To all the dog owners out there, have you ever caught your dog staring at you while they poop?

Or perhaps they shuffle around mid-deed, leaving a trail?

Or maybe they turn in circles for what seems like forever?

Whatever your fur-friend does, there’s actually a very good reason for it.

As you’re probably already aware, dogs are fascinating beings, and full of complex emotions and psychology.

Have a read of the reasons behind you dog’s strange toilet habits, and discover how these rituals came about. 

For us humans, doing our business is generally not a time when we want to lock eyes with someone.

But dogs don’t worry about things like that.

In fact, they’re not staring at you to ask for privacy, their actually doing quite the opposite.

In the wild, a defecating animal is seen as vulnerable.

So by staring at you, a member of their pack, your dog is making sure that you’re keeping watch for any potential threats.

And even more interestingly, they are watching your body movements for any signs of approaching danger. 

So if your dog is staring at you, don’t feel awkward. It means they trust you!

And for those owners whose dogs sit with you while you’re in the bathroom. They’re simply returning the favour.

If your dog decides mid-poop that it’s time for a stroll, it’s actually for a very good reason.

Dogs will sometimes take a few steps as motion aids with the passage of stool.

And other times, it’s just because there’s a reallllly interesting smell a few inches away.

If you notice your dog scooting after their business, they may be trying to clean off any excess.

However, it could also mean that they have worms, or the glands in that region need to be expressed.

If you noticed this happening, talk to your vet immediately.

Some dogs after finishing up their business, like to kick up their back feet, along with dirt, grass, poo and anything else in the way.

This is generally for two reasons.

The first being them marking their territory by scraping their feet along the ground.

And secondly, surprisingly, this is actually their attempt at cleaning up.

Kicking away their waste like this is similar to how cats kick litter over their poo at home.

However, both species attempts really aren’t that helpful in the cleaning up region…

The decision, or the indecision?

We’re sure you’ve all seen your dog sniff, spin and do laps of the area before they decide exactly where to go.

Well, dogs don’t just poop out of need, but also to mark their territory.

It’s sort of like the canine equivalent of humans leaving notes or graffiti to show others where they’ve been. 

So if your dog does this, it’s simply because they’re staking out the perfect place where their ‘information’ is sure to be noticed. 

You may or may not have heard of this one before.

Many dogs while doing their business, will align their bodies along the north-south axis, with a preference of facing north.

This shows that dogs might be magneto-sensitive, or sensitive to the Earth’s magnetic field.

However, will only do so when the magnetic field is calm.

So if you’re even in need of a compass, just wait for pooch to relieve themselves, and you’re good to go.

Overall, whatever way your dog chooses to do their business, just know it’s part of them being who they are. 

Does your dog have any funny habits? Let us know in the comments below.

And, be sure to share this with your friends, who also might have a pooch with a strange toilet time habit!