I’d like to start this post off by saying that I love my dog very much. Just in case she somehow learns how to read. Then just in case she figures out how to use a computer, and the Internet, and learns how to read my mind to figure out which blog I write. And then just in case she actually accesses this site only to discover my thoughts about her often curious behavior. Am I judging some of the things that she does? A thousand percent! Dogs are weird. And we love them anyways. Which is a good lesson for how we should treat ALL PEOPLE, really. 

Now that I’ve reiterated for the thousandth time how much I love my dog to all of the Internet, we can move on. Dogs, as a species, are shameless. Full of love and loyal to a t, but absolutely shameless – in the best possible way. They’re also an animal. So that combination of zero cares and having the mind, instincts, and habits of a creature is entertaining, to say the least. What exactly am I getting at? Well, I’m so glad you asked! Let’s talk about all the things our pets do that make us do the confused head tilt:

• Lick Their Butts
  • For cleaning purposes most of the time, at least I’m assuming. As humans, though, we have that next level invention: toilet paper. We also have thumbs so I guess there’s that
• Sniff Other Dogs’ Butts
  • Is this like the “perfume” that dogs wear? Only it’s all natural? Why is that your choice in introduction? Best not to think too much about this one
• Lick People
  • It is technically a sign of affection. But read bullet point number one again and all of sudden this isn’t as cute
• Sniff Other Dogs’, and Their Own, Poop
  • Because I guess if you can’t be with your friends the next best thing is to remember what their butt smells like? Texting works as well, but again, no thumbs so I’m not sure how successful that would be
• Lick Other Dogs
  • My only belief here is a sign of affection for their “friends” … know what I’m saying? I’m not sure if dogs do monogamy, but if they do and my belief is right, my dog is a straight up HO!
• Chase Squirrels, and Frankly Most Other Animals
  • As one does, but at least it’s good exercise
• Lick Themselves
  • Again, probably for cleaning purposes, but maybe when they’re bored too because my dog can’t possible be as dirty for as often as she “grooms” herself
• Put Anything, and Everything, in Their Mouths
  • I don’t understand this at all! Why the mouth? What if it’s sharp? What if it tastes bad? What if it’s poisonous? One way to find out, I guess
• Lick Toys
  • To soften them before mauling them? To apologize for mauling them? To show their love before and after mauling them? Also not sure here
• Lose Their Minds Over a Squeaky Toy
  • Ah, the predatory instinct coming in strong. The catnip for dogs
• Lick a Blanket
  • Is it not soft enough? Next time you use a blanket, try licking it and see how weird you feel after
• Perform a Pre-Nap Circling Ritual
  • You have a space and you want to … what? Make sure that the circumference of your body will fit there? If I ever just walked in circles I’d be given a breathalyzer
• Lick The Couch
  • Do we spill that much food during our TV dinner nights, daily snack shows, and morning pick-me-ups? Maybe. Or maybe the dog is just weird
• Nap Anywhere
  • Literally anywhere! But I don’t mean anywhere as in a car, or a plane, or normal human places. I mean the middle of the floor. Middle of the kitchen. On the stairs. Who cares! If it fits, it can nap
• Lick the Carpet
  • Again with the licking! Probably hunting for leftover crumbs somewhere because they … 
• Shamelessly Beg For Food
  • All the time. We feed our dog. A normal amount of food. And yet one would think we starve her to death based on how she acts around human food
• Lick the Floor
  • At this point, we get it – they lick everything for fun
• Pick Up Sticks with Their Mouths
  • Imagine if you went to a park, saw a random stick on the ground, it doesn’t even have to be a good one, and you just bent down and put it in your mouth. Then carried it with you for a while until you got bored. What a weird thing to do!
• Lick the Ground
  • Because dirt is secretly delicious and all us humans have been missing out for years, I guess
• Roll Around in the Mud
  • Never in my life have I seen a bunch of mud and thought, I’d love to be covered with that. And yet, my dog believes she is bathing in all the beautiful glory that is the outdoors. Shamelessly

That pretty much sums up all of the things my dog does. She is a licker if it was unclear from the list. I do understand that not all dogs lick all things like my lovable rescue, and yet, all dogs, at some point, lick things on this list. Are there weird things your dog does that didn’t make this list? Nothing would bring me more joy than to know about that so please reach out! I mean that 100% unsarcastically, too, dogs are my life.

Alright, jumping off my pedestal for now. If you know someone who would enjoy this post and want to share it with them, that would be awesome. Sharing is caring, after all. Don’t forget to subscribe to get these in your inbox twice weekly and follow TRP on Twitter for frequent musings. Thanks for reading!

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