Why Dogs Kick the Ground After Pooping

That burst of backward scratching is probably not an attempt to bury the evidence. Research suggests dogs use ground scratching as part of a scent-marking system that can leave both chemical and visible signals for other dogs.

A dog finishes pooping, takes a step forward, then suddenly starts scraping the ground with its back feet and launching grass or dirt into the air. It may look like an enthusiastic attempt to clean up, but canine behavior research points to a different explanation: communication.

The behavior is commonly called ground scratching. Dogs may perform it after defecating or urinating, and evidence suggests the scratching can add scent from their feet while also leaving visible marks on the ground.

The paws themselves carry scent

Dogs have scent-producing structures associated with their foot pads and the areas between their toes. A 2020 study published in Scientific Reports tested whether domestic dogs respond to scent collected from the feet of other dogs.

The researchers found evidence that dogs can recognize canine pedal scent, although exactly what information dogs extract from it remains unclear. The results support the idea that foot odor can participate in dog-to-dog communication rather than simply being an incidental smell.

Ground scratching may therefore strengthen a scent mark. Scraping the surface can deposit odors from the feet while disturbing soil or grass in a way that creates an additional visual signal.

A review of canine communication published in Animals similarly describes ground scratching as potentially combining chemical, visual and even auditory components.

Is your dog claiming the territory?

Possibly—but “this land is mine” is probably too simple an interpretation.

Dogs use scent extensively in social communication. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that scent marking allows dogs to communicate with others nearby or at a distance, and marking behavior can be part of the normal canine behavioral repertoire.

Research on free-ranging domestic dogs has also linked ground scratching and other scent-marking behaviors with territorial boundaries and social interactions. In one observational study, researchers concluded that ground scratching probably plays a role in both olfactory and visual communication.

That does not mean every dog that kicks grass is threatening rivals or trying to establish dominance. The meaning of scent communication can vary with the animal, location and social situation, and scientists still cannot translate the precise “message” left by a particular dog.

A more cautious interpretation is simply: the dog is leaving information behind.

Not every dog does it

Ground scratching is normal, but it is not universal.

A study of dogs housed at two animal shelters found differences in scent-marking patterns based on age and behavior. Juvenile dogs rarely ground-scratched, while the behavior occurred more often among adults and seniors. Ground scratching after defecation did not show a consistent difference between males and females across the shelters.

That helps explain why one dog may dramatically excavate the lawn after every bathroom break while another simply walks away.

There is also no need to teach a dog to do it. It is part of the wider range of natural communication behaviors seen in domestic dogs.

Should you stop your dog from kicking?

Usually, no.

VCA Animal Hospitals describes post-elimination kicking as a normal scent-marking behavior and notes that it generally does not harm the dog. The main practical problem is often the lawn—or whatever dirt, grass or landscaping happens to be behind the dog.

Very forceful or repetitive scratching can occasionally cause problems, particularly on rough surfaces. Owners should check for damaged paw pads or nails if a dog scratches intensely.

A sudden major increase in repetitive behavior, signs of pain, injured paws, difficulty urinating or defecating, or unusual straining deserves more attention. Those signs should not automatically be dismissed as normal marking behavior, and a veterinarian can help determine whether a medical or behavioral problem is involved.

For an otherwise healthy dog casually firing a few clumps of grass backward after a bathroom break, however, the explanation is much less mysterious.

Your dog probably is not trying to hide what happened.

It may be doing the opposite—making its presence easier for another dog to notice.

SOURCES USED:

• Scientific Reports — “Conspecific recognition of pedal scent in domestic dogs” Scientific Reports study
• PubMed — “Conspecific recognition of pedal scent in domestic dogs” PubMed record
• Merck Veterinary Manual — “Social Behavior of Dogs” Merck Veterinary Manual
• VCA Animal Hospitals — “Why do dogs kick grass after relieving themselves?” VCA Animal Hospitals
• Ethology — “Scent-Marking Behaviour in a Pack of Free-Ranging Domestic Dogs” Wiley Online Library study
• Applied Animal Behaviour Science — “Scent marking in shelter dogs: Effects of sex and age” ScienceDirect study