Why does my dog kick the ground after pooping?

3 min read Updated on October 8, 2026

In shortWhen a dog kicks the ground after peeing or pooping, he is marking. The kicks add a visible sign, scuffed dirt or torn-up grass, to the smell of what he left, and perhaps scent from his paw pads. Unlike a cat, he is not trying to cover anything: he often sends the dirt flying in the wrong direction. It is normal, seen in males and females alike, and it is not a challenge aimed at you.

What it often means

A visual sign: scuffed dirt and torn-up grass probably draw passing dogs’ attention to the marked spot.
A scent message: kicking spreads the smell of his urine or stool, and may add scent from his feet.
A live display: he often kicks more when other dogs are close by, as if underlining his message in front of them.
A personal habit: some dogs do it after almost every bathroom break, others only at busy spots used by lots of dogs.

Signals to read at the same time

The rest of his body: loose, kicking and then trotting off, all is well; stiff, hackles up and staring at another dog, he is wound up, and it is better to steer him away.
The spot: at the base of a tree, a fire hydrant or a dog park entrance, where he has sniffed other dogs’ marks at length, the kicking is often more vigorous.
The ground: on hot sidewalk, gravel or ice, paw pads get damaged fast. Check them when you get home.
What is not kicking: scooting his rear on the ground, licking his rear end or straining to go are different signs worth watching.

What you can do

Let him do it: it is normal communication, and stopping him teaches him nothing useful.
If you care about your lawn, walk him on leash to a patch of dirt or mulch where kicking is fine, and praise him there.
Stand to the side rather than behind him: clumps of dirt and gravel fly a surprising distance.
In summer, skip potty stops on asphalt: if you cannot keep the back of your hand on it for a few seconds, it is too hot for his pads.
On a city sidewalk or outside a coffee shop, say a cheerful “let’s go” right after he finishes, and reward him for following you.

When to see a vet

See a vet if his pads bleed or crack, if he limps after kicking, or if he keeps licking his paws once you are home. If the kicking suddenly turns frantic, goes on and on or comes with other repetitive behaviors, see your vet first, then a veterinary behaviorist or certified behavior consultant. And if at the same time you notice straining, a change in his stools or scooting, it is his digestion or his anal glands that need checking, not the kicking.

Frequently asked questions

Is he trying to cover his poop like a cat?

No. A cat digs and then pulls litter over his waste; a dog kicks as he moves away and throws dirt every which way, often nowhere near the poop. He is not hiding anything. If anything, he is making the spot more visible and more fragrant, so do not count on him to clean up after himself.

Do female dogs do it too?

Yes. It is often described as a bit more common in males, but plenty of females kick too, after peeing as well as after pooping. It is marking, which every dog uses more or less depending on temperament and place, whatever the sex.

My dog never kicks. Is that normal?

Yes. Many dogs never do it, or only at certain spots used by lots of other dogs. It depends mostly on the individual and what he has to say. Not kicking says nothing about his health or his personality.

He tears up the lawn. How do I protect my yard?

Give him a spot of his own: a strip of loose dirt or mulch where you take him on leash for potty breaks for a few weeks, praising him there. He will get used to going there. On the lawn, a short leash and a cheerful “let’s go” right after he pees limit the damage.

Mimo reads behavior. It does not replace a vet.