Why do dogs kick the ground after having finished peeing?

by leonides ruvalcabar

A dog sometimes takes a gesture like kicking the ground after doing a piss, but Live Science of science news media wrote about what this has in itself.

Why Do Dogs Scratch the Ground After They Pee?
https://www.livescience.com/63239-why-dogs-scratch-ground-after-peeing.html

If you have kept a dog, you should have someone who has the experience of putting earth and grass on your face. This is due to the habit of "kicking the ground vigorously after the dog has a pee." This habit is called "ground scratching" by the veterinarian.

Scratching on the ground may be a strange and annoying act for dog owners, but various facts have been revealed from the latest research. First of all, not all dogs scratch the ground, according to the survey it turns out that scratching the ground is a very rare behavior in dogs.

Mr. Rosy Bescoeby, an organization that conducts behavior counseling of pet animals in the UK and works as a professor of clinical animal behavior, said, "Although ground scratching is a habit seen in both males and females, only about 10% I will not take such action. " Normally, a dog seems to scratch the ground after draining feces, but in particular the case is done when "smell of familiar smells" or "(smell of unfamiliar excreta) sniffed (at your own turf)" There seems to be many.

by James Padolsey

It is also clear that the action of scratching the ground is not unique to dogs. It seems that gestures that kick like scratching the ground like dogs can also be seen in mammals such as wolves, coyotes and lions. In particular, (PDF) observational research on the scratch habits of coyotes and wolves is proceeding and "From these research results, it will be useful clues as to why dogs show the gesture like kicking the ground," Pennsylvania · "Says Carlo Siracusa, teaching veterinary behavior at the School of Veterinary Medicine University .

Regarding the reason why the wolf scratches the ground, Mr. Syracuse said, "For example, in the case of wolves the social nature of living in a flock is related to ground scratching, the leader wolves in the herd to show their own territory There is a tendency to scratch the ground.Possibly, if you cross the area indicated by the leader, you may be attacked from a group of wolves, that is, the scratch on the ground is a message indicating a territory to other wolves That 's why.

For wolves and coyotes, ground scratching is a marking act, but this has two features. The first one is visual marking "to scratch the ground, leave behind a visually recognizable sign", the second is "a smell left by manure or a liquid secreted from the glands on the wolf's feet Scent attached by scrubbing the ground "is an olfactory marking.

Returning to the dog, thinking that the dogs scratch the ground is mostly the case when marking with plants in plants, which has the same properties as marking by ground scratching found in coyotes and wolves It is considered to be. In addition, it is also clear that dogs have sweat glands on their feet, secrete special liquids from here and use them for marking.

According to Mr. Syracuse, it is said that pheromone is contained in the liquid secreted by the dog's sweat glands. In other words, it is possible that a dog sends a strong warning signal that it is his own territory to other dogs by leaving the pheromone on the ground. However, because the function of the pheromone secreted from the sweat glands of the foot is not yet clear, it is difficult to conclude what kind of message can be sent to other dogs, Mr. Syracuse said .

by Xiang Gao

Mr. Siracsa said, "Dogs own and manage their own territory like wild animals," said Dr. Siracusa about whether the ground scratches are offensive like "hit other dogs if they enter the marked area" There is nothing. " In addition, Mr. Syracuse seems that scratching the dog's ground is not a way to warn other dogs "to leave this area", but a way to inform you that you are here is. Therefore, "When dogs get acquainted with each other, there is no problem, and if it is not acquaintance, it is something that makes me want to leave the place," explains the dog's scratching on the ground.

According to Dr. Siracusa's clinical study, pet dogs that are nervous and unstable tend to scratch the ground more than usual. However, it seems that not all dogs taking this action are felt uneasy, "I do not need to worry because it is a natural behavior for dogs", he says.

However, for some nervous dogs, it seems that there is a possibility of being "act of trying to preserve your own safe space." Because the dog is not looking forward to seeing other dogs . Also, Mr. Bescobby pointed out that dogs tend to scratch the ground more frequently when they go to places where dogs are not familiar, and that female dogs frequently scratch the ground more than castled dogs It is.

by Valerie Elash

Mr. Syracuse cites "to let the instinct to do the ground scratching by" instinct "as the" best way to cope "when the dogs scratch the ground," If you try to correct behavior by instinct, I feel that it is weak. " Also, Mr. Bescovy adds that "scratching on the ground is not a big problem for the owner".