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Have you noticed your female dog kick after peeing? What on earth would cause her to do this? Isn’t it just male dogs that kick after peeing?
If you’re asking these questions, you’ve come to the right place. It can be confusing when our canine companions develop what we consider odd behaviors! Rest assured you’re not the first person to ask this question.
We’ve put together some information on what causes a female dog to kick after peeing. Let’s get started!
Why Does My Female Dog Kick After Peeing?
Female dogs kick after peeing because this is normal dog behavior! While it seems strange to us, to a dog, it’s entirely normal! Dogs kicking after they pee may have many purposes, and it’s an instinctive action.
What’s more, kicking their feet after going to the bathroom spreads more scent than their urine or poop! A dog’s scent contains pheromones that carry messages for other dogs.
Dogs may kick after peeing for these reasons:
Marking territory: dogs have scent glands in their paws and pads that are used to mark their territory. This is true for both domesticated and wild canines.
Burying or spreading waste: a female dog may also kick after peeing to scatter the urine or waste. She may even try to bury it. This helps to spread her scent even more than just kicking.
Wiping her paws: is another reason a female dog may kick her feet after peeing. She may be wiping urine off the bottoms of her paws.
Ready to mate: a female dog may also kick after peeing to alert nearby male dogs that she’s ready to mate. Her pheromones will be stronger from kicking and carry the message that she’s in heat.
What if Your Dog’s Kicking is Damaging the Yard?
In most cases, there’s no cause to be concerned that your dog is kicking her feet after peeing. This is normal canine behavior. However, it may be that your fur baby is also destroying your yard in the process. So, what can you do?
You may be able to distract your dog with her favorite toy. Take it out when she’s heading to go potty and when she’s done, start playing with her! She may forget all about kicking! The goal is to redirect your canine companion’s attention, so she forgets about kicking after urinating.
In addition, you may want to consider taking your female dog out for more walks. It may also be possible to set aside part of the yard for your dog and train her to go potty there. That will save the rest of your yard from being torn up.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSumming It Up
If your female dog is kicking after peeing, this is normal behavior. So, there’s no need to worry! And if she’s tearing up your yard, try distracting her or setting aside a part of the yard and training her to go there instead!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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