You may have also observed that dogs will perform some specific actions when preparing to defecate, such as sniffing repeatedly to select a "suitable" place before defecating, or pacing back and forth to confirm the selected location before defecating.

Some of these behaviors are instinctive and normal behaviors. However, other behaviors may indicate potential health problems and require our attention.

Most dogs will take some time to decide where is "convenient", and sometimes you are in a hurry or the weather is bad, but the dog is not in a hurry. Let’s take a look at the various behaviors of dogs when defecating to see which ones are normal and which ones are abnormal.

Why do dogs step on the ground back and forth before defecating? Many dogs will step on the ground they choose to defecate back and forth before defecating, as if they are trying to make a pit in it. In fact, they are doing this to prepare a "clean" place for them to stand and to ensure that there are no weeds, foreign objects, or unexpected situations in the grass.

Why do dogs have to face the same direction every time they poop? According to a 2013 study, when dogs defecate outdoors, if the earth’s natural magnetic field is stable in that geographical location, their bodies tend to Along the north and south magnetic axes of the magnetic field. This condition is more likely to occur during bowel movements. The study's authors noted that there was no difference in sensitivity to magnetic fields among different breeds of dogs, with similar findings occurring in dogs ranging from Yorkies to Saint Bernards.

Why do dogs smell before defecating? Dogs’ defecation and sniffing are their information collection and feedback systems, similar to dogs’ “circle of friends.” There are also a lot of pheromones in poop or urine. Dogs can evaluate many factors by sniffing another dog's urine, including the other dog's health, stress, body size, whether they are in heat, and their diet. many ways. After sniffing, marking the urine is equivalent to leaving the dog's own information in this "circle of friends".

Why do dogs raise their legs to urinate? One of the reasons why male dogs raise their legs to urinate is that urine marks their territory. When dogs raise their hind legs, their pee will appear higher and more dominant. This way you can better maintain your social status and find potential partners. The lifting of legs by neutered male dogs is more of a habit. There are also some strange reasons why dogs raise their legs to pee, including imitation, mysophobia, etc.

Why do dogs kick on the ground after defecating, or even kick up soil? Some dogs kick on the ground after defecating to cover up their feces. Some dogs release pheromones on their paws to mark their territory.

​Why do dogs drag their butts on the ground? Sometimes we see dogs rub their butts on the ground and then drag their front feet forward. The most intuitive reason for this is that the dog’s buttocks and anus are itchy. And caused. Many people will directly describe this situation as having parasites. This is indeed one of the common causes. Tapeworm infection will cause this situation. Other symptoms of infection include weight loss, poor coat, enlarged belly, Pain or diarrhea. Itching and irritation caused by anal inflammation, infection, etc. can also lead to butt drag.

Why do dogs sometimes have difficulty defecating? There are many reasons why dogs have difficulty defecating, such as constipation and trying hard for a long time without results. Straining to defecate, or even painful defecation, these problems can be improved by improving the diet and increasing the water and fiber in the food. If the effect is not obvious, it is recommended to seek medical attention to check whether there are other problems. It should be noted that these problems will become more common as dogs age and their ability to absorb and intestinal motility decreases. Some dogs will only urinate a few drops, have blood in their urine or have blood in their stools. In these cases, it is recommended that pet owners take their dogs to the doctor as soon as possible.

Some of the dog's defecation habits may seem strange, but in fact they are completely normal and natural behaviors. Some problems may be signs of health that require veterinary intervention. Monitoring your dog's defecation status is equivalent to monitoring its health status, so that you can notice if something happens.