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Does your dog give you a creepy stare when he’s pooping?
This intense eye contact is a little disturbing to say the least, but there’s a very good reason for it.
It’s not because he’s embarrassed — he doesn’t want you to look away while he’s doing his business.
According to Dr. Kathryn Primm, a practicing veterinarian and practice owner in the US, it’s all to do with vulnerability.
Pooping is a risky job. In the wild, defecation is often when an animal is at its most vulnerable because it makes fighting or fleeing very difficult (just imagine running away when you’re in the middle of a number two).
Because dogs are pack animals — and you’re ‘top dog’ — they look to you for danger signals when they’re vulnerable.
Your dog might also expect you to defend him if the situation arises.
So if you suddenly jump away or start shouting and running, you can bet your dog will stop pooping and follow suit. The same reason also explains why some dogs won’t defecate with anyone watching or if they’re on a leash.
So there you have it. Don’t say we never teach you anything, folks.