We humans, dog owners, to be precise, know that dogs have several behaviours that would seem odd and unusual. One of the behaviours that dogs perform that we find strange is Kicking the hind legs after pooping. We might likely see that this behaviour appears to have no sense or purpose, but, in reality, there are reasons why your dog may be doing it.
Note: Not all dogs will exhibit this behaviour, but it is still a common behaviour dog exhibit, especially in male dogs.
Here are some reasons why dogs kick their back legs when they poop!!!
Marking Territory
We all know that dogs’ sense of smell is much better than that of humans. But what most of us don’t know is that dogs smell through the bottom of their paws. The scent glands in the bottom of their paws are what they use to mark their territory. Dogs nowadays don’t necessarily need these glands, but their ancestors used them centuries ago to claim their territory.
How it works?
The scent glands at the bottom of their paw contain scent-marking chemicals we can’t see with our ordinary eyes called pheromones, and these chemicals are assumed to be like a dog ID, so when they when they are done pooping, they spread this sweat by kicking.
Sweet is not the only thing they are to mark territory; dogs urine and anal gland secretions also contain pheromones that can be used to mark territory. Other dogs will be able to smell this pheromone that a dog spreads, thereby kicking, and they would know who the smell belongs to when they eventually meet the dog that marked his territory there; humans can’t smell this pheromone because our nose is not strong enough.
Burying or Spreading Waste
Dogs may kick after pooping because they could be trying to bury their waste. This behaviour is more of a cat thing, but dogs exhibit it, and it is not as perfect as cats. However, dogs show this behaviour, and cats don’t give the same reasons for doing so, as cat bury their waste to hide it, but unlike cats, dogs bury waste to spread the scent of their poop. On rare occasions, dogs, especially puppies, may try to bury their faeces if they feel threatened or believe they have done something wrong and are trying to hide their presence.
Wiping Paws
Similar to cats, some dogs can’t handle having dirty paws, so if they get something on them after pooping, they may kick in an attempt to wipe their paws off of any dirt attached to them. Dogs don’t like the feeling of mud or debris on their paws, so they try to flick it off, similar to how they would rub their face on the ground if they feel something on it. Kicking after pooping may indicate discomfort or an attempt to remove something from their paws, but it’s more likely associated with other reasons mentioned earlier.
Other Reasons Why Dogs Kick Their Poop
- In ancient times, dogs exhibited this behaviour as a warning signal for territorial dogs.
- It could also be exhibited by a dog that is ready to mate.
- Another reason dogs do this is to cover the other dog’s scents with their pheromones.
Can Your Dog Be Trained to Stop Kicking After They Poop?
While your dog kicking after poop is a natural behaviour, some dog owners may find it irritating or disgraceful. Some don’t enjoy it because of the damage it causes to their landscaping or yard. As a dog enthusiast, I would say the kicking behaviour your dog exhibits should not be discouraged since it is a natural behaviour that dogs exhibit.
But if you don’t want to agree with me, here are some techniques you can apply to limit the kicking after pooping in dogs and the damage it may be causing to the grass in your yard.
To protect your landscaping, it’s best to walk your dog on a leash when outside your property. This method will still allow your dog to kick after pooping when inside but not outside. If your dog is easily adaptable to change, it can stop this behaviour entirely.
Another option is to potty train them, limiting their poop in any area like a dog run. Designate a location for your dog to go potty; this way, your dog can do what it does best, and you don’t need to worry about them causing damage after pooping.
Another method that can be used is by yelling at your dog after pooping. But this method has a lot of disadvantages as it could result in your dog becoming fearful of pooping around you, and it can damage the strong bond you have created with your dog, reducing the trust between you.
Conclusion
The kicking behaviour after pooping is a natural behaviour exhibited by dogs; even if there is no longer a need for it nowadays as domesticated canines, it is still something they do. Dogs that tend to be more dominant and territorial are often the ones that do the most aggressive kicking after pooping, kicking with force.
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