Why do dogs spin round in circles before they crap?

It is nothing to do with flattening grass - it would flatten anyway when they sit down.

It is all linked with scent marking, they have scent glands which they use to mark the ground when they are going in a circle, they do it afterwards too, or else kick the dirt around, just to mark their territory and tell all the other dogs that they were there.

The reason Dogs Spin round in circles before the sit is to adjust their back bone before sitting.

Its a throwback to when they were wild (wolfs) They spin in circles to flatten the grass - you wouldn't want grass up your ****! They also spin around before going to sleep to make a comfortable bed.

Times other then before they crap when my dog spins in circles:

1. When he sniffs his butt

2. when he's biting an itch on his tail

3. before he sleeps/ gets comfy on his sleeping cushion

4. when he chases his tail (dunno what he's been smoking but gimme summa that!)

5. when he farts... he likes to sniff his butt. Gross!

funny though, that's only my mongrel black lab/ greyhound mix, my miniature schnauzer does none of that. He just craps. No spinning, no circles!!

This is a vunrable time for a dog. It spins round to check that there is nothing that is going to attack it

Its instinct from when the were wild. They also do it when they go to lay down because in the wild they would have to flatten the grass to get comfortable

it goes back to their wild days when they would turn circles to flatten the grass to make a bed on it

My dog does that.. i was facinated.. so I watched him.. then when he saw me.. he went round the other side of the stupid tree! Little Bugger :p They know!

To give you enough time to get them outside lol, my dog does that to it drives me crazy he does it for ages ,its to do with scent i think

To flatten the grass so it doesn't tickle when they squat??? I don't know...ask a dog...lol