Why do dogs shake their legs when you scratch them?

Dogs shake or kick their legs when you scratch them because of something known as the scratch reflex. It's a completely involuntary reaction, which explains why your dog may look as puzzled as you do when it starts to happen. When you scratch or tickle your dog's belly, it irritates him, much the same way that the wind or a bug might. read more

Dogs shake or kick their legs when you scratch them because of something known as the scratch reflex. It’s a completely involuntary reaction, which explains why your dog may look as puzzled as you do when it starts to happen. When you scratch or tickle your dog’s belly, it irritates him, much the same way that the wind or a bug might. read more

Many dog owners have chuckled as their dogs kicked their legs vigorously while being scratched. The kicking is completely normal, and although it may seem like an intentional behavior, the cause is usually a simple reflex called the scratch reflex. read more