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 Earth's 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.