Dogs use Earth's magnetic fields to determine where to poop

A new study shares that dogs like to poop along magnetic north. Having frequently watched my dog scramble around looking for the perfect place to take a dump, I now understand.

Poop on, little Pretzel.

PBS:

The study suggests that dogs are sensitive to small variations in Earths magnetic field. After examining 70 dogs made up of 37 breeds over two years, 1,893 defecations and 5,582 urinations, researchers found that under calm magnetic field conditions, dogs preferred to excrete with the body being aligned along the north-south axis, avoiding east-west altogether. Dogs were observed in a free-roaming environment, meaning they were not leashed and not influenced by walls or roads that would influence linear movement.