Do dogs really understand the meaning of personal space?  I don’t think Jake and Maggie do.  I’m sure we are all sick of talking and thinking about the Coronavirus.  I know Jake and Maggie are!  Every activity I think of involves being around places and people so we have begun a new routine of walking our property line, and a new routine of walking around our neighborhood.  We got our walk in today but I don’t think it was enough because they were like velcro on my hip all day.  I even made a joke to Thomas that they do not know what personal space means as they were climbing on the couch and poking their noses in my face.  Haa haa!  That’s when I said…I should research whether dogs understand personal space or not! This brought up a whole bunch of questions relating to pet personalities and I thought I’d put the questions that I have wondered about on this post.  Have any of these questions every crossed your mind?  If so, I’d love to hear about them!

Why do dogs invade personal space?
When your dog nuzzles you, he could be doing it to establish ownership. Dogs have scent glands in their faces so when your dog nudges you with his head, he is marking you with his scent to signal other dogs to keep off.  It may also mean that he or she is bored and needs play time, more visual stimulation, or another walk.  

Do dogs understand what humans say?
When tested, the brain imaging showed dogs processed words using the left side of their brains, just as humans do. They use the right side of their brains to understand tone and pitch. The study showed dogs understand words and how they are said.

Does blowing in your dogs face hurt or irritate them?
Yes it does.  It both hurts and irritates them.  Think about it…would you like someone blowing in your face?  No, probably not.  I know I wouldn’t like it.  There are two reasons why your dog is angry that you’re doing this: the effect it has on their senses and the discomfort that this produces.

Blowing in the face of a dog affects three important organs: the nose, the eyes and the ears.  The nose is one of the most developed senses.  Thanks to their wet nose and the millions of sensors that reside in it, the dog can detect odors from far distances. This gives them a relatively accurate idea of ​​what surrounds them.  When you blow in their face their nose dries, so the dog may feel puzzled as they lose the view they had around them. When blowing in their face, this can temporarily dry their eyeballs. In all honesty, who likes to receive a stream of direct air in the eyes?

Why do dogs go crazy after a bath?
Dogs go crazy after a bath for a range of reasons from relief, to happiness, to an instinctual desire to return to a more familiar scent.  

What are bath zoomies?
Frenetic Random Activity Periods, otherwise known as the zoomies, happen to pretty much every dog, especially young ones. Everything is just SO FUN, suddenly, and they cannot possibly contain their excitement. Baths may very well bring out the zoomies.

Why do my dogs follow me into the bathroom?
If your dog follows you into the bathroom, it’s likely a result of their animal instinct and pack mentality. Canines who do this are referred to as “Velcro dogs,” due to their desire to be attached to your side. They may follow you around, even to the bathroom, to protect a part of their pack. Without you in sight while you’re home, they may feel a sense of vulnerability.