Does your shih tzu walk in circles before deciding to do their business? My female shih tzu, Alaska, will spend what seems like five or ten minutes spinning before finally settling on her preferred spot. Although this circling is a breed characteristic, it’s a fairly common behavior in all breeds and mixes of dogs.
In an attempt to understand the reasons behind this peculiar behavior, we spoke with five experts to learn more. We’ll hear from veterinarians, dog behavior specialists, dog daycare managers, and licensed veterinary technicians in our quest to get an answer as to why shih tzus circle before peeing or pooping.
Connected to Magnetic ForceThere are a few possible reasons why our canine friends spin in circles before doing their business. We can’t know for sure what’s going on in a shih tzu’s mind, but many dog behaviorists have put forth some theories.
First come the experts who believe that shih tzus may circle in an attempt to tread on the grass around them. This might make it easier for the dog to go to the bathroom on a flatter surface, without the chance of waste.
The next possibility is that shih tzus are surveying the area for potential threats. Things like snakes and other small animals could be lurking in the grass, stealthily approaching a dog when they least expect it.
The last possibility, and possibly the most interesting, is the potential for shih tzus to prefer facing certain directions when going to the bathroom. Recent studies have shown that shih tzus are more likely to be facing north or south when doing their business. Some believe this is linked to magnetic force in certain areas, but research is still ongoing.
Stepping on Grass
When we take our shih tzus for a walk and suddenly stop to “go number 1 or number 2,” you may notice that they always do something strange; they spin in a circle before they pee or poop. I often find this strangely amusing, but our dogs have some good reasons for this peculiar behavior.
They may be treading the grass around them. Our dog isn’t just going number 1 or 2 to relieve themselves; they’re also marking their territory. And if they’re going on the grass, their scent may not travel as far because the grass may be blocking the wind carrying their scent.
So, what they do is take a few extra steps around the chosen spot to flatten the grass. That way, their scent will be carried as far as possible so that other dogs know they’ve been there. Plus, it’s a bit cleaner and more comfortable for them this way. Pretty cool, right?
But that’s not all that goes through our shih tzu’s mind when they’re doing their business; they also spin a few times to check for predators or threats since they’ll be in a vulnerable state for a few seconds. So, they might make a few quick circles just to make sure there’s nothing around that could harm them. That way, they can do their business peacefully and know they’ll be safe for those moments.
Now, this last reason why our shih tzu spins in circles may be a bit surprising. They’re aligning their internal compass to face a certain direction. Yes, believe it or not, our dogs prefer a certain direction when they go and have the ability to sense whether they’re aligned from north to south or east to west. During a webinar for shelter volunteers a few years ago, a group of researchers studied the bathroom habits of about 70 dogs for two whole years, and what they found was that dogs generally prefer a north-south alignment when going number 2. Facing the same direction when they go can help them find other places they’ve marked in the past.
Now, no matter which of these three things your dog is thinking about when they go to the bathroom, there’s one thing you can take away from all of this. Be patient with your shih tzu when they’re doing their business. It’s a process for them, and they have reasons for doing what they do, so let them follow their natural instincts.
Helps with Material Circulation Through IntestinesWatching a picky shih tzu wander in search of the perfect potty spot can drive you crazy, but there’s more to this behavior than you might think. In fact, several things happen when your dog is getting ready to do their business (assuming the situation isn’t urgent). Once you know what to look for, you can actually learn to predict what your dog is about to do in time to intervene, if necessary!
To understand why your shih tzu often walks in circles before peeing or pooping, we need to describe what’s going on during the typical potty sequence, and it all starts with the smelling phase. As social animals, dogs excrete many pheromones in their urine and feces that other animals can sniff and “read,” almost like leaving a note on a neighborhood bulletin board. Before your dog is ready to deposit their “message,” they’ll use their sense of smell to get the lay of the land and often wander from smell to smell while doing so. So, one of the reasons you’ll see your shih tzu circling before going to the bathroom is because they’re “reading” interesting scents!When your pup sniffs the message left by another animal, it often prompts them to leave a message in return, either by marking the spot (peeing or pooping directly on the object that was marked by the other animal’s scent) or by going to the bathroom nearby, almost like leaving a note saying “Buster was here!” Veterinary technicians like me leverage this normal canine behavior in the clinic when we need to collect urine or fecal samples, and most veterinary hospitals have a richly scented community yard that we use to inspire dogs to make a liquid or solid donation!
But there’s another reason for this circling behavior, and it’s not just a way for your dog to torture you in the winter. Most healthy dogs can urinate or pee almost on command with just a little “inspiration,” as long as there’s something in their bladder. But almost all dogs need to walk at least a few meters before defecating or pooping, and some need to circle for what seems like an eternity. So, what’s going on here?
If you look closely at your shih tzu while they sniff and prepare to poop, you’ll notice how relaxed they are compared to a dog that’s hunting a hot scent. They walk slowly and move their hips loosely from side to side, and puppies often sway dramatically as they circle. It almost can feel like they’re slowly wagging their tail, swaying their hips and hind legs.
This uncontrolled and funny-looking walk actually aids in your shih tzu’s digestion and the movement of material through their intestines and colon. The swaying and sharp circle spinning cause the abdominal muscles to contract and relax, pushing fecal matter toward the anus, where it can be evacuated!In fact, the term potty walk is quite fitting! The acts of standing up and walking are very important for healthy canine intestinal motility, which is the complex process that pushes food and eventually poop through the digestive tract. When a dog loses mobility due to an injury or chronic issue like arthritis, they often develop constipation problems because their digestive tract moves more slowly with less activity.
As a veterinary technician, one of my responsibilities was to get dogs up and walking after surgery to help restore the movement of their digestive tracts (which also slows down while the dog is under anesthesia).
If your dog wanders in endless circles instead of going to the bathroom, it may be that they’re simply not ready to go, but it could also be an indication that they’re having digestive issues. Often, you can promote defecation in a slow defecator by having them walk around for a bit longer before they can sniff and circle. When you see your new puppy wandering in those loose, lazy circles with their nose down, you can be sure they’re getting ready to leave you a solid or liquid present!
Makes Peeing and Pooping Easier
Many shih tzu breed dogs circle trying to get into the correct position when peeing and pooping. Circling also helps increase GI motility and makes it easier for them to poop. I think smaller shih tzus tend to circle more just before pooping and peeing to help them poop or pee more easily.
Finding a Safe Spot
Whenever my female dog feels the need to pee, she has the instinct to circle around the area and return to the same spot 2 to 3 times before allowing herself to do it. They want to feel comfortable and ensure it’s a safe spot.