Anyone who has ever owned a dog knows that they like to go around in circles a few times before they defecate. One of the possible explanations for this odd behavior is that they want to stomp down grass (rearange their bathroom) in order to have a place to do what needs to be done.

Moreover, their wild ancestors lived among tall vegatation and developed this instinctive behavior to maintain hygiene while taking a poop, so circling around is basically inherent to dogs.

Another explanation is that doggies circle in order to be able to spot any potential threats and dangers, and make sure their poop place is safe. Basically, they need to circle around because dogs are very vulnerable to attack while squatting. Despite the fact that nothing will happen to them while using the ‘toilet’, they simply can’t stop doing it. Besides, if they feel threatened, they may want to find a more secure location before answering to nature’s call.

Here are some experts who will explain the strange phenomenon: