Dogs poop in line with Earth’s magnetic field, says study

[ashling]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/02/dogs-poop-in-line-with-earths-magnetic-field-says-study/

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As to why the dogs prefer to poop facing north or south rather than east or west, that’s still a mystery.

“It is still enigmatic why the dogs do align at all, whether they do it ‘consciously’ (i.e., whether the magnetic field is sensorial perceived (the dogs ‘see,’ ‘hear’ or ‘smell’ the compass direction or perceive it as a haptic stimulus) or whether its reception is controlled on the vegetative level (they ‘feel better/more comfortable or worse/less comfortable’ in a certain direction),” wrote researchers, “Our analysis of the raw data (not shown here) indicates that dogs not only prefer N-S direction, but at the same time they also avoid E-W direction.”

The dogs did not exhibit the preference, however, when they were being walked on leashes. It was only when left to their own devices that they expressed the preference.

[NYC_SKP]

1. You mean to say that Dogs to it, too?

I thought it was just me!

I'm going to start bringing a compass when I walk Millie!

[liberal N proud]

2. My dog poops in parallel with the side walk

Weather that side walk is east or west or north or south.

[Scuba]

3. My dog violates this "rule" all the time. My observation is that she prefers to ...

... put her nose into the wind. I feel the same way.

[pinboy3niner]

4. Who said scientific research isn't glamourous? nt

[In_The_Wind]

6. Not me.

[magical thyme]

5. well, I had to watch my dog poop this afternoon after reading this

He was facing south/southeast, not due south. I think in the morning I've seen them poop north/northwest or possibly evenw west/northwest, not due north. So I'm concerned my dogs are a bit off....

On the other hand, when I walk them, they poop due north and south, cuz that's the way the road goes!

[ashling]

7. I let my dog out back and hollered after him

"remember, North-South"!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

9. Check your magnetic declenation. Your dog may be smarter than the people who built your roads.

[magical thyme]

12. ha! the article says they pee north/northwest, not due north!!!!

My dogs sure know their poops and pees!

[idendoit]

8. Could they still poop if you followed them with a magnet?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. My dog is 3 for 3 north south today.

[chungking34]

11. People actually research this stuff?

Mind-boggling, really.