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How do dogs decide where to go to the bathroom?

Written by Luvs Dogs on November 23rd, 2008

Movie Buff asked:


I’ve heard that dogs go #1 to mark their territory, true? My dog has her regular places to go in the yard, but when we’re out for walks, i can tell she wants to go, especially when it’s #2, but she sniffs and hunts around for just the right spot before she goes. What is it she’s looking for? What makes that just the right spot?
I’m not looking for some smart-ass answer, I just want to know. Thanks for your help.

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50 Comments at "How do dogs decide where to go to the bathroom?"

Powered by Yahoo Answers November 23rd, 2008 (#)

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shes marking over a scent thats older from something else in the ground like another dog went ther last week and or a squirrel buried a nut there and shes challenging the animals its about the odors and they can smell things like cancer and dead bones in the ground sooo

Powered by Yahoo Answers November 27th, 2008 (#)

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my dog does that too…its almost like they are looking for some good reading material lol..cats and dogs are picky about where they go potty at..its all a territorial thing..

Powered by Yahoo Answers November 29th, 2008 (#)

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OK - seriously - they are not only “doing their business” but also communicating with other animals in the neighborhood. They leave a “message” that they’ve been there. Sometimes it is a warning, sometimes just a friendly hello. But it is a form of communication. You will notice that they “visit” several “favorite” spots - they are just “checking messages” left by all the others. Kind of like an animal answering machine!

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 2nd, 2008 (#)

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well if your dogs not potty trained then it will go basically anywhere if it is potty trained then it will wait by the door unless you wait too long :)

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 2nd, 2008 (#)

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Have you ever wondered if maybe your dog is just retarded? My dog is retarded in the seriously retarded way. He eats his own poo, pees on his feet, and even sniffs other dog’s *****! Now that’s retarded.

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 3rd, 2008 (#)
Powered by Yahoo Answers December 6th, 2008 (#)

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Primarily through scent. Even when they are not in their “territory” they are leaving a scent trail to and from their territory to communicat with/attract/warn other dogs.

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 8th, 2008 (#)

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Strictly convenience, if its convenient for your dog to dump on the kitchen floor, he/she will do so, lol!

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 8th, 2008 (#)

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They prefer to go where some other dag has gone before. It is a territorial and social thing.

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 9th, 2008 (#)

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EVERY DOG AND ITS OWNER HAVE THEIR PECULIER EXPERIENCES DICTATED BY THEIR PECULIER CIRCUMSTANCES.THERE ARE DOMESTIC DOGS AND THERE ARE DOMESTICATED DOGS.AND THERE ARE WILD DOGS. EACH DOES ITS OWN THING THE BEST “WHERE” THAT COMES HANDY!!!…ON YOUR BED…ON YOUR COUCH…IN YOUR KITCHEN…IN YOUR BACK YARD…ON YOUR NEIGHBOR’S LAWN..ON THE PAVEMENT…RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE STREET…PRESSED DOGS DO NOT GIVE A ***t!

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 11th, 2008 (#)

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He or she is sniffing for other dog’s spots, so they can let the other animal know that they were there.

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 11th, 2008 (#)

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My boxer just walks back and forth while his intestines are getting ready to do their thing. The reason he sniffs while doing that is because you and I look and dogs sniff. They do not communicate thru number 2 they relieve themselves.

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 14th, 2008 (#)

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They usually go in same spot by scent.

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 16th, 2008 (#)

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MY DOG DOES THE SAME GUESS THEY HAVE A CERTAIN SMELL THEY LOOKING FOR OH DARN I DON’T KNOW

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 18th, 2008 (#)

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It’s weird. It is a form of communication. I’ve just recently adopted a 2nd dog who isn’t potty trained. Due to that, my 1st dog who was trained, is now ‘remarking’ her territory. It’s been kind of a nightmare. I’m having to watch both very carefully.

Overall, it does become a form of habit. My dog (shhhh) goes on the same lawn repeatedly when I take her for walks. Same spot, 8 out of 10 times. When I go a different route, there’s another spot that she frequents.

But when in a strange place, she will sometimes go at the most inopportune time. (like crossing the street!). As much as I do think it’s a habit, it’s also just as natural as us having to go in the airplane regardless of how uncomfortable it is.

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 18th, 2008 (#)

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Well, I asked my both my basset hounds, and they said it has something to due with scent. And, you’ll just have to take my word for it, but they’re the smartest dogs I know. Nothing us people could understand.

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 21st, 2008 (#)

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She is searching for another dogs scent.Almost like a ‘hello!’ card to the other dog. All dogs do it.If your dog is not ‘fixed’ it is also a hint that she/he wants to mate.

