A Dog’s Poop Ritual: The Pooping Process Perfected
Most people’s dogs have a poop ritual.
First, they walk around to find a suitable spot (which can be a bit frustrating for owners who are looking to have their dog pee and poop more quickly). Next, they might sniff around the spot for a little while before squatting and doing the deed. Depending on your pooch’s preferences, this might be when the stare down starts to occur.
Some dogs will turn around at this point, almost like they’re chasing their tails: According to The Little Things, this turn is just them surveying their environment and getting a good look at what’s around them.
Once done, most dogs will step a little bit away from it and kick backwards with their hind legs. No, they aren’t preparing to take off; what they’re doing is covering up their waste (as many owners note, not very effectively).
This is a left-over defense mechanism from the wild, where you have to cover up to protect yourself against predators (which are generally scary and, y’know, lions and tigers and bears).
My dog stares at me when I poop.
Well, this is almost the same situation we’ve discussed above, but somehow a little more unsettling when your dog sneaks up on you making a movement at 3am.
The answer to this question is also pretty much the same as above: Your dog is naturally curious about where his owner is off to (and is just as likely to follow you into any other room you go into), and he’s convinced that you’re going to need back-up if you’re going to be caught with, well, your pants down.
Safety
Let’s not forget that your dog sees you as much more than just a dog owner. You’re part of theirs, and you’re not just part of the pack, you’re leading it.
Yes, your dog sees you as some kind of superhero, and the eye contact shared between you is their way of making sure you’re watching their territory while they’re doing their business – a task which would, in the wild, make them exceptionally vulnerable to predators. (How would you feel if you were reading on the toilet and your safety was suddenly threatened? Not great, yeah?)
Why Does My Dog Look at Me When They Poop?
We get plenty of questions from readers and this has to be one of the weirder ones on the list; still, we’ve never been afraid of a little weird.
So why does your dog stare at you when he poops? The short answer: he probably wants to make sure you’re keeping watch out for predators.
In this article, we’re exploring why some owners report that their dogs stare at them while they poop, why others do the opposite, and why some dogs insist on following their owners into the bathroom.