Why do some dogs spin around so much before defecating?

If you live with a dog , you've likely seen the curious behavior where they spin around as if performing a ritual dance, sniff the ground, walk a few steps, retrace their steps... and only then, after all this meticulous process, decide to defecate. What exactly is they doing? Why do they need such a protocol for something so basic? The scene may amuse us or despair us if we're in a hurry, but the truth is that behind this behavior there are quite complex ethological and biological reasons.

The behavior of circling before eliminating isn't a whim or a mania, nor is it disobedience or slowness. It's an ancestral, evolutionarily preserved pattern that serves multiple functions , from choosing a safe place to leaving chemical signals for other animals. In other words, when a dog is circling and sniffing, it's doing much more than 'looking for a spot.'

Reading the world with your snout

A dog's sense of smell is its primary tool for interpreting its environment. Through urine and feces trails, dogs obtain information as precise as the age, sex, emotional state, or even the health of other individuals. So, when a dog sniffs before relieving itself, it's actually reading the messages left by other dogs and deciding whether that spot is available or already symbolically occupied.

In addition, many dogs also take advantage of the moment to leave their own message. This is because, in addition to the scent of their feces, they have anal glands that release specific pheromones , capable of signaling their presence and status to other dogs. This is why some dogs turn around, scratch the ground with their hind legs, or mark repeatedly: it's a way of leaving their olfactory "graffiti."

Safety, preference and custom

Beyond the communicative component, there's a second key factor: safety. For an animal that needs to crouch and adopt a vulnerable position, such as when defecating, choosing the right spot is a matter of survival . Even if there are no predators lurking in the home environment, that instinct persists, and the pre-occupied turns allow them to examine their surroundings, orient themselves in a safe direction (with good visibility, for example), and prepare the ground.

Individual preferences also come into play. Just as some people seek out the cleanest or quietest bathroom, many dogs develop a preference for certain surfaces (such as grass, loose soil, or sand) or specific places that are comfortable or familiar to them from puppyhood . Changing this pattern can make them insecure or even refuse to relieve themselves.

Rolling over to get into a defecation position also responds to a desire to level the ground and prepare the soil to make the area cleaner, especially if there is some tall vegetation. Although we may think dogs are dirty, and we have good reason to believe this, the truth is that they retain instinctive patterns to avoid getting dirty when doing their business.

There's another factor, perhaps the least predictable, and that is that some dogs are simply enjoying the walk. They know that after they've done their business, it's time to go home, so they prolong the time . This isn't a problem, but rather an example of how dogs learn to anticipate consequences. Ideally, if possible, allow them time to explore outside of their routine, so they don't associate their one bit of outdoor time with a hasty command.

Does the Earth's magnetic field have anything to do with it?

Although it may sound strange, a study published in 2013 by Czech and German researchers observed that dogs tend to align themselves with the north-south axis when defecating , as long as the Earth's magnetic field remains stable. The hypothesis is that dogs, like other animals, might be sensitive to geomagnetic lines and use them to navigate.

However, the authors themselves pointed out that this is a secondary factor, probably unconscious, and only manifests itself under very specific environmental conditions . So if a dog doesn't align itself like a compass, there's nothing to worry about; the magnetic field isn't the determining factor.

How do dogs find their way home when they get lost?

When to worry and consult your veterinarian

In general, it's normal for a dog to take a while to find the ideal place to defecate. However, there are signs that may indicate a physical or digestive problem and warrant veterinary attention:

In older dogs, or those with mobility problems such as osteoarthritis, it is also common for them to take longer simply because they have difficulty adopting the posture, in which case the pace of the walk should be reduced.

A habit loaded with information

Although it may seem like a waste of time, choosing a place to relieve themselves is a meaningful act for dogs, one that informs, protects, and regulates. Letting them sniff, explore, turn around, or even rule out several options is not only respectful but also beneficial for their emotional balance.

So the next time your dog spins around five times, looks at the horizon, changes his mind, and starts the process over again, remember that he's not being willful, he's deciding how to relate to his environment , how to protect himself, and how to leave his mark on the world through a deeply animal ceremony.