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Canine Companion: Oh Poop! It’s A Dog’s Business

Hey, everybody. Oh, my goodness, it’s been such a long week. But the weather is finally starting to get better and it’s almost time to play outside.

A lot.

Regardless of the weather, our dogs still have to go potty. Sometimes this can be a daunting task. There have been plenty of times I have been standing out literally turning into a human Popsicle waiting for my dog to take his sweet old time searching for his potty spot.

I’m sure you have some idea where I am going with this.

Why do our dogs take so long to decide where to go poop? Seriously?

Yes, I know this is a weird article. But it captured your attention, didn’t it? Now you just have to know!

Some dogs have to sniff literally everything before they make their decision to use the bathroom. If you have a dog who does this, join the club of those dog lovers who will be spending their lifetime outside waiting.

Truth is, there are several reasons your dog takes his or her time searching for the perfect spot.

Research suggests there are four main reasons. One of the reasons, you’re going to be like “Whoa!” The four reasons are (ready?): other dogs’ scent, distraction, anxiety, and magnetic poles. Really? Magnetic poles? Really? Okay.

Pooping for

Communication

Our dogs communicate by smelling other dogs’ messes (A.K.A. poop and pee). By smelling these scents, your dog can find out where a dog has been and what she’s been doing.

The smells your dog senses can tell him how many dogs have been in the area he’s looking at and how long ago they were there (approximately).

That Darn Anxiety

If your dog is generally anxious in her day-to-day activities, there’s a high probability she’s nervous about where she should go potty too.

Dogs with anxiety may have preferences. She might only poop in one certain area that’s a bit hidden. Or, she might find an area where she feels comfortable and stick with it.

The type of surface your dog uses the bathroom on also matters sometimes. If your dog has a surface preference, he probably developed it at a young age.

Some dogs want soft, grassy areas to do their business. Others want a completely ‘free of debris’ surface.

Personally, my dog runs to the woods behind our house and hides while he uses the bathroom, then runs back. Then, he runs in circles as fast as he can but that’s beside the point. You get what I’m saying.

Magnetic Poles, Really?

This is so far out there I don’t even know where to begin. This is something that is very difficult for the average person to believe.

Does your dog spin around in a circle before going poop?

If so, it’s generally because some dogs prefer to align their body with the North-South axis.

I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s ridiculously unbelievable.

We’re Procrastinating

To be honest, some dogs just might be stalling. They just plain out don’t want to go back inside. At all. They want to be outside enjoying the weather.

If your dog only goes outside or spends the majority of time outside only to go potty, she might take her good old sweet time walking around and enjoying her outdoor time to stay out longer.

You might not even realize it. But, if this is your dog, try letting her out more often so she feels she gets enough outdoor time.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you have an incredible weekend!

P.S. — If you have any topics you would like to see in The Post-Journal, feel free to send me a message any time at AmberLDrake@dogbehaviorblog.org with recommendations. I’m more than happy to write about topics you’re interested in.

Thanks for all the support, guys. Until next time.

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