Coming home after a long day of work or study is very comforting, but if you also have a furry friend waiting for you, there doesn't seem to be a better way to end the day. Certain? If your dog is one of those who jumps on you, makes the wheel and even urinates on himself, this article is for you
Do you want to know why your dog gets excited when you come home?What does it mean when he starts running like crazy or that fills you with kisses? Find out more about this special moment of the day, you'll love it!
Why do dogs get excited when they see their owner?
From the moment you are close to home, the dog waits at the door, restless. As soon as he sees you enter, he jumps on you, tries to lick your face and fingers, looks for you to pamper him, rolls on the floor, jumps and even, in some cases, urinates. Do any of those scenes sound familiar to you? Then you may be wondering why your dog freaks out when you get home. Actually, more than one reason, there are several factors that trigger this behavior in the dog. We explain several of them:
The bond between dog and guardian
Many people believe that the affection that dogs feel for humans is simply the result of recognizing us as providers of food, but this is not really true. Studies show that dogs are capable of feeling true affection for their guardians
In Atlanta, neurologist Gregory Berns discovered, through magnetic resonance imaging studies in dogs, not only that they recognize us as members of another species, but also reserve a section of their brain for information that has to do with the human being, such as the affection they profess for their family. The research showed that, when identifying a human that it considers part of the family, through senses such as smell, a reaction of happiness similar to that which occurs when he receives a reward is activated in the dog's brain.
Scientists concluded that this reaction was similar to the one humans have when they are in the presence of a friend or loved one. What does this mean? Your dog is happy when he's by your side!No wonder he gets excited when you come home.
Stimuli, a key factor
Think for a moment about the routine that your dog carries out when you are at home. Not only do you feed and care for him, but you also play with him, give him love, talk to him, walk you around the house, among other actions. Now, imagine what he does when he has to stay home alone all day.
What do dogs feel when they are left home alone? Dogs remember and miss their owners, so chances are your dog will be very bored during your time away, especially if you have to be alone. This is why your return represents not only that he will be with you, but that the time has come to go out for a walk, play and socialize.
When attachment becomes a disorder…
Some dogs experience a condition called "separation anxiety" that always occurs in the absence of their guardians. The most common is that they cry, destroy, urinate, defecate or bark insistently when you leave, in addition to showing a high level of stress. In these cases, the dogs get excited when we get home, but they do it in an exaggerated way and, furthermore, it is not positive for their well-being.
It is a behavior problem that is complicated to work on and solve, since in most cases it requires the assistance of a professional, such as an educator, trainer, or ethologist specializing in behavior modification. The kong for dogs is one of the many tools used to work it.
Why does my dog get excited when he sees me?
Some dogs tend to show obvious excitement in situations that are implausible to humans, causing discomfort in their human companions. What is this about? First of all, it is necessary to clarify that this reaction is not necessarily related to a sexual stimulus, nor does it imply that the dog in question is experiencing a phase of heat. This excitement is usually common in puppies, who experience a discovery phase, but it can also be seen in adult dogs.
Why happens? In general, when in can he is under stimuli that generate a lot of satisfaction, either when he is pampered, when he plays games that he likes, when he faces a lot of positive agitation. These erections are just a way of reflecting the emotion that he feels, and the dog cannot control them. However, it can also happen that you get excited if you suffer very high levels of stress If this situation bothers you, avoid those stimuli that cause it, or reduce the intensity of your greeting when you get home so that the dog can remain calm and better manage his anxiety.
Why does my dog wag his tail when he sees me?
Although your dog is not able to communicate with words, he has a rich and varied body language that he constantly uses to interact with the environment. Humans are not always able to interpret it, however, the tail plays an important role in all of this. What do a dog's tail wags mean? And more specifically, what does it mean when he moves when he sees us?
Research published in the journal Current Biology revealed that when dogs wag their tails to the right, it means they are experiencing positive emotions, while wagging to the left implies negative emotions. What is this about? Well, each hemisphere of the brain is responsible for controlling different emotions. Now, the movement of the tail is accompanied by other signs, which help you decipher what your dog feels.
If it is an energetic movement to the right, accompanied by relaxed features and ears, then your dog is happy of to see you; this position may add some licking for you. If, on the other hand, he wags his tail slowly from side to side, staring at you but not approaching and without growling, it means that he feels insecure and is trying to find out if you are dealing with a friend or an enemy. On the other hand, waving to the left, along with dilated pupils, pointed ears and tense muscles, the dog is on the defensive, ready to growl or attack.
This, of course, is a broad overview. The truth is that if your dog wags his tail when he sees you, you should read not only this sign, but all the messagesthat his posture sends you to find out how you feel
Why does my dog pee when he sees me?
Many people complain that their dogs get so excited when they get home that they end up peeing themselves. This, of course, is not pleasant at all, and can become a real problem. Urination from excitement is common in puppies, as they are not yet able to fully control their bladder. However, when it comes to adult dogs, it's time to do something about it.
In adult dogs it is usually frequent in those that spend all day alone, away from stimuli, so the presence of human companions unleashes strong emotions, sometimes so uncontrollable that they lead the dog to urinate. It especially happens when you just greet the dog, because the greeting ritual is also very important for them.
Now, what to do about this? First of all, reduce your own excitement when you get home, leave the frantic petting and loud calls for later, once the dog gets the hang of you're home. House. A casual greeting until he calms down, repeatedly, will make this behavior disappear. In some more complex cases, when the dog has suffered mistreatment by humans, they may urinate out of fear.
In any case, if this behavior does not stop even if we try to work on it, it will be time to see a specialist. We will start by visiting a veterinarian to rule out he alth problems and, if this is not the cause, we will visit an ethologist, dog educator or trainer.
