Most dogs finish their business and trot off without a second look. A few do something odd. They turn around, lower their head, and use their nose to push dirt, leaves, grass or even snow over the pile, like a small bulldozer. Some go back and forth several times until they are satisfied.
Owners often wonder whether their dog is embarrassed, unusually tidy, or copying the cat. Scientists have not studied this exact habit. Still, what we know about wolves, scent and dog instincts gives a good explanation.
Dogs usually do the opposite
Cats bury their waste on purpose, and they use their front paws to do it. Dogs, as a rule, do not. Dog poop carries a strong scent that tells other dogs who was there, how healthy they are, and how recently they passed by. Leaving it out in the open is part of how dogs communicate.
Wolves make a point of leaving their droppings where others will find them. A 2004 study of wolves in northwest Spain found that about 60 percent of their scat was left at crossroads, and more than 70 percent was placed on top of something easy to see, such as a rock or a clump of plants. A 2020 study of wolves in Poland also found the most marking at road crossings. Wolves want their droppings to be found.
That makes a dog that covers its poop unusual, and it suggests the habit comes from a different instinct.
The food-burying instinct
The most likely source is caching, which means hiding food to eat later. Wolves often bury extra meat under soil, leaves or snow, and they use their noses to push the material over it. Staff at the Wolf Conservation Center in New York have watched wolves bury chunks of meat in the snow by pushing it with their snouts.
Pet dogs still have this instinct. Many dogs push their noses around their food bowl as if covering the food, tuck a treat under a blanket, or bury a bone in the yard. Terriers, Beagles and Dachshunds, which were bred to dig, are especially known for it.
The nose-pushing movement a dog uses on its poop looks exactly like the movement it uses to bury food. The most widely accepted explanation is that the dog is running through the same burying routine. Something about the spot or the smell sets off the instinct, and the dog covers it the same way it would cover a stash of food.
Other possible reasons
Reducing the smell
A dog’s nose has many millions more scent receptors than a person’s. Estimates vary, but popular figures put it at up to 300 million for a dog compared with about 5 million for a person. A pile of poop can be a very strong smell for a dog, and some dogs may cover it simply because they find it unpleasant up close, particularly near the places where they eat, sleep or play.
Keeping a low profile
Some vets suggest that covering waste may be a way to hide the dog’s presence from other animals. This may be more common in shy or nervous dogs, or in a dog that lives with a more confident dog. It is the same reason some cats leave their waste uncovered while others bury it carefully.
Learned from another pet
Dogs that grow up with cats sometimes pick up cat-like habits. A puppy that watches a cat bury its waste may try something similar, using the body part it uses most for exploring: its nose.
Nose covering and back-leg kicking are different
It is easy to mix up two separate habits:
- Kicking with the back legs. Many dogs scratch the ground with their back feet after they pee or poop. This usually sends dirt flying backward, away from the pile. Dogs have scent glands in their paw pads, and the scratching leaves extra scent and visible scrape marks. It adds to the message the poop leaves behind.
- Pushing with the nose. A smaller number of dogs turn around and push material over the pile. This is the covering behavior described above, and it lines up with food burying.
Some dogs do both, kicking and then covering. That is normal too.
Is it a problem?
No. Covering poop with the nose is harmless, and there is no reason to stop it. It is only worth a closer look if the habit is new and comes with other changes, such as your dog sniffing or licking its poop much more than usual, eating it, or having diarrhea or straining. Those signs are worth mentioning to your vet.
Keep the nose clean
The main downside is hygiene. Dog poop can carry roundworm and other parasite eggs. Roundworm eggs become infectious after a few weeks in warm soil, and children are most at risk because they play in dirt and sand and put their hands in their mouths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that about 14 percent of people in the United States have been infected with Toxocara, a roundworm spread by dogs and cats.
- Pick up the poop right away, before your dog has a chance to cover it. This also stops it from getting buried where you might step in it later.
- Carry pet wipes and wipe your dog’s nose and face if it has pushed through dirt or waste.
- Keep your dog on a regular deworming and parasite prevention plan from your vet.
- Wash your hands after cleaning up, and keep children away from areas where dogs go to the bathroom.
