The short answer
That backward kicking after pooping is scent-marking, not tidying up. Dogs have scent glands in their paws, so kicking spreads their personal scent and the visual scrape to mark territory and send a “this is mine” message.
The vigorous backward scraping after a dog has finished is not, as most people assume, an attempt to bury anything. Dogs are not covering their waste — they are advertising it.
It is scent marking, not tidying
Dogs have scent glands in their paws, between and around the pads. Scraping the ground drags those glands across the surface and deposits secretions, while also disturbing soil and grass to release more scent into the air.
So the kicking adds a second, longer-lasting chemical signature on top of the first one. Where the faeces itself carries information that fades, the ground marking persists and is refreshed each time a dog passes.
The visual signal too
The scraping leaves a visible disturbance — scuffed grass, scattered soil, claw marks. That is thought to function as a visual marker that draws other dogs to investigate the spot, effectively pointing at the chemical message.
This is why dogs often kick with considerable enthusiasm, and why they frequently do it in prominent, open places rather than tucked away. A marker nobody finds is not much use.
Who does it and when
- It is more common in intact males, and generally more pronounced in confident dogs.
- It increases where other dogs have been. Well-used routes, parks and lamp posts all raise it.
- It often follows urination as well as defecation.
- Some dogs never do it, which is equally normal.
- It can increase after a new dog appears in the neighbourhood or household — a change in the social landscape prompts more marking.
It is worth saying plainly that this has nothing to do with the dog being clean or dirty, and it is not a sign of poor toilet training. It is species-typical communication, and stopping it is neither necessary nor especially achievable.
The only practical problem
The behaviour is harmless except to lawns and to paws. If your dog scrapes hard on rough surfaces — gravel, tarmac, frozen ground — check the pads and nails occasionally for wear, splits or bleeding. If you would rather protect a lawn, move on promptly after your dog finishes rather than trying to interrupt the behaviour itself, which is instinctive and not a good training target.
When kicking means something else
The behaviour itself is normal. What is worth noticing is scraping that looks different — or a dog that appears uncomfortable around toileting generally.
- Scooting, rather than kicking. Dragging the bottom along the ground is a different behaviour and usually indicates anal sac problems, which are common and uncomfortable.
- Straining before or after passing stool, which can indicate constipation, diarrhoea, or something more serious.
- Excessive licking at the rear.
- Reluctance to squat, or an unusual posture, which can indicate pain in the hips, spine or knees.
- Frantic or prolonged scraping that seems agitated rather than routine.
See a vet if
Your dog is scooting rather than kicking, which suggests anal sac impaction or infection; there is straining, blood in the stool, or difficulty passing stool; your dog licks persistently at the rear or there is swelling, redness or a strong smell near the anus; or your dog has become reluctant to squat or adopts an unusual posture, which can indicate joint or spinal pain. Also check the paws if your dog scrapes hard on rough ground and you notice limping, split nails or bleeding pads.
The short version
Your dog is not being polite and failing at it. It is leaving a deliberate two-part message — a chemical one from the paw glands and a visual one from the disturbed ground — for whichever dog comes past next. It is one of the more sophisticated things dogs do in a form most owners find faintly embarrassing.
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Frequently asked
Why does my dog kick the ground after pooping?
It is scent marking, not an attempt to bury anything. Dogs have scent glands in their paws, and scraping deposits secretions on the ground while disturbing soil and grass to release more scent — adding a longer-lasting signature on top of the first.
Is my dog trying to cover it up?
No, the opposite. The scraping leaves a visible disturbance that draws other dogs to investigate, effectively pointing at the chemical message. Dogs often do it in prominent open places for exactly that reason.
Do all dogs do this?
No, and not doing it is equally normal. It is more common in intact males and generally more pronounced in confident dogs, and it increases on routes where other dogs have been.
Should I stop my dog doing it?
It is instinctive communication and not a good training target. If you want to protect a lawn, move on promptly after your dog finishes rather than trying to interrupt the behaviour itself.
Is kicking the same as scooting?
No, and the difference matters. Kicking is backward scraping with the paws while standing. Scooting is dragging the bottom along the ground, which usually indicates anal sac impaction or infection and needs a vet rather than being ignored.
Can the scraping hurt my dog's paws?
It can on rough surfaces — gravel, tarmac or frozen ground. Check the pads and nails occasionally for wear, splits or bleeding, particularly if you notice any limping afterwards.
Sources
Every claim on this page is checked against published veterinary and animal-behaviour research. Here’s where it comes from.
- 1Understanding Dog Body Language — American Kennel Club
- 2Anal Sac Disease in Dogs — VCA Animal Hospitals
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