You Asked: ‘Why Is My Dog Doing THAT?’

When He Has Back Hairs Up

The act in which your dog raises his back hairs up is called piloerection. When he does it, he may not be telling you anything – at least not willingly. The behavior is actually involuntary and is a ‘fight or flight’ reaction to anxiety.

But just why is he reacting this way? You might want to wonder why your dog’s back muscles are contracting. Make sure he knows he is in a safe environment and don’t be too far from him for the next few minutes.