Why Dogs Spin Before They Poop

Do you ever wonder why dogs will sometimes walk in circles before sleeping or going to the bathroom? Well, it has to do with some hygiene and territorial instincts that dogs have when they're in the wild. It also has to do with the Earth's magnetic field, which is crazy, and Anthony is here to tell you all about it.

Read More:
Dogs Have a Butt Compass, Poop Facing N/S Pole
"It's all starting to make sense. For years I wondered why my dog spins in a circle before depositing her daily double"

Why Do Dogs Go Around In Circles Before They Go To The Bathroom?
"That's a great question. I've often been curious myself about why dogs exhibit this strange behavior of circling before they go to the bathroom."

Dogs Are Sensitive To Small Variations Of The Earth's Magnetic Field
"Several mammalian species spontaneously align their body axis with respect to the Earth's magnetic field (MF) lines in diverse behavioral contexts."

Why Do Dogs Walk In Circles Before Lying Down?
"Before lying down, dogs often circle their beds or wherever they've chosen to settle in for a nap. This curious canine behavior dates back to prehistoric times , when dogs literally had to make their own beds."

Why Do Dogs Walk In A Circle Before Lying Down
"The circling thing is a relic of domestic dogs' wild past, a bit of hard-wired behavior that hasn't been bred out yet."

Watch More:
Dog Translator of the Future
TestTube Wild Card
Animals Have Human Emotions

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[antagonizerr]

It's all about wind direction. Face North and you get the crosswind to tell you if there are predators nearby. Good idea when you are vulnerable and pooping.

[JRSportBrief]

I thought it was just their ass coordinating with the ground. 

[BodySnatchers-vf]

The spin is actually a magic spell which disables the dog's owner's ability to pick up the poop.

[paoloibayan]

I'll attach a compass on my dog tomorrow morning :)

[earthtouchtv]

It must be fun being a researcher on this project and explaining to people what you do for a living ... 

Researcher gets introduced to a friend of a friend at a party...
"So what do you do for a living?" she asks inquisitively.
"Oh, for the last two years, I've been watching dogs pooping and measuring their body axes, " the smiling scientist proudly states.
The friend hastily makes up a story about a missed dental appointment.
The researcher drinks alone.

[Akumaunlimited]

My little niece said they're trying to find their butts because their tails are always in the way. Seemed logical at first...

[CraigTube]

I guess that's why my dog doesn't use my toilet... My toilet faces east. :)

[LucidGwynbleidd]

No. My dogs just pooping. No spining, no alines, no illuminati, just pooping.

[marcelo.bassalo]

You guys are asking the big questions.

[Zhonguoria]

My dad always did that!  He would circle the parking lot for 1/2 an hour looking for just the right spot before parking the car.  I guess he was aligning the car with the N/S magnetic pole.  :D

[nfcoard]

Scientists watching dogs shit for two years makes me wonder about some scientists.

[pluto]

I would challenge this "magnetic field" theory with a simpler, more believable theory--the position of the sun. Looking north/south when the sun is either east or west may help their vision. If they looked east/west, the sun will either be in their eyes, or casting shadows in the dog's line of sight. Looking north OR south would be better during the day. Just a theory. Dogs are amazing but I need tangible evidence that they can sense "magnetic fields" before I believe it.

[UhhKhakis]

Mine doesn't spin for some reason, I think it's broken.

[UPlayNetwork]

I always thought it was because they had to go quickly and the only times i saw it was when a dog was in unfamiliar territory and was somehow nervous or anxious 

[FotonicBeats]

1:40 maybe they don't want the sun in their eyes while pooping...

[BinkieMcFartnuggets]

But why do figure skaters spin before they poop?

[shawniscoolerthanyou]

I like to imagine they spin to kinda centrifuge the poop out.

[smileyp]

wait wait wait. whats this about being able to see magnetic fields in the past? im interested in learning more about that

[Ral]

This is the kind of questions that everyone though about but none is brave enough to ask out loud.
#Dnews   #science

[pachamamados]

An east-west alignment means more likely to have the sun in their eyes so they couldn't see predators coming during this highly vulnerable moment; north-south will give them maximum likelihood of seeing small movements in shadow indicating stalking predator.