Why do dogs shake their legs?

If you have a dog, you probably know all of his little idiosyncrasies well. More than likely, one of them is kicking his leg when you scratch a certain place on his stomach. Long-time dog owners will know that almost all dogs do this. Typically it happens when you scratch them in a place known as the "saddle" region, which includes the belly, flanks and back. Some kick one leg, some kick the other, and the height and speed of the kick can vary depending on where you scratch and on the individual dog. It doesn't make much sense -- he kicks his leg even though there's no way that leg can actually reach your hand to make it stop. It's funny, but have you ever stopped to ponder why it's happening?

Dogs shake or kick their legs when you scratch them because of something known as the scratch reflex. It's a completely involuntary reaction, which explains why your dog may look as puzzled as you do when it starts to happen. When you scratch or tickle your dog's belly, it irritates him, much the same way that the wind or a bug might. It activates nerves under his skin that are connected to his spinal cord and relays a message to his leg muscles to kick in an attempt to get rid of the irritant. Of course, you're the one both providing the "itch" and "scratching" it, so it's a completely pointless act.

The scratch reflex does have one purpose -- it's reliable enough that veterinarians sometimes use it to assist in diagnosing nerve damage or neurological problems. And while we've called it an irritant, you're not really irritating your dog at all. Most dogs like a scratch on their bellies, so just move to another spot. If he really doesn't like it, he'll just let you know by moving away. Think of it as similar to our knee-jerk reflex, when the doctor taps your knee and your leg kicks out. Or when you scratch a cat at the base of his tail and his rear end rises up. It's just one of those quirks of animal anatomy.

Not all Dogs Like Being Petted

Sounds crazy doesn’t it?

When we think of dogs we think of getting lost in their luxurious fur.

Just petting them lowers our blood pressure and can take stress right out of our lives.

Thankfully most dogs like being petted, but not all dogs do. Even dogs that were taken home as pups and loved and coddled may not like being petted and touched affectionately.

Some dogs are just not overly affectionate; it is part of who they are as individuals.

These dogs usually are the dogs that would rather play ball or train or interact in games with you than snuggle in your blanket with you.

They are the ones that are happy laying on their own beds on the floor and don’t generally come to you for affection; they get interaction from you in other ways.

Or these are the dogs that demand affection and “worship” from you but only on their own schedule. They may nuzzle you for affection one minute; and then threaten you for petting them the next.

This Dog has Soft Squinty Eyes

Genetics vs. a Learned Behavior

Some puppies are born like this; they are just more independe

Do Our Pets Really Love Us?

In the English language, we have just one wordto describe the different types of love. Theancient Greeks were a bit smarter in this respect;they used different words to describe the love fora spouse, a sibling, a parent or a friend.

You have to wonder which word they used todescribe the love between pets and people. Weknow how we feel towards our pets, but do theyexperience the same emotions toward us? Or isthe bond simply a mixture of instinct, dependence and social role?

In short, do our pets really "love" us, as we understand it? In a word,

the answer is yes, according to clinical evidence. Food does play alarge role in feelings of affection between pet and owner. But dog doesnot live by biscuit alone – and neither does a cat's affection dependsolely on treats. The mere presence and/or touch of a preferred personhas been shown to reduce the heart rate of these animals – a sign ofbonding. (The same is true with horses.)

How do dogs perceive time?

Most dogs are never late for a meal -- they know exactly where to be at the same time every day. They also know when to expect their owner home and, like clockwork, place themselves patiently at the door for that arrival. When you witness this behavior, you assume dogs have a sophisticated understanding of time. But what is time really like for a dog?

They say a human year is equivalent to about seven dog years. But what does this common theory tell us about a dog's perception of time? Actually, very little. The idea of "dog years" comes from the life expectancy of dogs compared to humans. So it wouldn't be correct to apply this idea to the concept of time perception.

To understand how dogs perceive time, we first need to understand how humans perceive time. Arguably, each person experiences the passing of time in different ways at different times. Albert Einstein once explained the principle of relativity by saying, "When a man sits with a pretty girl for an hour, it seems like a minute. But let him sit on a hot stove for a minute -- and it's longer than any hour. That's relativity" 

Even though the experience of time is relative for every individual, all humans think about time in similar ways. For instance, our memories are inextricably tied to how we understand the passing of time. Our ability to remember events in a particular order plays a large part in our perception of time. We're also able to predict things. Though we don't all claim to be psychic, each of us counts on certain events in the future -- even as simple as assuming that the sun will come up tomorrow. These abilities have important implications -- for instance, memory and prediction allow us to have a sense of continuity, personal history and self-awareness.

Do Dogs Feel Love?

We feel tremendous love for our dogs, and our dogs sure seem to love us. But is a dog really capable of emotions? Or are we just projecting our own love onto our dogs?

Scientists avoid the subject because part of what sets humans apart from the animals is our ability to experience feelings. To say that animals actually have feelings, in the same way we do, would change everything – perhaps disrupt our entire position and standing in the animal kingdom.

However, any dog owner knows that dogs love completely and have a greater capacity for love than most people. If one were to describe the main characteristics of a dog, they would have to be:

• strong affection
• warm attachment
• unselfish loyalty and benevolent concern for others

Wait a minute – those are the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions of love. Probably why the author of Dogs Never Lie About Love, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson writes, “dogs are love.” So there isn’t a question of whether dogs love, the mystery is how they have such an enormous capacity for it. Dogs who are neglected or abused still show love for their human and wag their tails in hope of a little affection.

