Why Do Dogs Circle Their Bowl Before Eating?

Just sizing it up...lol

Dogs are keen on smell and sight.
They usually scope out thier dinner like prey.
Some will even play with it until their satisfied to eat it.
If they don't eat then there's something wrong with it.

I guess to make sure no more animals are around it.

They are making sure it's dead before they attack it.

Mine doesn't, but you got me thinking.  She is completely housebroken, but sometimes, I don't want to hear the doggie door throughout the night, so I ask her to go out and do her business.  She always does.  Why does she sniff 1/3 of the yard for pee and 1/2 of the yard for poo?  What is that all about?  I know what she's going to do by the amount of her sniffing.

I didn't notice my dogs doing that...