January 15, 2026
9 Strange Dog Behaviors That Are Actually Totally Normal
If there is one thing we all know about our four-legged friends, it’s that they are absolute weirdos. You love them, but sometimes you have to look at them and wonder, “What on earth are you doing?”
From sprinting through the living room at full speed to intimately inspecting another dog’s rear end, our pets do things that seem baffling to human eyes. But here is the good news: most of these strange dog behaviors are actually normal dog behaviors. They are usually rooted in ancient survival instincts, communication methods, or just plain joy.
Let’s decode the mystery behind your pup’s quirks.
1. Zoomies (Frenetic Random Activity Periods)
We have all seen it. Your dog is perfectly calm one minute, and the next, they are sprinting laps around the sofa with their tail tucked and eyes wide. This phenomenon is officially known as FRAPs, or Frenetic Random Activity Periods.
This isn’t a sign of madness. It is a release of pure joy and pent-up energy. You will often see zoomies occur after a bath (to shake off the wet feeling) or when you come home from work. It’s their way of saying they are happy to be alive.
2. Circling and Digging Before Lying Down
Does your dog spin around three times and scratch at their bedding before finally settling down? It might look obsessive, but it is a deep-seated ancestral instinct.
In the wild, dogs didn’t have plush memory foam beds. They had tall grass and rough terrain. Circling helped trample down the grass to create a comfortable nest, drive out snakes or insects, and mark the spot as their own. Scratching or digging helped uncover cooler earth in the summer or warmer ground in the winter.
3. Head Tilting
Is there anything cuter than asking your dog a question and watching their head snap to the side? While it looks like they are trying to look adorable to get a treat, there is a practical reason for it.
Dogs tilt their heads to adjust their outer ears to better pinpoint where a sound is coming from. It helps them hear clearly and pick out specific words they know, like “walk,” “treat,” or “park.”
4. Kicking After Pooping
It can be a little embarrassing when your dog does their business and then dramatically kicks up grass and dirt behind them. You might assume they are trying to cover the mess like a cat, but that isn’t the case.
Dogs have scent glands in their paws. By kicking the ground, they are releasing pheromones to mark their territory. It is a visual and chemical sign to other dogs that says, “I was here.”
5. Rolling in Smelly Things
You just bathed your dog, and the first thing they do is run outside and roll in the grossest thing they can find. Why?
There are two main theories. First, they might be trying to mask their own scent — a predatory instinct to hide from prey. Second, if they smell like “clean laundry,” they might just be trying to get their own familiar doggy scent back.
6. Sniffing Butts
To humans, it is a gross invasion of privacy. To dogs, it is a handshake. A dog’s sense of smell is their primary way of gathering data. Because the anal area contains strong pheromones, a quick sniff provides a wealth of information about the other dog, including their gender, health, diet, and emotional state.
7. Licking Faces and Paws
If your dog loves to give sloppy kisses, they are usually showing affection or seeking attention. In some cases, they might just like the salty taste of your skin.
However, paw licking can be a bit different. While it is often a normal part of grooming, excessive licking can be a sign of allergies or anxiety.
8. Chasing Tails
Puppies often chase their tails because they don’t quite realize that the tail is attached to their own body — they view it as a toy. In older dogs, it is usually a sign of playfulness or excitement.
9. Making Biscuits (Kneading)
While usually associated with cats, dogs “knead” or push their paws into blankets too. This is a comfort behavior left over from puppyhood. Puppies knead their mothers to stimulate milk flow, so doing it as an adult is a sign that your dog feels safe, content, and comforted.
When Strange Becomes Concerning
While the behaviors above are generally normal, context matters. If your dog is excessively digging, licking, or chewing, it may not be a quirk — it could be a sign of boredom or separation anxiety.
If your dog seems unable to settle or is engaging in destructive behaviors, they might need help relaxing. Consider an assessment by a vet, and look into tools that promote calmness.
Does your dog seem stressed or anxious? Help them find their calm with a healing collar from Gladiator K-Nine.
