If you’re wondering why your dog may have been acting weird latterly, you’re not alone. Just like humans, dogs can occasionally feel ill or discomforted, leading them to act strange or out of character. Unlike a human, a dog cannot speak, but they certainly can convey their emotions through body language and behavior.
When they are doing all sorts of weird things, it can be a sign that something is wrong, and it is important to know the signs that they are not doing well in order to prevent them from doing so. When dogs are in pain or suffering from an underlying issue, they may lick their paws or seem more withdrawn. Their behavior could be doing something that’s out of character, and it’s important to tune into these cues.
Your furry besties could be simply trying to convey that they need your attention, or there may be more serious issues at hand. If you notice some weird behaviors, follow up with some analysis and advice from the vet or professionals so your dog can be happy and healthy as they normally would be.
18 Signs Your Dog’s Weird Behavior Could Signal a Problem
If you’re wondering if your dog has been acting strange lately, you’re not alone. Just like humans, dogs sometimes get sick or uncomfortable, making them behave differently than normal.
Unlike humans, dogs don’t have words but can express their feelings with their bodies. Although abnormal behavior in dogs can be concerning, it is important to remember that not every peculiar behavior is cause for concern.
There is a possibility that your dog’s different attitude is a wave of happiness or mood energy. Like we do, dogs can experience mood swings that cause them to act in ways that don’t always add up.
That doesn’t mean that something bad is going on, however. It could be a reaction to something new, or maybe she’s just a little overenthusiastic.
That said, it’s always a good idea to look for signs that something is amiss. Be on the lookout for sudden agitation, disorientation or changes in eating and sleeping behaviors. These signs don’t indicate a divine problem. However, keeping a close eye on your pup doesn’t hurt.
If you are in doubt and the behavior persists, check with your veterinarian to ensure no health alarms are ringing. You must be proactive to keep your dog healthy and happy.
For a quick recommendation:
1-A Random Burst of Energy
If your dog has suddenly started to sprint around the house or yard, making several laps at light speed, it’s not unusual to think your dog is weird. This may seem even a little funny at first, but you are witnessing the burst of energy known as the zoomies. This instinctual response is just your dog getting them now, and then energy splashes out, generally propelled by pleasure or happiness.
In a play bow, dogs will run circles around each other, jump, and even nip at their toys or nearby objects. Those episodes are harmless, although they look somewhat alarming, especially if they happen suddenly. They have methods of getting it across, so don’t be concerned.
In these crazy moments, if you keep your dog, you can hear all other events around you. Ten tons of dog walking to avoid being maimed— you and your pup. When they jump, always protect your knees and prepare for the unlikely smack.
Their victory lap good cheer can be contagious, but it’s best to exercise them and work them in locales where few people will be around. As long as we stay aware and responsible, we can make the fun work for everyone involved!
2. Going Round In Circles
If your dog circles or spins in place frequently, it may look innocent enough, but it could be a sign of something more serious. Your dog may even have an inner ear infection, which is painful and can cause balance issues, causing it to make a lot of circles.
In some cases, a brain lesion or even a seizure may account for these strange behaviors. And let’s not forget that dogs have a certain routine before bedtime, where they chase tails or go around in circles. They might be marking their territory or trying to chill out, which does not mean there is a health problem here.
If they learn that this circling behavior occurs far too often to the point where it appears uncontrollable, as we see in most cats and dogs, it could indicate an underlying cause. One of them is Idiopathic Vestibular Syndrome, a condition that affects balance and causes disorientation.
Occasionally, these strange behaviors could be caused by more serious conditions such as a brain tumor or even psychological disorders like Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). These probably sound strange to a dog, but they can experience many things like us. I had a dog once who did similar, and when he went to the vet, we learned it was an ear infection — so don’t ignore the signs.
3.Yawn, Puff, and Avoiding Eye Contact
The collar may help to identify when your dog is a little tense in different situations or may even help to identify a situation where your dog is anxious—showing odd behaviors like the number of yawns, the number of times someone seems not to make eye contact, or several times your dog seems to be panting.
These changes could indicate that everything is not right in their routine. Environmental factors — such as thunderstorms — can also cause anxiety and stress and lead your dog to act in what may seem like unusual ways.
When these behaviors occur, subtle indicators are important to notice. Lip licking, avoiding eye gaze, or even deviations from their normal routine could all be subtle but important signs that your dog is feeling discomfort.
Pet owners might overlook these reactions if they are too busy with something else, but one must watch for such developments.
If you have recently changed jobs, have new job hours, or have recently moved, Returning to the old routine might not always be possible, but making an effort to spend more time with your dog and support them in adapting to the new condition can go a long way.
To help them during this time, choose quality food and add multivitamins to ensure their well-being as they adapt to the changes.
Once they are comfortable, helping your dog feel more secure during these transitions will help ease their discomfort in the long run.
4.Eating Poop
When your dog starts acting weird, it can be alarming, and you might wonder what’s up. Dogs may sometimes behave out of character for reasons as diverse as stress, illness, or environmental changes. One of the common but awkward behaviors is PICA—faces Eating.
