Hiding the evidence

[Nemo]

I've noticed Nemo exhibiting this behavior on several occasions and I'm curious if anyone else's basenji does the same:

After he finishes pooping, he will move foward a step or so and push he back feet backwards as if to bury or cover the poo. Usually he does this if he is in the woods when we go up North but he did it yesterday in the yard. I wonder if they used to "hide the evidence" when they were more in the wild….:p

[basenji_fan]

It's not a behavior of hiding the evidence this is a scent marking behavior

[wrx227wrc]

Oh yes! Piggy will cover her poop with sand using her nose. GROSS! I do think that is just because they are clean and tidy dogs.

[mauigirl]

Zippy does that too and sometimes immediately after the pawing the ground she….how do I describe this.....it looks like she wants to play, she darts side to side really quickly low to the ground and looks around like "bring it, you'll never catch me". I always brace for this when she's on leash.

[etzbseder]

It is not at all uncommon for some breeds to do this behavior. Huskies will do this regularly, as well as many other breeds. I am inclined to believe that it's a scent thing, but I don't know for sure. All I know is that your dog is FAR from the only one.

[Jylly18]

Tosca does not do that, but after going she will push off with her back legs against the grass, almost as if to clean off her paws…even if they are not remotely dirty! Where do you go up North? My grandparents have a cottage near Crandon, I love going up there!

[tanza]

@Jylly18:

Tosca does not do that, but after going she will push off with her back legs against the grass, almost as if to clean off her paws…even if they are not remotely dirty! Where do you go up North? My grandparents have a cottage near Crandon, I love going up there!

That is scent marking. And many B's (and other dogs) will try and cover their "poop"… and that is really more to "hide" the scent, not mark it.... Many wild animals do this to try and hide the fact that they are in the area, especially Mom's with Babies. Same as bitch will clean up after their babies by eating or licking up their waste.

Also, many Basenji bitches will "barf" their own food for pups to eat... again something that is done in the wild

[Nemo]

@Jylly18:

Where do you go up North? My grandparents have a cottage near Crandon, I love going up there!

Up to Norway MI to visit my DP's family on the Menominee River.

[Nemo]

@tanza:

And many B's (and other dogs) will try and cover their "poop"… and that is really more to "hide" the scent, not mark it.... Many wild animals do this to try and hide the fact that they are in the area, especially Mom's with Babies.

When I was looking into Pharoah Hounds, coprophagia was mentioned as a particular issue with the breed likely because of that same reason. Ick!

[tanza]

@Nemo:

When I was looking into Pharoah Hounds, coprophagia was mentioned as a particular issue with the breed likely because of that same reason. Ick!

It is a pretty natural thing to do…. for all bitches.... really it is the ones that don't that becomes a problem, as it shows they really are not good Mom....

[wizard]

EL D often will try and cover his poop when we go on walks but not in our own yard (though usually he'd rather poop on a walk than in the yard :)). Once he hides his droppings then he tries to run away as fast as he can - of course I still have to clean up after him so he always gives me this nasty look, like "leave it - hurry let's go before the cops come".