what is it about dogs and perimeters of the yard

[GPzPop]

so my household includes two dogs. our household has a lovely dog- safe , medium sized, suburban back yard for them to have 24/7 access to.

the back yard has a grass lawn, and there is an 18” strip of dirt on all 4 sides.

The pups seem to prefer following around this strip of dirt at the perimeter, rather that going directly across the lawn in a straight path, when going from one side to the other, either at a relaxed pace or with heightened purpose.

they use the lawn portion also, for all the dog things.

I have noticed this behavior in other packs of dogs, like at my friends’ houses

dog sized perimeter racetracks

what has been your experience?

other funny dog behviors?

 

[gixxerjeff]

other funny dog behviors?

My dog has access to a huge back yard whenever the sun is up. (We bring her inside at night and she can come inside during the day whenever she wants to). Every day she goes to the same spot in the yard and fixates on imaginary objects. She will circle whatever it is, bark loudly in disapproval or "yip" what clearly are instructions. Her ears are perked up and her tail twitches in focused interest. She does this every day for hours on end and has done this as long as we've had her (9 years) in various yards where we have lived. As she is a Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix we are convinced she is herding imaginary animals. It's cute as hell yet a little baffling. It's a similar question to the OP.
WTF is she doing and why in the same spot when she has a football field sized yard to stomp around in?

 

[GPzPop]

My dog has access to a huge back yard whenever the sun is up. (We bring her inside at night and she can come inside during the day whenever she wants to). Every day she goes to the same spot in the yard and fixates on imaginary objects. She will circle whatever it is, bark loudly in disapproval or "yip" what clearly are instructions. Her ears are perked up and her tail twitches in focused interest. She does this every day for hours on end and has done this as long as we've had her (9 years) in various yards where we have lived. As she is a Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix we are convinced she is herding imaginary animals. It's cute as hell yet a little baffling. It's a similar question to the OP.
WTF is she doing and why in the same spot when she has a football field sized yard to stomp around in?

Your backyard is haunted ha ha

 

[littlebeast]

we had a great perimeter dog (pit / great dane mix). she was especially awesome when we were camping. she always took up a sentry position at the edge of our campsite nearest the closest of the other campers. she’d sit there watching them, and if they stood up, she’d stand up. ready. and when they sat down, she’d sit down again. eyes always on them. BEST. DOG. EVER.

miss that girl. :cry

 

[Pushrod]

My cat, a male Russian Blue, marks his turf on the fence between the neighbor's house and mine. The neighbor's yappy pup, when given outdoor access, zeros in on that exact spot daily.

I can only assume dogs have markers and indicators that you and I will never have access to.

 

[littlebeast]

My cat, a male Russian Blue, marks his turf on the fence between the neighbor's house and mine. The neighbor's yappy pup, when given outdoor access, zeros in on that exact spot daily.

I can only assume dogs have markers and indicators that you and I will never have access to.

urine is like a land surveyors flag in the animal world. establishes the property line lol. only issue is they settle disputes by pissing on each other’s piss. probably the origination of the ‘pissing contest’ term. last squirt owns it :laughing

 

[CABilly]

My dog has access to a huge back yard whenever the sun is up. (We bring her inside at night and she can come inside during the day whenever she wants to). Every day she goes to the same spot in the yard and fixates on imaginary objects. She will circle whatever it is, bark loudly in disapproval or "yip" what clearly are instructions. Her ears are perked up and her tail twitches in focused interest. She does this every day for hours on end and has done this as long as we've had her (9 years) in various yards where we have lived. As she is a Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix we are convinced she is herding imaginary animals. It's cute as hell yet a little baffling. It's a similar question to the OP.
WTF is she doing and why in the same spot when she has a football field sized yard to stomp around in?

Not sure how much of a thing it is but I read back when we got our first dog that their hearing is so good they can hear bugs in and below the grass. Maybe there’s an ant colony or rodent den or something else in that spot.

 

[mean dad]

I had a landscape designer tell me that if you have dogs, plan on having a one-to-two foot wide hard dirt path for them to walk around on the perimeter of the yard.
They're going to patrol anyway, might as well make it easy for them and keep your plants and whatnot out of the way.

Once I decide to pull the trigger on my backyard I'll be incorporating that idea.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Not sure how much of a thing it is but I read back when we got our first dog that their hearing is so good they can hear bugs in and below the grass. Maybe there’s an ant colony or rodent den or something else in that spot.

That actually makes more sense than anything I have heard or considered. :thumbup

 

[Maddevill]

My dog has access to a huge back yard whenever the sun is up. (We bring her inside at night and she can come inside during the day whenever she wants to). Every day she goes to the same spot in the yard and fixates on imaginary objects. She will circle whatever it is, bark loudly in disapproval or "yip" what clearly are instructions. Her ears are perked up and her tail twitches in focused interest. She does this every day for hours on end and has done this as long as we've had her (9 years) in various yards where we have lived. As she is a Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix we are convinced she is herding imaginary animals. It's cute as hell yet a little baffling. It's a similar question to the OP.
WTF is she doing and why in the same spot when she has a football field sized yard to stomp around in?

Ghosts. You should move. :teeth
Mad

 

[Maddevill]

Our 2 dawgs have an acre to wander around in. They're always doing " funny" things. This morning I discovered that they had uncovered the wood pile we were keeping dry so we could burn it. It's now soaking wet.....hilarious....

Mad

 

[afm199]

My two previous pits never left a path. The current one, Streak, never goes into the yard except to poop. Her path is well marked.

 

[Climber]

Dogs will always mark the perimeter of their territory.
Then, every time they go outside they'll check to make sure other dogs or animals haven't come along to spray over their markers.
It's a dog thing, especially with male dogs.

 

[Map8]

The perimeter is where all the good sniffins are.