Dogs kick the ground after going to the toilet not to cover their mess, but to leave a scent message for other animals, according to clinical canine behaviourist Will Atherton.
Scent glands in paws
In a social media video, Atherton, who holds an MSc, described the habit as one of the "most misunderstood" things dogs do. He explained that dogs have scent glands in the pads of their paws, meaning their feet can be used to communicate with other dogs.
When a dog scratches and kicks the ground after toileting, it is not attempting to tidy up, but rather depositing paw scent around the surrounding area.
Layered chemical communication
He said: "They're leaving an additional scent deposit right on top of that area. They're taking a message that was already there and broadcasting it even further across the environment."
Urine and faeces already contain information about the dog, but the paw scent adds another layer. Atherton described it as "layered chemical communication", noting that dogs can interpret various scents. The behaviour disperses the scent across a wider area, making it more detectable, and he likened it to the canine equivalent of "turning the volume all the way up".
Positive sign
Atherton said he tends to observe the kicking more frequently when dogs are confident and at ease. He said: "A dog that feels settled and secure in themselves will often do it with real gusto."
By contrast, he has worked with highly anxious dogs that show no such behaviour. "So if they do, for me it's usually a positive sign," he added. He advised owners to recognise it as natural and instinctive behaviour, something dogs have done for hundreds of thousands of years.
Responding to his post, one user commented: "This is so interesting. I got my girl from a pretty bad situation with my ex last September. Over the last few months, she's started doing this. Really nice to have an understanding why - I truly hope she does feel confident and settled."
