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I realize from your posts that you folks are dealing with more serious issues than I have but if anyone can enlighten me on some odd things my dog does I'd be grateful.
1) She lurks outside the shower and tries to lick the shower water off me before I can towel it off. She always has a nice fresh dish of water!
2) She "digs" in her pet bed for a couple of minutes before she settles down. She doesn't dig in the yard, just when going to sleep.
She's very old and we have always thought she was a pit crossed with a lab or shepherd. This beharios has been going on forever and we're just curious.Thanks in advance.
I realize from your posts that you folks are dealing with more serious issues than I have but if anyone can enlighten me on some odd things my dog does I'd be grateful.
1) She lurks outside the shower and tries to lick the shower water off me before I can towel it off. She always has a nice fresh dish of water!
2) She "digs" in her pet bed for a couple of minutes before she settles down. She doesn't dig in the yard, just when going to sleep.
She's very old and we have always thought she was a pit crossed with a lab or shepherd. This beharios has been going on forever and we're just curious.Thanks in advance.
Not sure about the shower thing. If you're using a scented soap or body wash that might be the reason.
I think the bed digging (one of my German shepherds does it) is instinctual behavior left over from when their ancestors had to dig dens to live in or wanted to dig a hole in the cool dirt to sleep in. My GSD will also sometimes turn around several times in his bed before settling down. I think that's also residual instinctual behavior from when their ancestors would make their bed in the tall grass and would circle several times to flatten it.
We've had a couple of dogs that liked to lick water off us. Maybe it's like flavored water when it comes off of our skin?? Not sure.
Most dogs dig in their beds, at least once in awhile. Some do it often. Rowan is right about the digging and circling. I think some animals like to make their beds more nest-like too. One of our dogs occasionally gets up on our bed and remakes the the top sheet and blanket into a big comfy pile in the middle of the bed, by sort of scooting with all four paws. She works very hard at it! I'm sure it irks her to have to re-do it every time.
My dogs that have licked us when we came out of the shower tended to be dogs that were into nurturing. I think they were trying to help groom us. As far as the circle thing, I agree it is a left over instinct and is akin to fluffing your pillow.
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I realize from your posts that you folks are dealing with more serious issues than I have but if anyone can enlighten me on some odd things my dog does I'd be grateful.
1) She lurks outside the shower and tries to lick the shower water off me before I can towel it off. She always has a nice fresh dish of water!
2) She "digs" in her pet bed for a couple of minutes before she settles down. She doesn't dig in the yard, just when going to sleep.
She's very old and we have always thought she was a pit crossed with a lab or shepherd. This beharios has been going on forever and we're just curious.Thanks in advance.
The digging seems to be something they are born with as I have seen puppies do it not having been outside. They also do not have to learn to clean themselves natural and that might just be what the dog is doing to you. I have seen mother clean water off puppies who got wet too. my dog has always dug at flooring and use nose to seemingly bury food that he leaves on his dish for later it seems.
1) She lurks outside the shower and tries to lick the shower water off me before I can towel it off. She always has a nice fresh dish of water!
Wouldn't know specifically but my dogs prefer the puddle outside instead of their water dish.
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2) She "digs" in her pet bed for a couple of minutes before she settles down. She doesn't dig in the yard, just when going to sleep.
This is instinct, if they were in the wild it would be to a dig hole to help keep body heat. My dog does this, she has two particular spots she does it. One is under a desk and the other is in the smallest room in the house she has access too which is the laundry.
I have an Australian Shepherd who also likes to lick the water off of me. I always assumed since Aussies are so attached to their humans, that he does it because they likes the smell and I guess, the taste of their owners.
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Not sure.
