Dogs Prefer to Poop Facing North/South Says Scientists — Does Your Dog?

In what may be a breakthrough in the study of magnetosensitivity in mammals, European scientists say they've found dogs prefer to poop aligned with the north/south magnetic axis, and hate pooping east to west.

Magnetosensitivity is an animal's ability to sense the Earth's magnetic fields. It is how birds are able to migrate thousands of miles. Dogs were not believed to have this ability.

After studying 70 dogs of 37 breeds for two years pooping nearly 2,000 times and peeing 5,500, the researchers felt comfortable concluding the dogs indeed have a preference in direction.

Start paying attention when your pet relieves themselves. Do they prefer to face north or south? Is that why they're always walking in circles first?