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 21st, 2008 (#)

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I think youhave answer your own question

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 22nd, 2008 (#)

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ok well my dad is a vet, and see, this is it, i have three dogs, when one pees in spot #1 dog #2 will come over and *** there, its all territorial as most people have said

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 23rd, 2008 (#)

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“Gut” feeling. :)
That’s a **** joke, but it’s probably close enough to the truth.

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 26th, 2008 (#)

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they sniff around to see if any other dogs have gone to the bathroom there, then they go where another dog has gone, so they can “re-mark” that territory

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 26th, 2008 (#)

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Well, they have dog senses in which tell them where to go!

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 28th, 2008 (#)

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Animals instinctively want to cover the scent of other animals to show their dominance and to leave a message that they were there and others should know that it is their turff

Powered by Yahoo Answers December 30th, 2008 (#)

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check this site under movie and watch the dogs…. man best friend wait a few seconds then hit play

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 2nd, 2009 (#)

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I don’t want to know. But I think it’s territorial. SHe’s smelling for where another animal’s been.

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 5th, 2009 (#)

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They find a place to do there stuff by finding a thing that sticks out of the ground

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 5th, 2009 (#)

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Dogs go to the bathroom- wow!-
how do you get your dog to do that- my dog goes outside

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 8th, 2009 (#)

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SCENT FROM OTHER DOGS

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 10th, 2009 (#)

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Your dog doesn’t like to **** where other dogs have pooped.

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 11th, 2009 (#)

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its a challenge to other dogs

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 13th, 2009 (#)

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it is their instinct

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 16th, 2009 (#)

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it has to do with scents and what they can smell on the ground. #1 is a marker their own personal scent and mrking teritory. #2 normally they will go in the same place every time, but when they cant get to that spot they find the spot that has the least ammount of smell from any other animal

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 17th, 2009 (#)

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Wants to go where some other dog went, they sniff for ‘used’ places and that’s the right spot. If your dog is in a fenced area, they usually go where there is crap already which makes it easier for you to go clean after them.

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 20th, 2009 (#)

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Maybe it’s a territorial thing as well.

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 20th, 2009 (#)

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Yes they mark their territory. They basically *** where other dogs have peed before to leave there mark.

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 22nd, 2009 (#)

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I think morse code would be less restraining….and more understandable

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 25th, 2009 (#)

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they don’t they just go were they like it

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 27th, 2009 (#)

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its a natural habit

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 27th, 2009 (#)

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I believe when it comes to #2 they are looking for a familiar scent either their own or some thing they recognize, essentially I think they are looking for their bathroom. Which would explain why it takes a female dog longer than a male, like humans female dogs are more self conscience and vain over males, a girl would no *** outside just because she has to go she will look for the right spot where as a guy will do so anywhere!! This is my theory!!

Powered by Yahoo Answers January 30th, 2009 (#)

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…dogs are little creatures that got a mind of their own so if they **** on your floor.kick them across the room !

that should teach them

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 1st, 2009 (#)

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Its the same principal gang members use when they go out tagging with spraypaint. Mark new territory, protect old territory, find out whos been sniffing around your business, and take over land from rival gangs…er…pups.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 3rd, 2009 (#)

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they try not to go in another dog or cats territory they try to stay as far away from there territory as possible like some kind of respect symbol but they try to stay close at the same time to have a good idea where to go to kinda stay safe

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 5th, 2009 (#)

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I guess it’s just a territorial issue. They’re just tryin to secure their space.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 6th, 2009 (#)

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They search around until they smell another dog

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 7th, 2009 (#)

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All that is true, you know about the scent and covering over another dog’s urine, but did you know that dominant males try to *** as high as they can on the side of a tree to show their superiority? We still have respect for you, little chiuauah.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 10th, 2009 (#)

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well they just pick a spot they think is right

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 12th, 2009 (#)

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My neighbors’ dogs know to go straight to MY yard:(

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 13th, 2009 (#)

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It depends on the type of dog. Hunting dogs typically go in the same place in their own territory or in out of the way places, such as tall grass, when elsewhere. Other types of dogs go periodically to “mark” where they’ve been (I’ve noticed this in smaller dogs) more frequently.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 17th, 2009 (#)

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It is similar to how we all relate to smells, environment, colors, style, communication - your pup uses the same traits to feel comfortable about going to the bathroom?

It has to be a spot that no other pup has “gone” on and left its mark. Have you heard about how cats make their mark in two ways; spraying and going to the “bathroom” continually on the same spot.

I hope that this helps and since I love animals, please give your pup a hug from me.

Powered by Yahoo Answers February 18th, 2009 (#)

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well my dog goes to number 1# on a newspaper and if she has to take a crap she sory of cries in a funny way