A woman was terrified when her dog started exhibiting strange behaviour every time they came back from a walk – but she has since been told the sweet reason for his actions
Sometimes, our dogs can do things that take us by surprise. It’s not always easy to tell what your dog is thinking, and sometimes, their mood can cause them to do something that leaves you feeling confused.
You may have heard your dog barking at seemingly nothing, or watched them stare out the window for several minutes while you wonder what on earth they could be looking at.
Obviously, dogs aren’t able to tell us exactly what it is they’re thinking or feeling, so most of the time it’s up to us to make an educated guess. However, this can sometimes leave us feeling worried when we see our pets exhibit strange behaviour, especially if we think it could be a sign that something is wrong.
This is the experience one woman on TikTok had when she noticed her Italian Greyhound doing something bizarre after they returned home from a walk.
Maisy said that every single time she takes her dog, Rupert, for a walk, he comes home full of energy and begins rubbing his head into the floor and howling, sometimes even rolling around on the carpet.
She said: “After every walk, he does this. I don’t even know what to call it. I don’t know why he does it. I don’t know if it’s all the senses that he’s sniffed [on the walk] and he’s just got so much emotion [about it]. But he does it after every walk, without fail.”
While the behaviour concerned Maisy at first, many commenters on the post told her that there’s actually a sweet reason why Rupert rubs his face into the ground.
The behaviour is known as a “contentment ceremony”, and it’s often a sign that your dog is happy. Dogs will often exhibit actions like rolling onto their backs or rubbing their faces into blankets to express happiness after a positive experience, such as going for a walk or eating a particularly tasty meal.
One person said: “The rolling around behaviour after a walk or doing something fun is called a contentment ceremony. My dog does it after her tea every night.”
Another added: “Vet here! The reason he does that after every walk is because he is a freaky little weirdo. Hope that helps!”
A third posted: “That dog is so comfortable in your home. Good mum!”
Contentment ceremonies have not been proven by scientific studies, so it’s still unknown whether they are actual things that all dogs experience or what they actually mean. But certified dog trainer Sassafrass Patterdale told Kinship that they do happen in some dogs and are a sign that your dog feels happy, comfortable, and safe.
She said: “These behaviours are a great sign that your dog isn’t stressed and is feeling relaxed in the home.”
It’s also possible that if your dog exhibits this behaviour after a walk, they could just be doing something practical, such as relieving an itch in their nose or trying to warm up their ears if it’s cold outside.
Telling when your dog is happy or content isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Although they use body language to express themselves, it can be just as tricky to know when your dog is happy as it can be to know when you’re happy yourself.
As a pet owner, your dog likely has their own behaviours that might clue you in on their emotional state, and it’s up to you to learn what these cues are. Some dogs are highly expressive and may jump around, fueled by their excess energy. Other dogs may be more demure, showing their satisfaction with a wide-sweeping tail and a relaxed face and body.