Some questions about dog behavior are “frequently asked questions” here in the CGC department. “Why does my dog beg at the table?” (Because he wants your pot roast and you’ve reinforced begging).
Or, “Why does my dog jump on people?” (This is a greeting behavior; your dog is excited and wants to say hello).
What do you think about this question…to start off 2013, more than one dog owner has written to ask, “Why does my dog scratch the ground after he pees?”
Why do you think dogs do this?
AKC's Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. Puppy Director, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
I think they do this to “cover up” their tracks, another one of their many instinctive survival behaviors.
I’ve only seen my dogs scratch with their back legs after they’ve pooped and normally in high-traffic (read: lots of dogs) areas. As I understand it, they release dog pheramones in the pads of their paws and the scratching isn’t covering up the scent, but adding more of a mark to the already “freshly scented” area. As if to claim, “yep! that’s my deuce!”
I agree with rubidawg ~ I couldn’t say it any better. I think male dogs are more prone to do this than the females ~ at least in my experience that is what I have noticed.
I have a female who does this every time she poops. My male never does. My female dominates the male so maybe it is a show of power/ownership.
Dogs are not the only animals that do this behavior. They are spreading the pee or poop in as big an area as possible to spread their scent. It is a territorial behavior I have seen in male or females depending on how dominate the animal is. I see cats and dogs doing this behavior all the time.
I had a mix breed (spayed) female that could ‘out-mark’ any male in the county! and she’d ‘scratch off’ after urination or defecation – but my Scottish Terriers usually only really do what I call their ‘happy dance’ after a poop; But they do it rightously well! can scatter scat far and wide!
Dogs scratch with the back paws to mark territiory; a visual reminder aside from the scent, to tell other dogs, this is my territory. They scratch with the front paws (digging) to show tension, insecurity
My dog scratches at the ground when he finds an interesting smell he’d like to investigate further.
I agree with kp my dogs love to dig holes especially when we go hiking and something new or stinky is under the ground and none of my dogs are insecure. My dogs are extremely curious about everything and it doesnt help much when we play with a laser light and the dogs feel they need to dig to china to find it.