Today when I was walking my dog I noticed him "scratching" the ground after urinating. Of course I have seen him do this several times, but today I startet to wonder why he actually does that. I've always automatically believed it is to cover their urnine or dirt, but that doesnt make since when they want other dogs to smell their markings which is the whole point of marking. I was wondering if you know about the reason for this behaviour, and if wolves do this aswell?
Yes! Wolves does this aswell! Dogs actually inherited this behaviour from wolves.
Many of you have probably seen dogs preform this act where they scrape the ground with their hind legs, and somethimes also the front legs.
As you suspected this isn’t something wolves or dogs do to cover their markings. This behaviour, called scraping is actually a way of marking or showing dominance. Wolves and dogs have scent glands between their paw pads that leave scent when they exhibit this behaviour.
I wish I had a GIF or something to illustrate this, lol.