What is the reason

[Chewbecca]

for dogs kicking up the grass/dirt/ground after they pee or poop? Ella does this more after she poops, which is a PIA because I never know if she's going to do it or not, so I'm bent over picking up the poop with the baggy and I get smacked with grass and dirt.

I've been told that it is to kind of bury their scent.

But I don't know.
I always joke with Ella when she does it, I say, "Come on, Ella, let's go! Your enemies will NEVER find you now, you've covered your tracks well, dork.":lol-sign:

 

[PoodleMommy]

Mine do this as well and I heard the opposite... that it was to spread their smell... like marking their territory.

IDK... it is annoying, lol.

 

[Raika's Mom]

I always thought it was just an instinct thing to "bury" it (like cats do). It's pretty funny when Rory does it since he only has 3 legs (2 in back, 1 in front). He has to balance and kick fast!

 

[milos_mommy]

^ that's a funny image.

yeah i assumed it was a "bury it" instinct as well.

 

[Zoom]

Virgo does this on occassion but only when she's had a really smelly poo or diarrhea. *shrug*

 

[Laurelin]

I think its marking. The only dogs I've had that do it are very dominant type of animals.

Beau does it as does Summer and sometimes Rose. Keep in mind all three of them also lift their legs to pee.... Silly girls.

 

[Juicy]

My cat I had use to bury her ''goodies''....sometimes my dogs kick.

 

[milos_mommy]

Beau does it as does Summer and sometimes Rose. Keep in mind all three of them also lift their legs to pee.... Silly girls.

Hahahaha. That really is hilarious. I've never heard of girlies doing that before.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

This is MARKING BEHAVIOR.

Dogs have scent glands in their feet, and the scratch marks stir up scent so the next dog who comes along knows that I HAVE BEEN HERE.

Often many many dogs mark the same scent area, and mark it with scratch marks.

 

[Zoom]

Molly the Setter was a leg lifter; I knew of a couple other girls that did the same when I worked at the resort.

I've always called them "burn-outs" when they kick...but like Summer said, only fairly dominent dogs seem to do it.

ETA to Red's post: Does this mean they're making the ground smell like Fritos?

 

[shazbot]

All of mine do it. Sometimes they'll scratch right afterwards or they'll wait a few minutes, in which case they are a few feet from their stinky present of doom. If they were trying to spread their scent wouldn't they do it while still standing next to their "achievement"? lol...

 

[bubbatd]

I believe it's marking too . My females always lifted their legs when marking over the boys . Was a riot when I had 2 boys and 2 girls and each had to go higher than the one before . If a female was last , she'd almost fall over !

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

haha, all my girls are leg lifters too.

LOL!!!

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

my husband calls this the absolute humiliation--not only are you there scooping up the stinky present the dog has deposited--but then you get hit in the head with a clump of dirt/grass! Rofl! Makes me laugh every time!

 

[skittledoo]

I believe it's a marking thing as well. OMG does anyone else's dog kick all of the dirt SERIOUSLY far? Bamm kicks it and it doesn't just go over where he urinated or pooped. It flies seriously like 5 or 6 more feet back. He's got quiet a kick there.

 

[Renee750il]

Yup, Skittle . . . Bimmer and Kharma both do that. And Kharma, with her feet and the way her toes flex like a cat's, can really fling divots. She's more violent about it when she's coming into season, or if there is another dog standing nearby that has rudely - and foolishly - had the temerity to raise its voice to her. She gives herself extra points if she scores a face shot with one of her divots.

 

[Lizmo]

This is MARKING BEHAVIOR.

Dogs have scent glands in their feet, and the scratch marks stir up scent so the next dog who comes along knows that I HAVE BEEN HERE.

Often many many dogs mark the same scent area, and mark it with scratch marks.

Agreed.

My girl lifts her leg to mark a spot during walks, but doesn't do it at home LOL.

 

[jess2416]

Chloe squats, but while she is squating she will lift her leg

 

[Chewbecca]

Uh, Ella doesn't lift a leg no matter what, but I guarantee she seals her "mark" with a stink-eye so strong, it'll have any dog running away.:lol-sign:

 

[Renee750il]

LMAO! Becca, I can imagine Ella and Kharma having a stink-eye stare down