Embark Veterinary has launched a contest to find the World's Weirdest Dog, according to a Dogster article. Pet parents can submit photos or videos of their dog's strangest behaviors before November 15, 2026.
The winner will get a face on a Times Square billboard, the official title, and a $200 gift card. Second through fifth place will each receive a $150 gift card. Sixth through fifteenth place will receive an Embark Breed + Health Dog DNA Test with the Behavior Insights & Training upgrade.
Embark's examples of odd habits include a dog that sleeps upside down in the bathtub, one that carries a sock without chewing it, and one that spins exactly three times before lying down.
The article says behavior can come from both genetics and learning. Attention, play, and food can reinforce a behavior, even without deliberate training. The article also says a 2022 study published in Science, which looked at the behavior and DNA of thousands of dogs, found that breed explained only about 9% of the differences in behavior between individual dogs. The researchers also found evidence that many behavioral traits have a heritable component.
The article advises pet parents to call a veterinarian if a dog suddenly starts staring at walls, repeating movements, or ref