When taking the dog out for a walk, many attentive owners will find an interesting phenomenon: before the dog starts to defecate, there is always a special ritual, that is, to turn in circles. Some dogs spin in large circles, some are small, and some even turn counterclockwise, while others turn clockwise. So, what is the reason for the dog's "turning in circles" behavior before pooping?
1. To determine the safety of the environment.
When dogs' ancestors lived in the wild, in order to protect their territory and privacy, they would mark their territory with the smell of feces after defecation. But at the same time, they worry that they will be tracked by the smell of other animals' feces. Therefore, before defecation, they check their surroundings to make sure that no other animals are present. And the act of circling in circles is a way for them to check their surroundings. By circling in circles, dogs can observe their surroundings and make sure there are no threats, so they can defecate with peace of mind. Second, in order to determine the direction of the wind.
In the wild, animals pay great attention to their own scent protection to avoid being detected by predators. By spinning in circles, the dog can find the downwind so that the smell of its feces does not drift into its nose, thus avoiding its own smell being tracked by other animals.
3. In order to adjust the body posture.
Some dogs will go around in circles before defecation, probably because their body posture has not yet adjusted to its optimum. By turning in circles, dogs can relax and stretch all parts of their body, which is more conducive to bowel movements. In addition, some elderly dogs or dogs with bad joints will also reduce the pain of defecation by turning in circles.
4. Habitual behavior.
Of course, some dogs spin in circles before defecating only because they are used to this behavior. These dogs may have developed this habit as a child, and as they grow, the habit stays with them as well. Although this habit has no effect on the dog's health, if the owner feels that it will affect his or her own life, he can try to correct the habit gradually.
The dog's behavior of circling before defecation is not because it is naughty or boring, but for a variety of reasons. As owners, we should respect this behavior of dogs, and at the same time, pay attention to the physical condition and health of dogs to ensure that they can grow up healthy and happy.