Did you know? Many dogs kick backward as a way of marking their territory. The kicking motion spreads pheromones from their paws to the surrounding area, helping to establish their presence and deter other dogs from their space. This behavior is also thought to be an instinctual behavior that dates back to their wild ancestors, who would use scent marking to claim territory and attract a mate. (Interesting but we saw a young male leopard exhibit this same behavior after marking a spot.) When walking your dog, give your pup time to do the kickies so as not to be sprayed with a dust cloud or worse when picking up the mess.
