A 2013 study claims that dogs circle before they poop because they want to line themselves up on a north-south axis (please bring your compass with you on your next poop excursion to confirm this theory). Actual scientists with very expensive college degrees spent two years watching 70 dogs go to the bathroom 7,475 times (Dawg House employees have seen far more poop).
Slightly more believable theories include: checking for snakes in the grass or predators lurking in the bushes, tamping down grass or rough footing, and attempting to spread their scent.
Whatever their reasoning is, it’s currently cold and we wish they would hurry up.