Why Does My Dog Look At Me While They Poop? - AnimalWised

Dogs preserve certain instinctive behaviors inherent in their species and passed down from their wild ancestry. In the wild, defecation is a delicate time for these animals. They are more vulnerable to environmental risks such as an attack by a predator or rival. In order to urinate or poop, they must assume a certain body position which takes effort and compromises their ability to escape quickly. The act of evacuating themselves will also distract their other senses and reduce alertness to their surroundings.

At these moments, a ‘surprise attack’ could be fatal. The position in which the dog holds themselves means they may not be able to defend adequately against an attacker. Escape is also made much more difficult. For this reason, animals usually search out safe spaces in which to meet their needs. These are places which are less exposed, hidden from others and where the animal knows a suitable escape route.

Looking vulnerable is often more frequent in generally fearful or insecure dogs. This insecurity can manifest in many ways, such as when dogs are afraid of people. More confident dogs will use their feces as a way to mark their territory and show dominance.

Although we may not think of our garden or the local dog park as a wild environment, our dogs may do so. They will often feel more vulnerable in these spaces, perhaps getting more confident the more they get used to them. When they poop in these places, they may look to you for reassurance that they are safe and no threats are present. A dog will often do this by looking at you out of the corner of their eye, but they equally might stare directly at you when they poop. This helps them feel more secure as you are their guardian who meets their needs in other ways (food, shelter, etc.).

When people ask themselves why do dogs look at you when they poop, many people think it is due to embarrassment. This is not the case. It is easy to understand why they think this. The expression dogs make when pooping often connotes embarrassment, as if they are ashamed of pooping outside. This is a misunderstanding of their communication.

A dog's body language involves postures, movements and facial expressions. The stare a dog gives when pooping is practical alertness, not a display of shame. Dogs are incapable of feeling shame in the same way as humans do and they would not feel embarrassment about pooping, something that is completely natural to them. They are certainly not ashamed for being watched by their trusted guardian.

It is this trusts which explains why dogs stare at you when they poop. When a dog has a healthy bond with their human, based on trust and affection, they want to look at you for reassurance. This is a practical reassurance against threat, not because they are worried about human constructions like social stigma.