They say a bark is worth a thousand words — but for pet owners, it can be a mystery trying to understand what our pet’s quirks are telling us.
“Many of the behaviors we label as ‘mysteries’ are actually your pet’s natural instincts at work,” says Dr. Clay Hellner, Chief Veterinary Officer at Pet Paradise + NewDay Veterinary Care. “Once we replace myths with science, it becomes much easier to understand what they’re communicating to tell us.”
From explaining unusual behaviors to understanding what’s going on in that four-legged brain, we’re decoding some common questions to separate facts from pet propaganda.
Mystery #1: Can Dogs Have Best Friends?
While four-legged friendships are slightly different than human ones, dogs can definitely make their own BFF’s (best furry friends)! In group play settings, dogs will naturally gravitate to other pups who exhibit similar behavior and energy to them. As dogs socialize together more often, they become more comfortable with their playtime pals — just as humans do!
Signs your dog has developed a stable social bond with another pup include:
- Mirroring each other’s play
- Taking the lead in initiating engagement
- Greeting their friend with relaxed body languageCompatible play styles and past positive experiences help build pet friendships — which may be less emotionally-based than human ones, but are still strong social bonds.
Compatible play styles and past positive experiences help build pet friendships — which may be less emotionally-based than human ones, but are still strong social bonds.
Mystery #2: Do Pets Perceive Time Differently Than Humans?
Unfortunately, the clocks in our homes do little to help our pets track time. What they do notice are patterns, routines, and the absence of their family members. Their internal timers are based on indicators such as:
- Mealtimes
- Light cycles
- Body rhythms
- Routine cues (such as alarms or work schedules)
While your dog might not be able to predict the amount of time you’ve been gone down to the minute, they do recognize when you typically leave and return home. When these patterns are disrupted — such as when you go for an extended time away — is when your pet may exhibit boredom behaviors.
Mystery #3: Why Do Dogs Sniff Butts?
Although a faux-paw in the human world, sniffing butts is actually proper dog etiquette. This is because that’s where your pup’s glands release chemical signals that can communicate attributes such as another dog’s:
- Health
- Identity
- Sex
- Emotional State
Your dog’s powerful sense of smell helps them to learn and navigate interactions with other four-legged friends around them by telling them what they need to know — such as how anxious another dog is, if they’re safe to be around, and if they’re friendly. If you see your dog sneaking a whiff while out in the day camp play yard, they’re not being rude. It’s a very normal behavior!
Mystery #4: Why Do Dogs Dig in the Yard?
Your dog isn’t purposely digging up your fresh flowers — digging is a natural instinct for them. Digging can serve many purposes, such as:
- Relieving boredom or excess energy
- Burying or recovering items
- Satisfying an urge to track scents and “hunt”
While digging isn’t necessarily a concern (even though it may be for your lawn), it’s only problematic when it becomes excessive. Adding activities such as extra walks, stimulating toys, or time at camp can help channel their energy in a less destructive way.
Mystery #5: Why are Cats so Erratic?
One second, they're relaxed on their cat tower, and the next they’re knocking things off of the counter. Or cat owners find themselves in the classic situation where their feline friend begs for attention, just before clawing at the hand that pets them. Believe it or not, a cat’s behavior isn’t random — it’s backed by instinct. A sudden change in their actions can be attributed to:
- Their natural inclination for short, intense bursts of hunting activity
- Overstimulation from physical contact due to their sensitive nervous systems
- Hypervigilance to sudden sounds or movements in their environment
- Subtle communication cues (a flicking tail or twitching ears, for example) going unnoticed
What comes across as erratic behavior to humans is logical to felines due to their survival skills. Their prey-driven instincts, comfort levels, and communication styles all contribute to their unpredictability.
Mystery #6: What Do Pets Dream About?
If you’ve ever woken up from a vivid dream, that’s exactly what your pet is experiencing when they suddenly jolt out of their sleep. Dogs and cats show brain patterns almost identical to humans during sleep and experience all of the same cycles we do. This includes REM sleep, the cycle in which dreaming occurs. Their dreams might look a little different from ours, however, as they usually include:
- In dogs: Familiar activities such as running, exploring, or social interactions
- In cats: Shorter, instinct-driven activities tied to hunting behaviors
If you notice eye twitches, paw movement, slight whimpers, or barks, these are all signs your pet is immersed in dreamland!
Mystery #7: What Causes the Zoomies?
When your dog or cat suddenly speeds across the house, you may wonder what kind of mission they might be on. This natural release of energy, also known as the “zoomies”, is a normal way your
pet lets off steam. In the veterinary world, they’re called “FRAPs”: Frenetic Random Activity Periods. These are attributed to:
- A way to release both energy and emotions
- Biological activity cycles
- Natural play instincts (zoomies can be a way your pet invites another to play!)
If zoomies are constant, this may be an indication your pet is under stimulated. Introducing more activities to their daily schedules can help regulate their energy.
Facts, not Folklore
Our pets might not speak our language, but their behaviors communicate a lot to us humans. Understanding the real reasons behind these common myths can help pet parents better support and bond with their four-legged friends. Let’s face it — the “mystery” behind our pets is what keeps life exciting!
