Why do dogs go in circles before they poop

When dogs circle before pooping owners often giggle at the sight. Dogs are known to engage in some really odd behaviors at times, and until the day dogs can talk, all we can do is just assume things. So far, there doesn't seem to be a right or wrong answer to this question of "why do dogs circle before pooping," but we have come up with a series of theories. Which one do you think fits your dog best?

1) Keeping Critters Out of the Way

Why do dogs circle before pooping? This theory keeps in mind a dog's ancestral past, when dogs were still on the wild side and used to wander in tall grass. 

Just as in the case of dogs circling before going to bed, there are chances that dogs circle before pooping, in an effort to scare off any critters.

Critters living in tall grass may involve anything, from stinging bugs, to scorpions, to poisonous snakes. By patting down the grass with the paws and moving in a circle, dogs may have therefore been able to clear the grass from any potential critters that might have posed a threat.

Let's face it: when dogs poop they indeed are quite in a vulnerable position. They must stay still for a few seconds, and without eyes behind their backs acting as rear-view mirrors, they can't see what going on by their back ends.

On top of that, with the tail out of the way, their rear ends have areas with less hair to protect them. Perhaps, this is also why some dogs are so obsessed on checking their rear ends when they see a bug hovering around them! Is your dog fly-phobic? Then, you'll love reading the mystery behind why dogs hate flies!

Doing number two in tall grass is no fun when there are pesky critters!

2) Keeping Grass Out of the Way

This other theory focuses on a dog's need for cleanliness. Let's call it the "ick factor" if that's something dogs may have. 

Again, we're thinking back in the olden days when dogs lived in areas with tall vegetation. In this case, there may have been chances that dogs started walking in a circle to stomp down the grass, but this time for the purpose of preventing being put  in a "sticky situation."

In other words, let's imagine a dog pooping in tall grass that was left un-stomped. At some point, bowel movement after bowel movement, dogs may have learned through their evolutionary history that pooping on tall grass is quite an inconvenience. The poop may get trapped on the grass blades and end up smearing all over the fur.

On top of that, if it was windy, perhaps the grass blades may have tickled the dog's behind, startling them and leaving them in doubt on whether it was an actual grass blade or perhaps some type of critter! 

It may be that dogs at this point, started circling for dual purposes: scaring off any critters and patting down annoying grasses.

3) Leaving a Mark

Since dogs use their poop and pee as business cards, this theory as to why dogs circle before pooping has some validity. Maybe, just maybe, dogs circle before pooping so that they can leave a mark for other dogs or other animals to acknowledge their presence.

Dogs are known to lift their legs to pee on vertical surfaces such as electric poles, fire hydrants and mail posts, for the simple fact that these objects are elevated. They are elevated just enough to be conveniently sniffed by other dogs, just at their own nose level! 

The dogs on the receiving end will therefore sniff the pee and learn a thing or two (or most likely, lots more!) about the dog who has left the urine behind.

Poop can also act as business cards. Indeed, it's assumed that many dogs kick their legs back after pooping so that they leave some visual and olfactory marks behind.

 There may be therefore chances that dogs circling before pooping are doing so intentionally so to leave behind some additional markings that inform other dogs "Rover was here."

From a visual level, poop is more readily found if the grass is stomped all around it. From an olfactory level, dogs may smell the scent of the broken vegetation, and on top of that, consider that dogs have special have scent glands between their toes.

 When a dog pats down the grass, there are therefore chances that the scent from such glands is transferred to the ground and the blades of grass.

Poop is more readily found if the grass is stomped all around it and the dog detects the scent of broken vegetation.

4) Aligning With the Earth's Magnetic Field 

Here's another interesting theory as to why do dogs circle before pooping, and this time it comes from an actual study. 

According to a study published by the Frontiers in Zoology Journal, dogs appear to be sensitive to the small variations in the Earth’s magnetic field. 

