Dogs are lovable creatures, but there is no denying that they can behave strangely at times. In their defence, humans do a lot of strange things too that dogs probably cannot understand either.

Man’s best friend is a creature of habit, so it’s helpful to try to understand why they do the things they do.

Ever wonder why your dog keeps digging holes in your garden? Or why they walk in circles before getting down to business?

Let’s go over several common dog habits and explain the science behind them.

1. Walking in circles before pooping

Anyone who has ever walked a dog will have seen this. After a good amount of sniffing, the dog stops at a certain tuft of grass, squats and starts spinning around like a canine ballerina for a bit before defecating. Why?

There are several explanations for this behaviour, one of them being hygiene-related. The dog may just be making sure the place is clean and perfect for their toilet.

In addition, spinning around may be a way for the dog to check for potential threats, since they will be particularly vulnerable while defecating.

Interestingly, some scientists suggest that dogs spin to align themselves with the earth’s magnetic poles, though it is unknown if this is done deliberately or instinctively.

2. Sniffing bottoms

For humans, dogs sniffing each other’s rear ends may appear somewhat comedic, or disgusting. But why do dogs do this when they meet other friendly dogs?

Actually, the butt sniff for dogs is the equivalent of the handshake for humans.

Dogs have a powerful sense of smell and located close to the dog’s butt are special glands that secrete chemicals that reveal unique information about each dog.

These chemicals help dogs find out if their new friend is male or female, sick or healthy, old or young and even their mood.

Every dog has its own unique odour, and this helps dogs decide if the other dog they’re meeting is a stranger or an old friend.

While humans consider butt sniffing a rude gesture, in reality, it is just another tool in canine communication.

3. Eating poop

While not all dogs are willing to feast on their own droppings, some dogs do engage in this disturbing practice, though these are mostly puppies.

Female dogs that have just given birth are likely to engage in this activity as they eat the poop of their puppies.

This is done to keep the den clean and, in the wild, this practice protects the litter from predators who could be drawn in by the scent of poop.

However, puppies are likely to pick up this habit from their mothers and, being curious creatures, they might start eating not only their own poop, but the poop of other creatures.

Boredom or stress may also lead to puppies eating their own poop, and it should be noted that punishing them for doing so will only stress them even further.

4. Chasing their tails

A particularly funny antic often associated with dogs is chasing their tails.

Most of the time, dogs that chase their tails are simply doing so to stave off boredom. Dogs are energetic creatures and what better way to release all that pent-up energy than by doing some intense physical activity?

Chasing tails is an activity that both young and old dogs engage in. Puppies might be curious about the strange thing following them around while elderly dogs may chew on their tails due to senility.

Some dogs also chase their tails to get attention from their owners and, more often than not, people find it funny to see them doing so.

5. Licking people

Often seen as a sign of affection, dog owners often return home after a long day of work to be greeted by wet, sloppy licks from their pets.

Some people interpret this as “doggy kisses”, and it does appear to be a sign of affection.

But why licks? And is it more of a friendly greeting than a kiss?

Mother dogs lick their puppies clean and puppies sometimes lick their mother for food.

When puppies mature, they continue to lick themselves as a way of grooming and to lick others to greet them.

So when a dog licks a person, it is more likely than not a way of them saying, “I’m glad to see you!”

Alternatively, they are trying to get your attention as they may be hungry.

Dogs also respond strongly to positive reinforcement, so when a dog sees that a human positively responds to their licks, they are likely to do so again with others.