Why dogs spin around before going for a poo on walks | UK | News

Millions of people in the UK have dogs, they’re one of the UK’s most popular pets, but some things about our furry friends still confuse people.

For example, some dog owners may have noticed that, before they do a poo, their dog might spin around in circles. Fortunately, experts such as broadcaster and conservationist Chris Packham are on hand to explain that it’s all to do with the Earth’s magnetic field.

Speaking on the Oh My Dog with Jack Dee & Seann Walsh podcast, Chris, 65, explained why people’s dogs sometimes spin in circles before they poo.

The Springwatch presenter said: “They tend to do that in places where they haven’t been before. Because what we’ve learnt is they’re spinning round because they’re sensitive to the Earth’s magnetic field. And essentially, they’re marking that spot with their faeces and that particular scent. They’re mapping the area.

“So if you take your dogs to the same place everyday then it’s unlikely that they’re going to spin round, but if you take them somewhere new that’s when they start that spinning behaviour because they’re building a map of their new environment.”

Chris’ comments about dogs comes just weeks after he commented on the potential science behind dogs licking their owner’s faces.

Whilst also suggesting there could be health properties in dog’s saliva on the same Oh My Dog podcast, he said: “When we cut our finger, what’s the first thing we do? We lick it. And you lick it because there are bacterial fauna in your saliva which have antiseptic and healing properties.

“In days of old, when they were having medieval battles and doing unspeakable things to one another with swords, there were a lot of wounded people and they would allow the camp dogs to come and lick their wounds. They discovered that if the dog was licking the wound… it would be less less likely to get infected.”

Meanwhile, one pet company has answered another question dog owners may have – why their pooch brings them toys when they arrive at the front door.

According to US organisation Wisconsin Pet Care, it is your dog giving you a positive sign that was once part of ancient survival mechanisms in the wild.

They explained: “The art of ‘gift giving’ does not happen in every domesticated canine, but for those dogs that do exhibit this behaviour, it’s downright endearing.

“It can be theorised that carrying and retrieving stems for natural hunting behaviours in canines. Wild dogs learn to carry their food (ie, prey) and cache meals – much like a squirrel would hide its nuts all over the forest – in case of times of famine.

“A wolf mother will bring her prey back to the den, retrieving and carrying a meal home to her pups. So it appears that the domesticated dog retrieving is a simple variation of this prey-carrying behaviour.”

The organisation also suggested that the dog may be doing it in order to get affection, after seeing a connection between them bringing their owner something and receiving cuddles in return.