 When scientists at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague observed several dogs pooping over the course of two years ( that's 1,893 poops and 5,582 pees to be exact!), they discovered that dogs prefer to eliminate with their bodies well aligned along the north-south axis.

This is, after all, not an uncommon behavior in several animals. A tendency for this has been observed in grazing and resting cattle, deer and several foxes for the purposes of orientation and navigation and the development of regional maps. 

Why are dogs though particularly attracted to pooping by the north-south axis? This still remains another mystery of the animal world to crack. 

Is Rover really acting as a compass needle swinging around when Mother Nature calls? Or is this just an odd coincidence? Some dog owners think this might be a load of cr*p (pun intended). 

Next time your dog poops though, it might be still worth the effort to just take notice where he is facing. The researchers may really be up to something, or perhaps the "dog's alignment" is purely a random act.

Interested in discovering more about other curious doggy behaviors? While you are here, why not check out why dogs do the victory dance after pooping.

Now That You Know....

As seen, dogs have their own good reasons for spinning around before they poop. Whether you own a great dane or a Chihuahua, the circling-before-pooping behavior can surely be amusing to watch. 

With this spinning behavior in mind, make sure to keep your dog's leash loose when nature calls. With more freedom to move around, your dog may feel more relaxed and therefore will be quicker to do his business. 

Even better, train your dog to go potty on command. Here's the official guide: how to train your dog to go potty on command.

By Arden Moore, a dog and cat behavior expert and author of 26 best-selling pet books. She hosts the Oh Behave Show on Pet Life Radio and is a writer for Pets Best Pet Health Insurance, a dog insurance and cat insurance agency.

https://fast.wistia.com/embed/medias/arsve62jlt

Okay, time for a little canine potty talk disclosure. I can predict with 100-percent accuracy when Chipper, my Husky-Golden Retriever mix, is about to poop. Seconds before, she circles a few times clockwise and may do a couple short hops before getting into the perfect position to take care of business. I’ve also noticed when she is tired or investigating a new doggy bed, that she will circle the bed before unleashing a sigh and plopping down for a snooze. All this circling action displayed by our dogs is enough to make a person dizzy watching – and a bit bewildered. So if you’re looking for an answer to your dog’s spinning behavior, check out the four reasons below.

Why Dogs Spin in Circles Before Potty Time

So what is the reason for this pre-bathroom ritual? We don’t know for sure, but here are two leading explanations regarding the circle-before-pooping ritual. Your modern-day dog still retains this 360-degree movement that prevailed in her ancestors who lived in the wild. Circling before squatting down was a smart way to survey the surroundings for safety. It allowed dogs to sniff for possible predators and avoid any surprise attacks while in a vulnerable posture. The second reasonable explanation, is that your dog needs to kick start the bowel movement. It’s possible that circling helps accomplish this.

Related Article: Dog Breed Guide: English Bulldogs

Nap Time Circles

Now, let’s address the circle-pawing ritual performed by some dogs about to nap. Your dog is cleverly circling to release her scent that serves as an aromatic alert to other dogs. It serves as a signal that this bed belongs to her, and her alone. She may methodically circle and paw the bed before plopping down to sleep because this behavior has also been passed down for generations. Her ancestors living in the wild would circle and paw at twigs and leaves to create the perfect sleeping area and the right bowl shape to fit their bodies. This also made it more difficult for potential predators to see them.

Too Much Spinning

For most dogs, circling before pooping or sleeping is harmless and even a bit amusing. However, some dogs may circle constantly to the point of ignoring food or sleeping. In these cases, a thorough veterinary examination is required and anti-anxiety medications – coupled with behavior modification – may be warranted.

Happy Spinning

Finally, let’s “decode” the happy spin. For some love-their-people dogs, the sight of their favorite person walking in the door after being at work or returning from a vacation, puts them in tail spins– literally. They display their excitement by spinning quickly, prancing up and down — and some even let out happy, greeting yelps. Being the recipient of this happy circle can make one feel like a rock star. So enjoy the performance!