Why Do Dogs Circle Before They Poop?
Dogs are interesting creatures with a lot of strange behaviors. When popping, dogs do a lot of strange things such as kicking their back legs over the poop, eating it, or spinning around in circles before they poop. Although circling behavior might seem unexplainable, it is quite common in dogs. While it might not be the biggest question in your mind right now, chances are that you have ever wondered why dogs spin around before they poop. Not all dogs spin in circles before the poop. Some dogs will abruptly stop and go to the toilet. There are many theories out there that try to explain the reason behind this behavior. Here are some of the reasons why our dogs have the habit of spinning before they release themselves.
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Marking Territories
Naturally, dogs love to mark their boundaries. These intelligent creatures have different methods of making their territories and one of them is by using urine or poop. Dogs will spin around in circles before they poop to leave their trail scent behind. Additionally, by stepping on the grass, dogs will leave their trails behind. By doing so, other dogs passing by will know that the territory is already taken.
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Hygiene Reasons
Just like humans, dogs love to poop in clean and neat places. Dogs will make circles before they poop for hygienic reasons. Your dog will move around in circles as a way of preparing the ground surface before he excretes. The repetitive motion helps flatten the surface and trampled down long grass or branches so that they can defecate in a safe and snug spot. By trampling the grass, they lessen the chances of getting a long blade of grass accidentally trickling their little booty. Additionally, your dog might be stomping the grass to make his poop prominent and clearer for other dogs to see.
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Watch Out for Predators
Before a dog relieves himself, he will spin around a few times to check if there are any possible threats. Just like in humans, going to the bathroom puts dogs in a vulnerable position. Dogs may have once been a target for predators and circling around ensures that there are no potential threats on the horizon. The dog will therefore go round in circles to ensure that he is safe and snug.
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Magnetic Fields
Animals use the magnetic field to perceive direction, altitude and location. Some researchers have concluded that dogs like to align themselves with the earth’s magnetic poles and in particular, the north-south axis. The researchers found out that dogs align their bodies with the magnetic field before they poop. Circling could be their way of looking for the best alignment before excretion. Nevertheless, this research is still unclear whether this behavior was conscious or whether its reception controlled by how the animals feel in a certain direction.
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Getting Things Moving
Some dogs will move around in circles to stimulate the intestines to help bring on bowel movements. By moving around, the bowels are stimulated and the dog gets to relieve himself.
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Encouraging Dog Spinning Behavior
Never rush your dog from doing his business. Doing so would create confusion and problems with his toilet habits. Just like humans, dogs are supposed to relieve themselves comfortably and naturally. It’s a dog’s natural instinct to circle around before he relieves himself. He will do so to maintain his hygiene and ensure that there are no predators around.
Always give your dog the chance to spin around before he relieves himself. The only time to stop him from doing so is during extreme weather situations such as the dead of winter or heatwaves in summer. In such extreme weather conditions, it is not safe for your dog to be outside. Additionally, if your dog is circling and indecisive when you are just taking walks, or when he doesn’t want to relieve himself, consult your vet on why he might be doing that. Probably, the street paths are too noisy and full of obstacles your dog perceives as threats.
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When is Circling Behavior Not Normal?
When you notice your dog circling on occasions other than when he is preparing to lie down or head to the bathroom, you should be concerned. In many cases, unusual circling is an indicator that your dog is experiencing an ear problem or a neurological problem. Additionally, it could be a sign of behavioral issues. Make sure that you consult your veterinarian for a complete exam to determine the cause. If the vet determines that it’s a behavioral issue, you may be recommended to take a step further and consult an animal behavior specialist.
People Also Ask:
Q: What Does it Mean When a Dog Turns Around in Circles?
A: Spinning in circles is a common behavior in dogs that is funny and harmless. It’s normal for dogs to spin circles before they get to bed or before they go to the bathroom. They’ll do so to ensure that the spot is comfortable. Nevertheless, spinning around can be a sign of medical issues, anxiety, or other medical problems that require examination by a vet.
Q: What are Dogs Looking for When They Poop?
A: Dogs love to mark their territories by leaving their scents behind. Dogs deposit their odors in the form of urine and feces to mark their territory or make a statement. Other dogs that happen to pass around will that there are other dogs in the neighborhood.
Conclusion
Your dog’s diet and exercise routine are as important as yours. Additionally, your dog’s bathroom routine is as important as yours. To avoid constipation, feed your dog with a balanced diet. Make sure that you also give your dog ideal bathroom conditions. While not all dogs spin around in circles before they pee, if your dog does so, don’t stop him. While there are many reasons as to why he does that, doing so gives you a warning that he is ready to get his bowels moving.