Why Dogs Eat Grass, Scoot, or Lick Their Paws — and When to Worry

Grass eating is one of the most frequently reported — and misunderstood — dog behaviors. It's common enough that veterinary researchers have studied it, and the consensus is that it's rarely a sign of serious illness. A survey published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science found that the majority of grass-eating dogs showed no signs of illness beforehand and did not vomit afterward.

Possible explanations include boredom, a mild gastrointestinal upset (dogs may instinctively seek fiber or plant material when their stomach feels off), natural foraging instinct, or simply that grass tastes interesting. Some dogs just like it.

When to pay attention: If your dog eats grass compulsively, vomits every time, or seems distressed before or after grazing, bring it up with your vet. Frequent vomiting after grass eating may point to an underlying GI issue worth investigating. Also be cautious about grass treated with herbicides or pesticides — those chemicals pose a real risk.

Few behaviors get more laughs — or more concern — than a dog dragging their rear end across the carpet. Despite the comedic optics, scooting almost always signals genuine discomfort in the anal region.

The most common cause is anal gland issues. Dogs have two small sacs on either side of the anus that normally express fluid during bowel movements. When they become impacted, overfull, or infected, the resulting pressure and irritation drives a dog to scoot. Other causes include intestinal parasites (tapeworms in particular), skin allergies affecting the perianal area, or simply fecal matter stuck to the fur.

When to pay attention: Scooting is almost never a quirk to dismiss. If it happens more than once or twice, it warrants a vet check. Anal gland impaction can progress to abscess if left untreated. Your vet can express the glands if needed and rule out parasites — staying current on parasite prevention is an important part of avoiding this entirely.

Some paw licking is completely normal — dogs groom themselves, and a quick lick after a muddy walk is nothing to worry about. Persistent, focused paw licking or chewing is a different matter. It's one of the top behavioral signals of environmental or food allergies in dogs, and it can also reflect pain, anxiety, or a localized skin infection (often secondary to the licking itself).

Reddish-brown staining between the toes — caused by porphyrin compounds in saliva — is a telltale sign that licking has been happening frequently, even if you haven't caught your dog in the act. Hot spots, swelling, or raw skin alongside the staining suggest the behavior has been going on long enough to cause tissue damage.

When to pay attention: Occasional licking after outdoor activity is fine. Licking that's constant, focused on one paw, causes visible skin changes, or seems to worsen seasonally should be evaluated by a vet. Allergies are a common culprit — see our piece on dog nutrition myths for context on how diet can intersect with skin health.

Coprophagia — eating feces, whether their own or another animal's — is understandably distressing to owners, but it's more common than most realize. Puppies often do it out of curiosity and typically outgrow the behavior. In adult dogs, it can stem from nutritional deficiency, attention-seeking (if the owner has reacted dramatically in the past), boredom, stress, or an underlying medical condition affecting nutrient absorption.

Mother dogs also naturally clean up after their puppies by consuming their waste — this is instinctive and not a sign of a problem.

When to pay attention: If the behavior is new in an adult dog that didn't do it before, a vet visit is worthwhile to rule out malabsorption, parasites, or dietary gaps. Eating the feces of other animals also carries disease and parasite risk, so discouraging the behavior is important regardless of the underlying cause.

The head tilt is one of the most endearing things a dog does — and one of the more medically layered behaviors on this list. Dogs tilt their heads when processing unfamiliar sounds, trying to see around their muzzle to get a better visual on something interesting, or when they're uncertain about what they're hearing. It's a completely normal sign of attentiveness.

However, a persistent or involuntary head tilt — one that doesn't resolve and causes the dog to lean noticeably to one side — is a different situation entirely. This can indicate vestibular disease (a disorder of the inner ear or brain affecting balance), ear infection, or, less commonly, neurological issues.

When to pay attention: A tilt that comes and goes in response to stimulation is normal and charming. A tilt that stays, is accompanied by loss of balance, rapid eye movement (nystagmus), or disorientation requires prompt veterinary evaluation. Our article on reading pain signals in dogs covers related behavioral changes to watch for.