As a dog owner, we have all experienced something rather strange when it comes to our dogs natural habits. We take them for a wald and, although everything is going normally, the dog starts to do something rather weird.
The fact is, there are a number of strange things that the dog may do, including shuffling while they are pooping or perhaps spinning in a circle over and over again. It may even just be as simple as your dog staring at you while they poop. The big question is, why do they do it?
Like humans, dogs are rather interesting animals but they have many complex emotions and it can be difficult to figure them out completely. If you don’t understand why they do these things, it can freak you out but once you understand it, you will just nod your head with approval.
You have your dog for a walk and then suddenly, nature calls
It happens to all of us, including our dogs. At some point or another, they will need to stop to take care of business. You might be standing there looking for a plastic bag to clean things up but then you notice that your dog is doing something rather odd. What does it mean?
Habit 1: The Stare
As a human, most of us tend to shy away from other people while we take care of business but dogs don’t have that inborn humility. They don’t stare at you to ask for privacy, it is quite the opposite.
Defecating in the wild makes an animal vulnerable. They stare at you because they want to make sure you are keeping watch for any potential problems.
If your dog is staring at you while they are pooping, don’t feel awkward, know that they trust you.
Habit 2: Scooting
A habit of moving around while they are pooping is not unusual for an animal. It may be annoying to us, because we need to chase after them to pick it up.
Taking a few steps can help the dog to pass a stool. There may also be something interesting to smell and it’s just out of reach.
If the dog is scooting with its hind end along the ground, he may be trying to clean himself or he may need to have his glands expressed.
Habit 3: The Kick
Some dogs make it a habit to kick their back feet after they poop.
In most cases, this is just a way of your dog cleaning up and covering over its own poop, which could leave a scent.
It also helps to express the glands in the dog’s feet.
Habit 4: Indecision
Dogs poop for multiple reasons, including to mark their territory. If your dog is sniffing around looking for the “perfect spot” it’s because they want their calling card to be noticed.
Habit 5: The Spin
Many dogs will spin in circles before they take a poop, similar to the way that they do it before they take a nap.
It’s a way for checking out the area to make sure that they are safe to take a squat.
Habit 6: The Compass
Did you realize that many dogs will point along the north north-south axis while they are pooping? This shows that dogs may be sensitive to the magnetic fields of the earth.
It is not fully understood why they do this, but it may help to reorient their bodies to the environment around them.
Habit 7: Snacking
As gross as it may seem for most of us, dogs will, at times, eat their own poop. It is a practice known as Coprophagia and it can often be traced to pancreatic or enzyme deficiencies. Other issues could include parasites and the poor absorption of nutrients.
If a dog eats a low nutrient dry food or if they are anxious, they may also exhibit this behavior. Speak to your vet about the problem and they may give you some suggestions.
Habit 8: The Hide
Some dogs will break all of the rules and simply hide when it is time to ease nature. This also made be a sign of insecurity or not wanting to be vulnerable. It’s normal, don’t worry about it.
Regardless of what our dogs habits happen to be, they still love us!
Via: Little Things
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