Sarah Wooten explains the reasons behind this common dog behavior. This will tell other dogs or animals that theres a dog nearby.
Dogs have scent glands on their paws and the act of scratching transfers their scent to the ground.
Why do dogs kick up grass after pooping. Why do dogs kick up grass after pooping. Dogs like to kick up grass after a poop or pee as an instinctive action. Experts believe its the dogs way of letting other dogs know that this is their territory as by kicking up grass and urine their scent is being spread further.
Why Does My Dog. Kick the Grass After Pooping. Sarah Wooten DVM Tue Oct 13 122300 EDT 2015.
Does your dog kick the grass after pooping or perhaps after going to the bathroom in general. As dog owners many of us see behavior like this every day. But have you ever stopped to wonder what it means.
No scratching the dirt is not a dogs way to disperse scent or bury any traces as cats do actually the total opposite. When dogs kick up a storm of dirt after finishing with their business they are actually leaving a message rather than setting a cover-up. The main reason why dogs kick grass and scuff the ground around where they went to the bathroom is to further mark their territory.
Dogs have scent glands on their paws and the act of scratching transfers their scent to the ground. Theres also the added bonus of making a visible mark. When a dog kicks the ground after defecating they are releasing pheromones onto the ground.
In addition to the scents from feces and urine these pheromones relay territorial claims sexual availability possible food trails and warnings of danger. Burying or Spreading Waste Another reason why your dog may be kicking its feet after pooping is because it could be trying to bury its waste. This behavior is more commonly associated with cats but dogs may try and bury their waste too.
When you pick up after your pup you may get hit by a projectile of flying grass or a clod of dirt as he enthusiastically scratches the ground after he poops. Its annoying particularly if hes kicking around in your garden or leaving pits in your lawn however its natural behavior for him. Are you wondering why your Dog or Boston Terrier specifically is kicking up grass after it is done going the bathroomIn this video I interview veterinarian.
Like many things your dog does kicking the ground after it eliminates is a very instinctual behavior and may have multiple purposes. This behavior can be traced back to a dogs wolf ancestors. Breaking up the dirt and creating a territorial spot is exposing other animals to the pheromones in the dogs feet.
Even if your dog doesnt tear up the grass behind them after going to the bathroom they may wipe their paws around the area in order to leave that same scent. This will tell other dogs or animals that theres a dog nearby. Many of our dogs kick the grass after going to the bathroom.
In our new video Dr. Sarah Wooten explains the reasons behind this common dog behavior. - Dont miss any posted from Jeffrey Animal Hospital.
- Join Hubbiz and connect with your local community. By kicking up dirt afterward theyre compounding the scent of the bathroom along with the pheromones coming from their feet glands to create one strong scent. In addition the disturbed grass also serves as a visual clue to other dogs that theyre walking on someone elses territory.
Dogs can do a lot of unexplainable things and as a devoted dog parent youve probably wondered why dogs kick grass and what you can do about it. Dogs kicking grass can be humorous to watch. After all you really love everything your canine baby does.