Such behavior may seem disgusting, but it is often based on something more profound, such as anxiety or certain medical conditions. An example of this could be a dog with malabsorption disease. These diseases affect the digestive tract and manifest strange behaviors that require self-regulation for the dog.
Abusive attention following a housetraining mistake can also trigger this reaction. Dogs that are scolded after having an accident may associate their poop with punishment.
Thus, they will attempt to consume the evidence, a natural reaction to avoid a war. The best way to keep your dog’s environment clean is to AVOID poop eating. It can be easy to forget that these behaviors are likely a response to something the dog is reacting to, something we can’t always see.
5.Snapping or Growling
When barking becomes snapping or growling, you need to make sure that your dog is not in pain. Aggressive outbursts are the result of some undiagnosed disease or injury. Dogs tend to be more subdued than normal when ill, but some dogs may ever react aggressively when unwell, particularly if they are in pain.
This type of behavior is often due to injury or pain that creates discomfort. You might not be able to identify the reasons for their strange behavior from afar, but these are signs that the person is trying to tell you about what makes them uncomfortable.
In these types of moments, it’s important to find your calm and always be prepared with a dog first aid kit for any minor injuries you might see. This can save you time and prevent you from having to wonder later why your dog is acting like this.
But if the symptoms do not go away, do not hesitate to consult the vet. The veterinarian can help determine whether it’s an illness or something physical. What matters most is your dog’s health, and taking the right action sooner rather than later can spare things from getting worse.
6.Butt Sniffing Other Dogs
If you have ever seen your dog getting involved in sniffing another dog’s butt, you might feel it a little odd, but it’s also a normal part of them. There is an evolutionary and biological explanation for this.
A dog’s sense of smell is about ten times stronger than ours. This allows them to perceive emotions like fear, happiness, sadness, and stress simply from smell. They can even tell a male from a female, which can help them determine if a new dog is a possible threat or just a potential friend.
This behavior is connected to their survival strategy. Your dog sniffs for important information to help them stay safe. There’s nothing to panic about and nothing to fret over.
Staying calm in those moments is vital to you as a dog owner because your pet is just exhibiting a natural, everyday behavior that allows them to feel like they can fête their environment safely. Reframing to the vet is unnecessary unless she shows other worrying signs.
7.Eating Grass
If you’re out walking in the field, seeing your dog eating grass can be disconcerting. “You might be thinking, ‘What happened to the food I used to eat?’ Sometimes, such behavior can be traced back to the genes we inherited from — all of our ancestors.
Dogs may have eaten grass to help remove parasites and foreign bodies from the stomach in a cathartic way. Grass also provides fiber-rich forage, which may explain why they continue with this unusual behavior.
Although this may seem strange, it is rarely associated with a nutritional deficiency, especially since the dog foods you will find on the market today rarely induce nutritional deficiencies in dogs. But we still have to be careful. If your dog eats too much grass, it can cause a mat in its stomach, which could require surgical intervention.
To prevent this, do not reinforce this behavior, and use gentle methods to dissuade your dog from eating grass. If something goes awry and your dog eats too much, find an emergency vet to mitigate complications.
To avoid this, don’t encourage this behavior and instead use gentle methods to dissuade your dog from munching on grass. If things go wrong, such as your dog consuming too much, seek an emergency vet to prevent complications.
8.Humping Behavior
When your dog is acting strange, the issue could be related to humping. One of the most common causes of this behavior is the influx of sudden hormones, such as pregnancy in dogs or simply reaching maturity at a sexually mature age.
But it isn’t always about reproduction. Humping may also be a sign of dominance, overstimulation or stress. If you see your dog fixating on a stuffed animal or a pillow, it’s generally not something to be concerned about. They may be objects of affection.
On the flip side, if humping becomes a regular behavior or accompanies other behaviors that seem out of character, it could indicate a medical issue, like irritation, infection or even back pain.
So, if this does happen, consider speaking to a veterinarian to rule out any potential health issues. Occasionally, a behavior you might consider strange could signal that your dog is feeling discomfort or pain, and early treatment can be critical for resolving the issue.
9.Barking for No Reason and Periodic Loss of Direction
With age and wear, a dog’s behavior can change. They are not known for barking for no reason, which can signify mental degradation. They also might begin gazing into space, seeming dazed or wandering around the house. Those are all indications that your dog may be experiencing problems associated with ageing or even developing a medical condition like dementia or cognitive loss.
If you observe these behaviors, you should know these changes are common as your dog ages. While they may be acting strangely, it may just be a natural method of coping with the mental and physical changes going on in their life.
If the behavior is troubling, it is critical that a vet or doctor be visited. They can also determine whether this is a normal part of the aging process or something that needs treatment.
10.Excessive Licking or Chewing
If your dog suddenly licks its paws a lot or chews on certain body parts, it may be a sign of anxiety, boredom, or a skin infection. Dogs lick or chew to soothe themselves, but it may signal something more serious, such as allergies, parasites , or pain.
