I know ALL dogs probably do not do this, but I have observed my German Shepherd do this and now that we just got a 12 week old Maltese I have noticed her do it too. And there is a difference because the German Shepherd goes outside and we have a pad that the puppy goes on inside the house. I was just curious as to why they wipe their back paws.
2006-11-26 23:45:14 · 8 answers · asked by Tim M 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Marking is the correct answer!
When a dog defecates it marks its area in two ways. There are two glands to the left and the right of the anus. The anal glands produce an oil that should be released when the dog defecates, thus marking its poop and its territory (that is why most dogs go to the outer limits of the yard to poop, trying to claim more turf!). There are also scent glands near the foot pads, when the dog kicks, their scent is released and the area also becomes "his". If he kicks his poop, then he is dispersing it and letting others know he was there and that area is "his" (until another dog comes by and covers his scent, and on it goes!)
2006-11-27 02:42:32 · answer #1 · answered by dedum 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
certain, dogs have some sensitivity of their paws and maximum dogs attempt to evade it comparable to we do yet when he's had to step in it regularly adequate he's realized now to not care anymore. And a 12 year previous canines's resourceful and prescient isn't as sharp because it once became so provide the undesirable previous guy a spoil. move outdoors and freshen up the feces. regularly. then you definitely gained't ought to stress about a multitude or be ridiculously indignant with your canines over something it really is totally preventable and your individual lazy fault. maximum communities have an ordinance mandating accepted cleanup of puppy waste to evade affliction and unsanitary circumstances. to blame vendors %. up regularly after their dogs so their backyard and public resources continues to be clean and no one, canines or individual, has to target to dodge poop piles or go in the route of the stink and flies.
2016-11-27 01:14:42 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They're not wiping their back paws. It's in their nature to cover up their own scent. Obviously this doesn't work if you're pooping on a pad in the house, but it's just instinct from generations ago when animals needed to cover their scent to avoid being tracked by predators.
The wiping you're seeing, in the wild, would be them covering their poo with dirt or leaves.
2006-11-26 23:48:45 · answer #3 · answered by thegirlwholovedbrains 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Actually, dogs have scent glands in their feet. So they scratch the ground after taking a poo to mark their territory and say "Rover was here". It has nothing to do with covering up their poop.
2006-11-26 23:58:58 · answer #4 · answered by Meggz21 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
i think they are trying to bury the poop just like a cat would but they are not doing as good of a job haha
2006-11-26 23:47:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Matbe it's to clean off their paws. Our miniature pinschers do it.
2006-11-26 23:46:42 · answer #6 · answered by tumbleweed1954 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They DON'T!!!!!
Some occasionally will KICK backwards to DISPERSE the SCENT!!!
Scent-marking...."doggie message-board"!
2006-11-26 23:59:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
its instinctive covering behavior, scratching stuff over it.
2006-11-26 23:47:30 · answer #8 · answered by David B 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