# Reason for this dog behavior? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 18, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844 "2009-08-18T14:51:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/1 "2009-08-18T14:51:50Z")
My dog loves to go out but sometimes she runs to the door , goes out on the deck and in 2 seconds decides she wants to come back in. Any reason for such a quick change of plans? ---
**Author:** ![leandroc76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@leandroc76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leandroc76)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/2 "2009-08-18T15:01:42Z")
If the dog is anything like ours, she doesn’t like to be alone! ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/3 "2009-08-18T15:24:40Z")
And if the dog is anything like ours, it’s because she’s an idiot ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/4 "2009-08-18T15:53:52Z")
And if the dog is anything like ours, its because she doesn’t want to be a lonely idiot. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/5 "2009-08-18T16:32:24Z")
I find sometimes my dogs will go to the back door to be let out when they get all worked up and don’t know what they want. For example, we feed them twice a day, and while they are pretty good at knowing when it’s time for us to “do the needful” sometimes they get the dinner bug early and prance around to get our attention. We usually ignore them, so they will go hang out at the back door. We let them out, they run for a few seconds then come back to the door. I don’t know if it’s a case of: 1 - “I need to do something, what should I do, oh nope running’s not it, lemme back in!” 2 - “Hey now that you’re up how about the noms?” 3 - “I went outside, now I came back in, apparently something has changed in the continuum. Is it perhaps time for a meal now?” 4 - “I’m an idiot” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/6 "2009-08-18T16:35:44Z")
My dog knows she gets a treat or praise when she goes out and then returns (typically after eliminating). Sometimes when she is “bored” she “asks” to be let out and then turns immediately around and comes in. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/7 "2009-08-18T17:04:42Z")
I usually assume my dog goes out and decides it’s too hot to be out (since we have central air) and that’s what changes her mind. In the winter, she might come in because it’s too windy…but rarely because it’s too cold. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/8 "2009-08-18T18:37:29Z")
The explanation for about 30% of all dog behavior is “dogs are not real bright”. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/9 "2009-08-18T20:58:08Z")
I’m betting on boredom, it could be just something to do. Kinda like getting up from the couch, looking into the fridge, realizing you’re not really all that hungry, and going back to the couch again. She could probably benefit from a new toy, or some “fetch” time. Or maybe one of those kongs you can hide a treat in. Or you could be misreading the request. If you open the door she’ll obediently go out, but when she gets back is she still looking for your attention? What else might she be asking for? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/10 "2009-08-18T21:30:42Z")
Sometimes two seconds on the deck is all you need. Then you realize your bowl is indoors and food might have appeared in it during your absence. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/11 "2009-08-18T21:53:08Z")
What? A dog can’t change his mind? Or maybe he’s getting senile like me. Half the time I walk into a room and forgot what I went in for. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/12 "2009-08-18T22:17:42Z")
Ok, so this thread has pretty much run its course. So, how about weighing in on this question that I’ll just tack on here: Why do dogs do that little kicking of dirt over their leavings? I used to think it was some atavistic behavior related to covering up any evidence of their presence, but dogs have pretty good noses. Their ancestors would have had to first dig a big hole, do their thing, and cover it up with lots and lots and lots of dirt for it to be undetectable. So maybe my theory was wrong to begin with. Any real ideas about the roots of this behavior? What do evolutionary biologists think? ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/13 "2009-08-18T22:21:06Z")
> [@CC](#): > > Ok, so this thread has pretty much run its course. So, how about weighing in on this question that I’ll just tack on here: Why do dogs do that little kicking of dirt over their leavings? I used to think it was some atavistic behavior related to covering up any evidence of their presence, but dogs have pretty good noses. Their ancestors would have had to first dig a big hole, do their thing, and cover it up with lots and lots and lots of dirt for it to be undetectable. So maybe my theory was wrong to begin with. Any real ideas about the roots of this behavior? What do evolutionary biologists think? I have heard it’s not covering it up but spreading it out, fiving them a bigger scent footprint so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/14 "2009-08-19T00:29:54Z")
Actually, I’m pretty sure that they have scent glands in their feet, too, so they’re leaving scent markers with their feet (reinforcing the scent of their pee/poo). ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/15 "2009-08-19T01:19:53Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > My dog knows she gets a treat or praise when she goes out and then returns (typically after eliminating). Sometimes when she is “bored” she “asks” to be let out and then turns immediately around and comes in. Oh yeah- Angus would try to fake us out to get treats. He’d give you that look that said “What? I went out. I peed. Where’s my treat?” And I would find myself standing in my family room talking to a dog about “Oh no you didn’t! I was standing right here and watched you step outside, wait 10 seconds, then come back in! I’m no idiot! Wait…” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-for-this-dog-behavior/506844/16 "2009-08-19T14:22:40Z")
> [@toadspittle](#): > > Actually, I’m pretty sure that they have scent glands in their feet, too, so they’re leaving scent markers with their feet (reinforcing the scent of their pee/poo). Whoa - scent glands?? in their feet? Are you saying that dogs pick up scents with their feet? Never heard of such a thing. _Leaving_ scent with their feet, now that makes sense. Can you clarify this?