Dogs use their whole body to communicate, and most dedicated pet owners can identify how their dog is feeling by their body language. But sometimes they may surprise us with movements that don\u2019t seem to make any sense, such as a seemingly random kick of their back legs.<\/p>\n
Why do dogs kick out their back legs?<\/p>\n
Dogs kick their legs out to mark their territory, during sleep, out of excitement or from a possible medical issue in the joints. Hip dysplasia, degenerative joint disease, seizures, nerve damage, or muscle spasms can all result in seemingly sudden leg kicks. In most cases, it’s just a dog’s way of claiming their turf.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n As you can see, there are many reasons a dog may kick their legs, so let\u2019s examine each one closer to discover why.<\/p>\n\n Possibly the most common reason dogs kick their back legs is to mark their territory. This is usually seen after they use the restroom but can be done at any time. Dogs have glands in their back feet that they use to spread their scent, either to warn others away or to let other dogs know of their presence in an unthreatening way.<\/p>\n There is also evidence that they may use kicking as a visual show of dominance to other nearby dogs. In a study on free-ranging dogs<\/a> it was found that scent marking is more likely to occur in the presence of other dogs.<\/p>\n Dogs communicate with each other and interpret their surroundings largely through their sense of smell. It makes sense that they would try to mark their territory as much as possible by kicking their feet.<\/p>\n Like people, dogs use their whole body to convey their excitement. Some dogs jump around, some dogs get the zoomies<\/a>, and some dogs may kick their back legs out! This is usually paired with other signs of excitement like a wagging tail and bouncy body language. Your dog may also lay on the ground and kick their legs to ask for play time or belly rubs. But if it\u2019s time for dinner or you just mentioned the \u201cw\u201d word, your dog\u2019s leg kicks may just be their way of showing how excited they are!<\/p>\n Just like humans, dogs experience sleep cycles throughout the night. These stages are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM)<\/a>. Most of the time is spent in NREM sleep, during which our brain activity slows down to allow our bodies to rest and rebuild themselves. However, during REM sleep, our brain activity lights up again even though we are still sleeping. This brain activity is the most likely cause of dreams.<\/p>\n Dr. Stanley Coren, a leading psychologist in the study of canine minds, believes that dogs do dream like humans during REM sleep<\/a>, although their sleep cycles are much shorter<\/a> than ours. It is also believed that dogs dream about what they have experienced throughout the day, so a dog that was very active that day may have dreams about running and playing.<\/p>\n So why do they sometimes kick during their dreams?<\/p>\n It\u2019s all due to a part in our brainstems called the pons. This structure is responsible for our unconscious processes, including the sleep cycle. During REM sleep, the pons paralyzes our bodies so we can\u2019t act out our dreams. Sometimes signals from the brain still make it through the pons\u2019s barrier, especially in young puppies that may still be developing, or senior dogs where the pons may not be as effective. This results in the legs kicking like they are running!<\/p>\n A particular itch may be a reason for a kick as well. If a dog\u2019s back legs are itchy, their front paws can\u2019t reach the spot, so they resort to kicking out their legs to try to relieve the discomfort. This is commonly seen in dogs that have a skin infection<\/a> or chronically dry or itchy skin. It’s also common to see in dogs with infected ears which may also get the attention of some other pups<\/a>.<\/p>\n You may have also noticed your dog kicking rapidly when you scratch a certain spot on their body, usually the belly. This is called a scratch reflex and is an involuntary motion that is believed to protect your dog from dangerous insects or other irritants.<\/p>\n Under the skin is a cluster of nerves. These nerves react to touch, which sends a message straight to the back legs to kick out and scratch at the feeling.<\/p>\n A dog\u2019s scratch reflex is present from a very young age, as you can see in the video below of a puppy demonstrating the involuntary action. Whether it\u2019s involuntary or they are actively trying to relieve their itch, your dog\u2019s kicking legs could be a way for them to scratch themselves.<\/p>\nReason 1: To Mark Their Territory<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Reason 2: They Are Excited<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nThis may not be the case for every dog, of course.<\/p>\nReason 3: They Are Dreaming<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Reason 4: They are Scratching<\/h2>\n