

Sensory: Sensory behaviors are behaviors that are automatically reinforced.In this case, the function of the staring is to receive the treat after defecating. An example would be a dog who gets a treat every time he poops outside.

Tangible: Dog receives something tangible from the owner.Further, if the dog has been scolded for defecating in a different context, negative attention may be the reason that he is performing this behavior. If the dog gets attention every time it looks at the owner, he may simply be performing two tasks at the same time in which one occurs directly after the other: pooping and seeking attention. dog gets rewarded for “checking in” during training lessons, etc.), the behavior may be due to attention. Attention: If making eye contact with the owner has been previously reinforced (i.e.Escape: A fearful or anxious dog may feel comforted by the sight of the owner when in a vulnerable position.This is especially true if this behavior is attributed to a past experience of a similar context.When theoretically applying these functions to the context, here is what we may find: The basis of all functionally significant behavior is escape, attention, tangibility, and sensory input. There are only two ways to definitively know for sure: ask the dog, or perform a functional analysis, which is an applied behavior analysis technique that is used to collect data on and determine the function of a behavior. Nicholas DeRoma, Veterinary Technologist, Canine Behavior Specialist And Consultant For In this article, we asked five experts to give their insight into why dogs stare at their owners when they poop. I assumed that my mini huskies stare at me because they’re looking for me to keep an eye out for any potential threats. My Alaskan Klee Kai always hold my stare when they’re doing their business, whether we’re in the garden or walking in a our neighborhood.Ī lot of dog owners will have experienced this awkward moment at some point in their time being a pet parent. Does your dog stare at you when they poop?