Dogs Give Unconditional Love

Dogs taken from abusive situations hold no grudges toward the human race. A half an ounce of kindness from a new person results in an abundance of affection from the formerly mistreated dog. Humans rarely have the capacity to so completely forgive and love under those circumstances.

Why Do Dogs Like to Lean on Us?

One of my dogs, Max, is a big guy. When we're outside in the dog pen, he likes to come over and sit beside me. However, he doesn't just sit, he leans and if I'm standing up and not paying attention, he knocks me sideways because his lean is more of a flop against my legs. All of my dogs like to lean on me at times, but why do they snuggle up next to our legs or beside us on the couch?

Kelly, the matriarch of my dog family, will either sit beside me on the couch or climb onto my lap and lean against me. Then she lays her head on my arm or chest and melts my heart with her eyes as she gazes into mine. Some of the time, I know she's trying to butter me up for some CANIDAE Tidnips treats, but usually it's because she likes to cuddle whenever she gets the chance. Keikei and Riley are fond of sitting on my feet when I'm standing or sitting, which keeps my feet warm on a cold night.

Cuddling is one reason dogs lean against us, but think about how dogs, especially small dogs, see our world. It can be a pretty intimidating place for some canines. A dog that feels unsure of himself or is shy will press up next to your legs for security. A scared dog may move behind you and seek comfort knowing you are there to protect him. It's his way of saying you make him feel safe.

16 Common Dog Myths

Not sure what to believe when it comes to the health of your dog? Well, look no further! Petplace.com helps to put a muzzle on the myth.

1. Dogs should have a litter before they are spayed.

This is not true. Dogs that have a litter before they are spayed are not better for it in any way. In fact, spayed dogs are at lower risk for breast cancer and uterine infections.

2. Dogs are sick when their noses are warm.

The temperature of a dogs nose does not indicate health or illness or if they have a fever. There is an "old wives tale" that cold wet noses indicate health. And Warm or dry noses indicate a fever or illness. The only accurate method to access a dog's temperature is to take it with a thermometer. Normal dog temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees F.

3. Mutts are always healthier than purebred dogs.

This is not true. Both mutts and purebred dogs can be unhealthy. Both can have diseases, however, mutts generally do not have many of the genetic diseases common in purebred lines.

4. All dogs like to be petted on their heads.

Some dogs do like to be petted on their heads but many do NOT.

Teaching Your Dog To Like The Water

Not all breeds of dogs like the water, and even some of the breeds that are supposed to be "water dogs" don't seem to enjoy getting wet at all. There are also dogs from specific breeds that don't typically go near the water that just can't wait to head out to lake for some fun in the sun. A great deal of how much or how little your dog enjoys being in the water does depend on their breed tendencies and traits, but how they experience being in the water the first few times can also make a big difference in their attitude towards swimming and playing in water. 

Breeds That Are Naturals

If you are a person that wants his or her dog to be a water loving animal, it is highly recommended that you stick to breeds where this is a characteristic. Not surprisingly all of the retrievers including the Lab, Chesapeake Bay, Curly and Flat Coated, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling and the Golden Retrievers are all typically fond of swimming and being in the water. Many of the spaniels, including the Cocker Spaniel, are also great water dogs and enjoy playing in and around water. Setters such as the Irish, Red and White and the Gordon generally enjoy getting in the water. 

13 Dog Breeds That Love The Water

When you think of breeds that love the water you might typically picture a Lab or a Golden Retriever. They are the most popular of the breeds on our list that have extreme aquatic tendencies! Many kinds of dogs love to swim, but I've compiled a list of some of the top canine splashers! If you have an active outdoorsy lifestyle, one of these breeds may be perfect for you and your family.

Schipperke

The Schipperke (pronounced skipper-kee) is a small (ranging from 7-20 lbs) Belgian breed that is always ready to go! They are incredibly smart and are known for their keen ability to pick up obedience commands quickly. They are independent and can be stubborn, so consistent training is a must. Members of this breed are commonly known as "Belgian barge dogs", as they were used for security and to keep the boats free of small pests. These little dogs are very comfortable on the water and they love to swim!

Labrador Retriever

Considered the most popular dog (by registration) in the world today, the Labrador Retriever is known to be an excellent family companion. Due to over breeding, there are many of these wonderful dogs in rescues today. If you are seeking to purchase a puppy, make sure you do so from a reputable source. Labs have a long puppy hood and are often clumsy until they mature (around 3 years of age). These dogs were bred for hunting Waterfowl, thus stems their love of swimming! Their thick coats are somewhat water-repellant.

Running like a dog meaning

: Re the phrase - "my computer is 'running like a dog'". I understand this to mean that my computer is running very slowly. Anything that is 'running like a dog' means it is slow. But to 'run like a dog' infers to run fast. Where did the phrase 'running like a dog' come from, as it appears illogical? Dogs run very fast :)

Here's one possible origin. I searched "horsing racing" and "running like a dog" and found this: To be successful in keeping the horse off the inside leg, to stop it dropping the shoulder, bulging the rear end into the circle and flying above the bit is to fix the canter. For the horse to experience a comfortable canter, rather than running like a dog, is to put belief into the mind and therefore eliminate the tension.