Back Legs kicking after a wee...

Why do some dogs have a wee and then start kicking out their back legs and flicking all the mud and grass everywhere...is it a dominance thing? Our dog has never done this but has just started to do this after having a wee...it's almost like he's asserting his authority ...sorry but I don't know how else to describe what he's doing..I would imagine there's a proper name for this action he does..thanks.

Yep, thats him saying, "look here, Im here!"

Any reason he should start doing this now...or is he just getting more bossy as he gets older...thanks for your reply.

Dogs have sweat between their toes and this is a way of leaving a further mark.

Very common - Len and Mya both do it

Didn't know that..thanks

I've always understood that it's to draw attention to their urine scent, so ther dogs know they have been there.

its like leaving your calling card!!

Thanks...

I always understood it was an extra mark... until a few weeks ago when I handled a very stressed very upset and defensive rescue dog that had just come over from Ireland.

While staring me in the face, barking warningly, with extremely defensive body language he also kicked up his back legs as he did so. That's the first time I have ever seen the kicking up when it was not connected to a wee or poo!

It's now made me think a bit, that those dogs who do kick up are possibly slightly insecure and are literally, 'trying to make a mark'.... rather than trying to signify they are top of the heap.

If they were genuinely top of the heap, they probably wouldn't need to do that in the first place.

Perhaps the kicking up says: "Yes, I have been here... I don't know who you are, but I just want to let you know that if you do meet me, I'm not going to be too happy about it right now."

In that respect, could it even be a way of indicating to other dogs that an individual is somehow apologising for its actions?

(Just to add, I did manage to handle him successfully by using my own body language non-confrontationally, and he is now in a permanent home, and a lot more chilled than he was that day).

That's really interesting...thanks