What to Do: Watch for behavioral changes and irritation or injury. If the licking or chewing persists, speak to your vet so they can rule out allergies or infections.
11.Excessive Barking or Howling
Some barking is normal, but excessive barking or howling indicates something is wrong. It may be a sign of pain, anxiety, fear or loneliness. Researchers say that if they feel neglected or are going through a stressful situation, dogs might bark more than they usually do.
What to Do: If your dog’s barking feels unusual, assess the situation to determine if anything is happening that might be stressful, like a change in routine or the absence of a consistent companion. If the barking continues, visit a vet; there may be behavioral problems.
12.Uncharacteristic Aggression or Protective Behavior
Your dog may be guarding its territory or getting defensive and territorial. The behaviors may be due to changes in your environment, such as adding a new pet or person. In the alternative, injurious pain or discomfort can trigger defensive aggression.
What to Do: Ensure there’s no foundational physical pain behind aggression. If the behavior is rooted in anxiety or territoriality, you might work with a professional trainer.
13.Begging or Barking for Reasons That Don’t Make Sense
While dogs will vocalize for a variety of reasons, if your dog won’t stop whining or crying, it could indicate your dog is in pain or trouble. It may also be an indication of separation anxiety or something in the routine that is stressful.
What to Do: Watch for other signs of distress, such as limping or a change in appetite, and consult your veterinarian if you hear whining for an extended period.
14.Disinterest in Activities You Used to Enjoy
When your dog used to love fetching or seeing how fast she could demolish a toy and suddenly doesn’t care if you’re throwing the biggest ball in the world, it’s possibly because she’s physically or emotionally uncomfortable. Pain, depression, or an underlying health problem can have this as a side effect.
What to Do: Pay attention to your dog’s overall behavior to detect any potential illness — lethargy or changes in eating habits, for example. If this continues, schedule a visit to the vet to rule out any health issues.
15.Or perhaps the tail between the legs/ears is pinned back
If your dog often holds its tail low or between its legs or pins its ears back, these are classic signs of fear, anxiety or stress. Dogs who feel threatened or otherwise uncomfortable in their environment can also exhibit these behaviors.
What You Can Do: Comfort your dog calmly and soothingly. If the behavior becomes common or exceeds, work with a vet to eliminate anxiety or behavioral problems.
16.Trouble Walking or Stiffness
When your dog begins limping, acting stiff, or struggling to stand or jump in and out of the car, it may be suffering from joint pain, arthritis, or injury. Due to wear and tear, some dogs develop stiffness, too.
What to Do: If your dog is older, ask your vet about arthritis control options. You need to go to the vet for diagnosis and treatment if the issue found is acute or sudden.
17.Drooling More Than Usual
Overzealous drooling — especially if it’s not part of your dog’s normal behavior — can indicate dental problems, nausea, or even poisoning. It may also happen if your dog is experiencing excitement or anxiety.
What to Do: Look for signs of dental disease, and if drooling is accompanied by vomiting, lethargy or other symptoms, call your vet immediately.
18.Difficulty Concentrating or Confusion
While it may seem crazed or confused, if your dog is disoriented or unable to focus, chances are it’s suffering from cognitive decline, particularly if it’s an older dog. Other possible explanations include an ear infection, a head injury or a neurological disease.
What to Do: Monitor your dog’s behavior closely. When disorientation becomes more frequent or severe, consult your vet for a cognitive health evaluation.
FAQs
1.What does it mean when my dog is suddenly acting weird?
Stress, an illness, injury, or a change in their environment can cause sudden changes in their behavior. If this behavior is continuous, it is recommended that you contact your veterinarian.
2.How can I tell if my dog is sick?
Illness can manifest by lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrheic, coughing and changes in behavior. If you see any of these signs, call a vet.
3.What’s wrong with my dog; why isn’t she acting like herself?
Behavioral changes may respond to stress, anxiety, discomfort, or other health concerns. She should be regularly monitored and taken to a vet.
4.What do you do when your dog is behaving abnormally?
Watch the symptoms, keep her comfortable, and if the behavior persists, make an appointment with your vet to ensure no physical problems.
Conclusion
What to do if you find your dog acting weird? To understand the dog’s organs, be patient for early symptoms. Changes in appetite, activity level, and even bathroom habits can signal health or discomfort. Monitoring your dog’s behavior and noticing anything out of the ordinary is always a good idea.
A sudden behavior change may be a sign of something as basic as stress, or it might point to something more that a professional will need to address. If you notice any unusual behavior in your dog, don’t hesitate to contact your vet with concerns. You can prevent issues from growing by being proactive and responsive.
It is important for you to give your dog the attention and care it needs to be well and happy. This will definitely improve the relationship, provided you treat them correctly and give them what they need. Your dog relies on you to ensure they are living their best and healthiest lives, so always be on the lookout for their behavior and respond quickly if anything feels off. For more tips on understanding and caring for your dog, check out this Global Lifestyles Hub
