your puppy has been and feeding behavior in the last two or three days.

Potential causes of a depressed puppy include:

• Infection or disease.
• Something hurts – teething or injury.
• Something your puppy ate makes it feel ill.
• Changes in routine.

Provided your puppy has no other symptoms (drooling, not eating or drinking, staggering, excess panting), you can wait a couple of hours to see if it is an emotional rather than a physical sadness.

If your puppy has a temperature or other symptoms, it is best to call your vet.

47. Why Does a Puppy Grind Its Teeth?

In puppies, teeth grinding is a reaction to the pain of teething or having a loose milk tooth. In older puppies, teeth grinding indicates dental issues – a broken tooth or other concern.

If your puppy is in the teething stage, the grinding is nothing to worry about.

If your puppy has all its adult teeth but is grinding them together, consult your vet because leaving your puppy with this habit can damage the enamel.

48. Why Does My Puppy Keep Scratching Itself?

Scratching is a reaction to having an itch.

That itch may be a temporary condition like an insect bite or something that requires treatment, like dry, itchy skin from an allergic reaction or parasite infection.

It is usual for your puppy to scratch itself occasionally because everyone gets the odd itch and urge to scratch.

Persistent scratching indicates excessive itching, which has an underlying cause needing treatment.

Some breeds are more prone to allergies (grass allergies are surprisingly common), and hairless breeds require regular moisturizing lotion to keep their exposed skin itch-free.

49. Why Does My Puppy Keep Peeing?

Young puppies do pee frequently, and because they aren’t potty trained, it seems that they are uncontrollably peeing all the time.

Typically, your puppy will need to pee soon after drinking water.

As your puppy matures, you expect to be able to schedule regular bathroom breaks and have a pee-free house.

However, if your puppy seems to be peeing unusually frequently, it may have a urinary tract infection, and you may want to chat to a vet to put your mind at rest.

Generally, puppies pee in the house because they are young, excited, or anxious.

They learn to confine their peeing to outside on walks and bathroom breaks as their bladders mature and the puppy learns social skills.

Other Odd Puppy Behavior

Puppies move through cute toddler, petulant teenager, and responsible adult phases more rapidly than human children.

Unsurprisingly, your puppy’ changing behavior may puzzle you.

50. Why Is My Puppy Acting Like a Cat?

Some puppies seem more cat-like than dog-like.

Your puppy may bond with a resident cat and copy behavior as the right way to act in the home.

Some breeds like the Manchester Terrier are about the size of a cat and display markedly cat-like traits when cleaning, napping, and hunting.

Some breeds are more independent and aloof – just like cats.

Cat-like behavior includes:

• Seeking higher ground for a better view.
• Chasing fast-moving small objects.
• Curling up into a ball to sleep.
• Trained to use a litter tray.

Although these behaviors seem cat-like, these habits are typical of many puppies, especially from the smaller breeds.

Cat and dog behavior isn’t unique to either species.

51. Why Is My Puppy Acting Out Suddenly?

You thought your puppy had outgrown the attention-seeking and destructive behaviors, and suddenly your puppy starts destructive chewing, protesting when left by itself, and possibly forgetting its potty training.

Why?

The answer is change.

Your puppy likes routine; it gets used to people, places, and things happening in the correct order. Any change is unsettling and may result in acting out.

Perhaps a family member is working away this week, the kids are back in school, or you have a new pet.

If your puppy finds change overwhelming, it will act out until things return to normal or become accustomed to the changes.

Be patient, and this too will pass.

52. Why Is My Puppy Acting Scared of Me?

If you have a new puppy, it may be timid around you until it gets used to its new home.

If a previously confident puppy starts acting scared of you, it may be frightened by a recent event.

Perhaps you shouted when you found your chewed slipper, or another dog may have surprised it on a walk.

Patience and calmness will allow your puppy to move from being timid around you to being confident that it is happy and safe.

All puppies are individuals, and some puppies are more timid than others. You can increase self-confidence, but naturally, these puppies will show more timid behavior.

Puppies tend to display submissive behavior (rolling over to show their belly or drooping), and this behavior may seem like fear, but the puppy is only showing that it isn’t a threat and expects you to take care of it.

Conclusion

Your puppy will show all sorts of odd behavior while it is growing up. Sometimes the bizarre movement or noises means your puppy needs a trip to the vet, but often there is nothing to worry about.

Your puppy develops a personality and character quirks as it learns about the world and how to behave.

Today it is chasing its tail, and tomorrow it may choose to obsess about splashing in every puddle it sees.

Trust your instincts to tell you if your puppy’s weird behavior is an issue or a cute quirk.