Thread: Dogs defecate in accordance with earth's magnetic field, research finds

Dogs defecate in accordance with earth's magnetic field, research finds
A scientific study has revealed that dogs adapt their excremental habits to align with the planet's geomagnetic field. Here's how they worked it out

For years, scientists have known that several species spontaneously align their bodies with the earth’s magnetic field when engaging in certain behaviours.

Now, a team of 12 scientists from universities in Germany and the Czech Republic have come together in a unique study that observed 37 breeds of dog over a two-year period.

Exactly 1,893 defecations and 5,582 urinations later, the team reach one incredible finding: "dogs preferred to excrete with the body being aligned along the north–south axis".

Before you grab your schnitzel and a clipboard, here's how the scientists work it out.

Method

In open fields, away from manmade structures and off the leash, the alignment of dogs’ spines was recorded using a hand-held compass.

The breed of the dog, its sex, age, body mass and condition were recorded as well as the date, time and location.

We’ve included a sample of the male dogs' behaviour here. It’s impossible to say what was wrong with M07.


The researchers then monitored the proportion of those urinations and defecations that were aligned with the earth’s north-south axis.

dogs defecating research
If you don't understand the graphic, it may be that you need to get yourself a PhD. Photograph: /Hart et al
Results

Dogs join cattle, roe deer, red deer, hunting red foxes, red foxes, coyotes and grey wolves as yet another mammal to have a mechanism of "magnetoreception".

Although their altered behaviour was only evident under calm conditions, it’s still a breakthrough in demonstrating measurable, predictable changes in dog behaviour in response to the earth’s magnetic field.

And before you go pointing any fingers, this isn’t made up (although it’s not clear how George Arnett found it online) and you can see some of their findings for yourself here

Dogs defecate in accordance with earth's magnetic field, research finds | News | theguardian.com

...I mean who pays for this and what's slaps excuse?

Originally Posted by Smug Farang Bore

...I mean who pays for this excuse?

Broadly speaking? You do. And all other tax payers.

..... And next up.... "Do bears shit in the woods?"

You dont find it amazing that dogs have some sort of sense of the earth's magnetic field?

Originally Posted by kingwilly

You dont find it amazing that dogs have some sort of sense of the earth's magnetic field?

Felines are probably more connected in this way.
And they have dignity to cover their duty.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

You dont find it amazing that dogs have some sort of sense of the earth's magnetic field?

Not really when we know that people are affected by the moon.

At the University of Miami, psychologist Arnold Lieber and his colleagues decided to test the old belief of full-moon 'lunacy' which most scientists had written off as an old wives' tale. The researchers collected data on homicide in Dade County (Miami) over a period of 15 years -- 1,887 murders, to be exact. When they matched the incidence of homicide with the phases of the moon, they found, much to their surprise, that the two rose and fell together, almost infallibly, for the entire 15 years! As the full or the new moon approached, the murder rate rose sharply; it distinctly declined during the first and last quarters of the moon.

Full Moon & Human Behavior

Myth. A link from inner self.com is not evidence.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

You dont find it amazing that dogs have some sort of sense of the earth's magnetic field?

It's amazing we don't have it. A couple of magnetic crumbs in the inner ear would do the job, as it does for gravity. But it's a sense that can be acquired.

They defecate in accordance with gravity too. Go figure.

Interesting story though.

Originally Posted by Rainfall

It's amazing we don't have it.

Originally Posted by Rainfall

But it's a sense that can be acquired.

So, which is it?

KW,

Indonesian's must have it because they know money comes from the West.

Pigeons have a magnetic chip in their ears. Can they research if Pigeons poo is also linked the magnetic field.
Does My motorcar pulsate magnetic fields,because those Pigeons know how to drop their crap on it.

I flush in accordance with Earth's gravity, down .. never up, never side to side.

Originally Posted by Rainfall

It's somewhere on youtube, but I don't remember the title.

Must be true then.