1) What is dog kicking? (Kicking the back foot in the dirt/grass)

It’s a human bear. While taking a walk, your dog suddenly kicks or scratches the ground with its hind feet in the dirt or grass. In particular, it is often performed as a “closing ritual” after defecation. From the guardian’s perspective, “Are you angry now?”, “Are you anxious about something?” You may want to.

To conclude, rear kicking is generally close to normal communication behavior. However, the meaning may vary depending on the situation. So today, I will not be rigid about “why we do it”, but instead exactly explain it by situation.

2) Reason 1) Marking (area display) upgraded version

Puppies communicate through smell. Also, there are areas on the soles (pads) of the feet that carry body odor, so scratching the floor with the hind feet has the effect of spreading the smell more widely. Dirt and grass retain a good odor, and as the dirt splashes, visual traces are left behind.

• A place with a lot of other dog smells(park/walkway/around electric poles)
• Immediately after a bowel movement (when the odor is strong)
• Unfamiliar Place (When you want to leave a message saying “I came here!”)

The point is communication rather than “domination”. It feels natural to leave a message like “I was here” or “This is the information for this area.”

3) Reason 2) Kicking on the heels after defecation: routine + pleasure

There are many dogs that kick their hind legs after defecating. Rather than simply “cleaning up because it’s dirty,” this often becomes a finishing routine. Just as humans shake their hands after finishing a task, dogs also say “Finish!” The signal is to kick with the back foot.

Furthermore, dirt/grass feels good to the touch, so the feeling of scratching itself is stimulating (fun). So, if a child is excited, he or she may say louder “Pappap!”, while a cautious child may end with a short “tuktuk”.

4) Reason 3) Relief of excitement and tension (energy discharge)

Walking is a time when dogs can easily experience ‘information overload.’ Smells, sounds, people, other dogs… As the stimulation builds up, at some point the hind foot may pop out like a short discharge button.

• Right after passing an unfamiliar dog
• After seeing sudden stimuli such as motorcycles/bicycles
• Days when caregiver tension was high (pulling the rope/hurried walking, etc.)

In this case, the child may suddenly paw at something unrelated to defecation. It’s good to understand it as a way to use your body to control emotional fluctuations, such as “I’m a little excited/nervous right now.”

5) Reason 4) “This place is good!” Tactile + playability

Some dogs enjoy grass or dirt like play. Scratching → splashing dirt → sniffing again → scratching again… This loop itself is fun.

In particular, if you see the combination below often, it is most likely because you are “just excited.”

• Kick your heels on the grass → Immediately Roll your body (rolling)
• Digging in the dirt → sticking your nose in searching for smell
• Suddenly after kicking with the back foot Jumies (crying)

6) Reason 5) Learned habits (response, success experience)

If the owner laughs at the paw print (“It’s cute!”) or if other dogs show interest in the trace, the dog can learn like this. “If you do this, something interesting will happen.”

Then, the rear kick becomes stronger “whenever the place is good” and “whenever the mood rises.” In particular, it may be seen more often if you are an active person or in an environment that stimulates a lot of walking.

7) When caution is required (check exceptions)

8) Similar behaviors (confusing ‘relative behavior’)

It is easier to understand if you look at the actions that frequently appear together with kicking.

• Forepaw digging: Check scent points deeper or indicate “here’s important”
• Rolling your body: soaking in scent/enjoying touch/relieving tension
• Urine marking: Message left by smell (especially on electric poles/trees)
• Grassing: ‘Frequency/situation’ is important as it ranges from simple taste to internal discomfort
• Scooting (butt dragging): May be a sign of anal gland/skin irritation, etc. check
• Jumizu (Udada, xx time): Excited discharge. If you get stuck after kicking with your heels, there is a chance that you will be “excited” ↑

9) Tips for managing reality when it’s too much (alternative actions)

Skidding is a normal behavior, but if it’s too extreme and you feel like it’s going to ruin the grass (yard/garden), be slippery (rainy days), or hurt your feet, it’s better to neatly control it with alternative behavior rather than just repeating “Don’t do it!”

1. Create an alternate spot: If you have a yard, create a sand/dirt box area on one side and allow “digging/stepping only here”
2. Brief break: Start kicking back → After 1-2 seconds, move to “come here” → If successful, treat/praise
3. Lowering the tension while walking: Organize your breathing with ‘sit-wait-let’ before a highly stimulating section
4. Manage foot condition: Long toenails can become more aggressive, so trim them regularly

10) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)