Why Do Dogs Scratch the Ground After Defecating?

It is normal for dogs of both sexes to vigorously kick the ground with their hind legs after defecating. This is called scraping or peeling out. Some dogs will also do it after urinating. Dogs are descended from wolves, which also perform this behavior. It is not a bad habit, but a vital part of a dog leaving a visual message and scent message to any other dogs that happen to pass by.

  1. Function

    • Dog paws contain scent glands. There are also glands in between the toes. The action of scraping the paws against the ground helps release the scent inside of the glands. Dogs scrape the ground in order to increase their scent on the area near the feces pile, according to veterinarian Dr. Justine Lee. Before domestication, dogs wandered in large territories. One vital way to communicate with other wandering dogs is through scent marking. This instinct has not been bred out of the domestic dog.

    Origin

    • Dogs are descended from wolves, which also scrape the ground after defecating or urinating. Wolves needed to mark their territories often because these territories were too large in order to patrol every day. Other wolves encroaching on the territory of other wolves could steal game or mating opportunities with females. By scent marking, including scraping, one wolf is telling others to keep away or there will be a fight.

    Speculation

    • Although the feces may seem smelly enough, when they dry out, they loose a lot of their scent. Scent glands from a dog's body are thought to be like fingerprints in humans--each scent is unique to each dog. This scent may last longer on the ground than the scent of the feces. The visual scrape marks on the ground may also impress that the defecating dog is strong enough to make such deep and long marks.

    Warning

    • If a dog that usually scrapes the ground after defecating suddenly stops doing so, the dog may have health problems, such as arthritis. Male dogs with pain in their spine or hind legs will also not be able to lift their legs to urinate and will squat like a female. As arthritis or other chronic health conditions progress, the dog may not be able to properly squat and will soil himself.

    Misconception

    • When a dog kicks or scratches the ground immediately after defecating or urinating, it is not trying to wipe the paws clean. Dogs tend to spread their paws out sufficiently so that they do not risk stepping into the poop. Dogs tend to clean their body parts, including their paws, by licking them. Although dogs may kick grass, dirt or other material onto the stool, they do not try to cover feces in the way cats do, because stool piles and scratch marks are so essential for canine communication.