Why Dogs Spin Before Pooping

 

It might not be the biggest question in the forefront of your mind, but when your dog does his, or her, ablutions you may wonder –  just what is all the spinning about?  Read our Holidays4Dogs article to find out why dogs spin before pooping.

There are many theories out there as to why dogs spin before pooping. However, the most intriguing is amongst scientists, who suggest dogs defecate according to the earth’s magnetic field.

According to scientists at the Czech University of Life Sciences, dogs are very sensitive to magnetic fields.

What’s more, they found that dogs prefer to do their business along the north/south axis, especially under calm magnetic field conditions.

Magnetoreception – being the technical term for compass bottom – doesn’t only manifest itself in dogs. Cattle, too, have been found to align themselves with the earth’s magnetic field when they get the call of nature.

This reminds us, always pick up after your dog around livestock. Canine deposits can be a health hazard to other animals. Scoop the poop and bin it, or take it home.

There are other – perhaps more plausible explanations – for why our dogs may have a habit of spinning before pooping.

Some experts think that, because dogs may once have been a target for predators, circling may be one way to make sure there are no potential threats nearby.

Circling before lying down, is also something dogs do, so could be associated with making the ground more comfortable and, in this case, cleaner before using it – just like people, they don’t like using a dirty bathroom!

This behaviour may also be to make sure there are no unwanted predators around such as snakes.

Another explanation why dogs spin before pooping is associated with scent marking. As well as urine, dogs use faeces as chemical signals to mark territory.

Circling and sniffing may be the dog’s way of computing this information. In addition, trampling down grass before leaving their ‘business’ card, means it is easier for other dogs to see.

Conclusion.

There seems to be no conclusive answer why dogs spin before pooping and not all dogs do it. Some dogs will spend ages looking for the right spot, though. Therefore, whatever the reason for it – it gives the responsible dog owner a fair warning to get the poop bags at the ready.