Watch as This Sweet Pup Thinks It’s Swimming

Dogs are indeed a human’s best friend. Their loyalty bonds them with us, and we enjoy their quirky behaviors. We often wonder, is there a scientific reason behind their unusual quirkiness, or are pups just weird by nature? In the case of this air-swimming pup, the answer might surprise you.

No Water, No Problem

Dogs are quadrupeds, meaning they walk on four legs. They don’t think before walking; they just do it. This pup could be reacting to a sudden change but doing what’s instinctual. When a dog is lifted up, their legs continue to pump with or without a solid surface. Gaining traction beneath their feet is an innate behavior that happens automatically. This is commonly seen in puppies but can happen with older dogs too.

A dog swimming laps is another example of an instinctual response. When a dog is suddenly lifted from the water, its legs keep going. The anticipation of being lowered back into the water is what keeps its legs peddling. The theory is the same on land, except a dog is trying to walk or run instead of swim.

Similar to humans, dogs react to their environment. Air-swimming is triggered by reflexes that have nothing to do with water. It’s a myth that all dogs know how to swim, so this behavior could be purely reactive.

Excitement Could Be At Play

Dogs jump around and bounce up and down when they’re excited. On solid ground, they can be hyper and excitable. This same excitement could take the form of air-swimming. The pup in this video doesn’t indicate much, but it could be greeting a familiar face. Walking or offering a treat can also spark excitement, manifesting as hyperactivity.

This pup could be reacting to something that triggers an emotional response. If a dog’s owner praises a pup when they do this, the behavior could be learned. A pup may peddle its legs to get attention if it knows its owner encourages the behavior. Leg-peddling can be just as mental as it can be physical, but excitement isn’t the only emotion dogs feel.

This Pup Could Be Anxious

Stress can trigger physical reactions in dogs. Air-swimming could be a trauma response if a dog is feeling anxious. A pup peddling its legs could instinctively try to escape when it’s back on solid ground. If a dog isn’t used to being handled, it might “swim” to get away. We also don’t know this pup’s experience with being picked up, which could be an anxious reaction.

Stress reactions also include panting, whining, or yelping. Since this pup is not doing any of those, anxiety is only a possibility, not a cause. This pup looks younger, so it could also be taken off-guard after being picked up. This is not a trauma response but might be a subconscious reaction to being confused. There’s no arguing this pup is cute, no matter what the cause!