The short answer: kicking the grass after pooping is normal, and it is your dog leaving a message. It is not an attempt to bury the poop or cover it up. Dogs have scent glands in their paw pads, and a few backward kicks press that scent into the ground and spread the smell around. The visible scratch marks are part of it too — a signpost other dogs can see as well as smell. It is instinct, it is healthy, and it does not need to be trained out.
It is only worth a closer look when the kicking looks painful, frantic, or tied to trouble going to the toilet — more on that below.
What the kicking is really for
Scent from the paws. Dogs have glands between and around their paw pads that release their own scent. Scratching the ground works that scent into the earth, layered on top of the poop and any urine nearby. It is a stronger, longer-lasting signal than the poop alone.
A message for other dogs. Urine and poop smells fade fairly fast. A patch of scratched-up ground lasts longer and is easy to spot, so it acts as a marker that says “I was here.” Dogs are more likely to kick when other dogs are around or when they are near the edge of a territory.
Not covering up. It is easy to read the motion as tidying up, the way a cat buries waste. It is the opposite. Your dog is drawing attention to the spot, not hiding it.
Is it normal?
For the most part, yes — completely. It is one of the most ordinary dog behaviours there is, more common in some dogs than others, and nothing to correct. A dog that kicks a few times, then trots on happily, is simply being a dog.
You may see it more in confident dogs, in intact (not neutered) dogs, and in places your dog visits often, like your own street or a regular park. All of that is expected.
When to pay closer attention
The kicking itself is rarely the problem. What is worth watching is the toileting around it, or signs the movement hurts:
- Straining or trouble pooping before the kicking, or very loose or bloody stool — that points to a tummy or gut issue, not the kicking.
- The kicking looks painful or stiff, your dog yelps, or seems reluctant to push off a back leg — worth a vet check for a joint or paw problem.
- Sore, cracked, or bleeding paw pads from scratching on rough ground like gravel or hot pavement.
- Frantic, non-stop scratching at the ground or at their own rear, which can mean itch, irritation, or full anal glands rather than normal marking.
In each of these it is the extra sign — the straining, the limp, the sore pad — that matters, not the kick on its own.
Should you stop it?
Usually there is no need. It is natural and harmless on grass or soft ground. Step in only if your dog is kicking up gravel, hot tarmac, or something sharp that could hurt their pads, in which case gently move them on to a softer spot before they start.
If you are still building good walk habits, our guide to why your dog only poops on walks covers the toileting side of the routine.
The bigger picture
Kicking is one small part of how dogs read and mark the world through smell — the same drive behind sniffing, marking, and choosing exact spots. Scent hounds show it strongly; a Beagle, bred to follow its nose, will often put real effort into the kick.
A good walk gives your dog room for all of this without rushing. The walk-length calculator helps set a length that fits your dog’s age, breed, and fitness, so there is time to sniff, go, and leave their mark.
For the research behind our behaviour and health advice, see our sources.