Dogs do an awful lot of things that we find cute, even if we don’t always understand their behavior.
You might be familiar with the way your dog behaves when they’re hoping for one of the best dog treats, or when they think they’re about to go for a walk, but what about some of the more misunderstood behaviors they engage in?
If your dog likes to nuzzle you, for example, you might be a little confused. Where does the behavior come from, and what does it tell us about dog body language? Well, fortunately, Pure Pet Food’s resident veterinary expert Dr Julian Norton – known for his UK TV series The Yorkshire Vet – has offered us an explanation.
“People sometimes ask why dogs nudge and nuzzle with their noses,” he begins. “Part of the reason is that dogs really feel part of the family and part of the tribe, and they’re trying to get attention by nuzzling you.
He adds: “It’s quite endearing. I think it’s a bit like when dogs come and lick us on our face or hands or that sort of thing. They’re just really wanting to be part of the family and get some attention.”
Nuzzling us to get attention while also showing that they feel part of the family? That sounds like pretty standard canine logic to us.
But, what about the other cute things dogs do? Dr Norton has also spoken about tail wagging, explaining that it doesn’t always mean a dog is happy – this is actually one of the most common pet myths.
“Look at the height, speed, and stiffness of the wag,” he says. “A high and loose wag often means your dog is pleased to see you, while a low, tense wag could signal uncertainty or fear. Learning what a wagging tail really means can help you get a better sense of your dog’s mood.”
Licking, meanwhile, is a social behavior that dogs can use as a way of bonding with us or checking in with us to see how we’re feeling. It’s something canines do to each other in the wild, so it’s no different for our more domestic dogs.
And, what about smiling? Sometimes, dogs can pull their lips back in such a way that it looks like a human smile, even though they don’t smile in the same way we do. “When this expression is paired with relaxed, playful body language like a wagging tail it means that they are feeling happy and ready to play,” Dr Norton tells us.
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