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When you let your dog outdoors to take care of business and notice them kicking grass, sand, and dirt behind them, it鈥檚 easy to think that the behavior is just a way to keep their area clean. In truth, it鈥檚 actually a safety mechanism and an important part of how dogs communicate as a species.
If you notice your dog scraping frantically at the ground or kicking debris behind them, it鈥檚 usually an act of marking their territory, formerly known as 鈥渟crape behavior.鈥� While you may not always catch your dog in the act, their bodies are busy producing an important chemical reaction that allows them to communicate with other canines.
A Sophisticated Communication Network
Dogs have glands in their paws that release pheromones that trigger social interaction with other dogs. These pheromones from dogs鈥� feet last longer than the scent of urine or feces, making them more effective as a communication tool.
If you鈥檝e ever sniffed your dogs鈥� paws, you鈥檒l notice a specific smell that isn鈥檛 always a clear sign that they need a bath or grooming appointment. In fact,聽it鈥檚 likely that your pup has recently stimulated the pads on their paws to produce pheromones and spread their 鈥渟cent.鈥� While these chemical reactions aren鈥檛 visible to the human eye, they鈥檙e as powerful as putting a mailbox out in front of your house with your last name on it to claim your property.
The behavior dates back thousands of years, to when dogs lived in the wild and were responsible for fending off prey. In the presence of other dogs, the action was used as a protection method. Your dog isn鈥檛 attempting to ruin the lawn, but simply letting other dogs know they鈥檙e in charge.
But it鈥檚 not always a warning to 鈥渂ack-off鈥� 鈥� this form of communication also allows canines to alert other dogs that there isn鈥檛 a present threat in the area. If another dog comes near, they鈥檒l immediately know that another animal of the same species is close by. When surrounded by other dogs during visits to the dog park, it鈥檚 normal for this action to go into overdrive.
When Kicking Becomes a Problem
Dogs kick grass naturally, but they also often perform this behavior on other surfaces like kitchen tile, concrete, the living room carpet, or the sofa. Not only can that result in damage to your property, but it can be especially harmful to your dog if it鈥檚 performed repetitively on rough surfaces.
If you observe your pet engaging in this behavior regularly, look for signs of injured paw pads. The pads can become sore, damaged, and could eventually lead to cracking or bleeding. Some 听补苍诲 can temporarily provide relief for damaged paws.
It鈥檚 also important to take note of when it becomes an aggressive behavior or a sign of anxiety. If your dog has begun kicking at grass more frequently, consider anything that might be contributing to their behavior. It could be a new puppy in your home, a new neighborhood dog, or your dog feeling anxious about something else that has changed recently.
Training to Help Curb the Behavior
Fortunately, if the behavior has become problematic, you can train your dog to learn other coping mechanisms that can help improve their manners and social skills. In Canine Good Citizen (CGC) training, your dog can learn practical skills (such as sit, come, down, and stay) that can be used to manage your dog鈥檚 behavior. When your dog is excessively kicking grass, you can instruct them to do an incompatible behavior.
The Canine Good Citizen program is open to purebred and mixed-breed dogs of all ages. There aren鈥檛 any limitations on who can participate, but AKC does offer separate training for puppies. 础碍颁听S.T.A.R. Puppy teaches the beginning stages of Canine Good Citizen to younger dogs. AKC can help find a that teaches training and offers testing near you.