I adopted two dogs (bonded) about half a year ago. One (Dog A) behaves as every other dog I've had in the past. One (Dog B) is a bit of an oddball. Both recognize what I mean when I ask them when it's time to go outside ("want to go outside?") or eat ("want some food?"), and get excited. Both know the difference between the two, as for food they'll go to the kitchen (where dog food is stored) and for outside they'll go to the couch (where leashes are stored). But that's about where the normalcy ends. Dog A will jump up on the couch waiting to be leashed, but Dog B begins to wander around aimlessly in the kitchen, presumably looking for food that's been dropped on the floor.
I would also potentially consider this normal, assuming once Dog B saw the kitchen when walking to the couch it realized it wanted food scraps more than going outside, but it is spontaneous without reason. Dog B can be sitting on its bed with the kitchen directly in its field of view for an hour or two prior to going outside & make no moves on the kitchen even with all the time & opportunity in the world (which makes sense. 99% of the time there probably isn't any trace of a food scrap on the floor). And when Dog B does go for the kitchen, it's more of a slow, aimless walking around that leads to the kitchen rather than a targeted "I see the kitchen and walk directly towards it". And this spontaneous aimlessness happens only and always when we get to the couch, preparing to go on a walk. Sometimes it will wander aimlessly into other rooms, but it's usually the kitchen.
Dog B is only 4 years old, so I wouldn't think it's dementia or similar. It happens even in the morning, so it doesn't seem like sundowner's syndrome either. Is there some mental disorder or other problem that could cause this behavior, or is Dog B just a big doofus? His breed is half Jack Russel & half Italian Greyhound.
