What latent instinct drives my pup to “ACT” like she is covering her poop? Whenever I take her out, she gives a few half-hearted kicks with her back legs in the general direction of the poo pile. Do doggies in the wild cover their poop, and why?
I’ve never seen a dog do that. Are you certain that what you have is not an overgrown, badly deformed cat?
It’s a scent-marking ordeal. Most dogs will do this. Poop leaves a very strong scent marker to other critters (“Yo, this is my pad, keep out or ah’ll bust a tooth in yo’ tail!”), and scratching up the grass near it not only can attract a bit of extra attention in the area by scratching up grass hither and yon, but the scent glands between their toes can also mark a little bit extra information-wise. At least, that’s what I’ve read in many various dog behaviour books…it’s still a territorial thing.
Toaster said, “…it’s still a territorial thing” and that’s what the books say it is. It is really quite a sight to see since I never can figure out how my dogs decide which way the wind is blowing and which way to scratch the ground to move the scent. I think in poodles and labs the genetic trait has taken a turn around the bend, the way they scratch never makes sence to me and they often do is from several feet away!
BTW, a friend calls her dog “Toaster” because he keeps popping up, we’ve seen him clear a sofa back!
Jois
That’s funny. After Spot the Wonderpup makes a poop, he runs away from it as fast as he can. “It wasn’t me!!”
Ah, probably that is what will happen with poodles and labs in the near future.
Jois
my greyhound does this, and it’s no fun if you happen to be behind him when he “scratches”. those long legs can send poop, dirt and grass flying for 7-8 feet!!
Wesley, my elder sheepie, kicks after he poops. He also waddles forward slowly while he poops, so as to leave a “trail” rather than a “pile”.
Max, my younger sheepie, shortly comes along and tries to eat Wesley’s poop. 
And then he’ll refuse to eat his heartworm pills 'cuz they don’t taste good. 