If you’re a dog parent, it’s almost guaranteed that at some point you’ll be looking around for the source of a horrible, putrid smell only to find that it’s coming from your dog. And, yes, some days the source is your dog’s stinky toots, but in this case we’re talking about all the foul-smelling things dogs like to roll in. So why do dogs roll in poop and other pungent items? And why are they so proud of it?!
Why Do Dogs Roll in Stinky Stuff?
We can’t read dogs’ minds, so we don’t know for sure what they’re thinking when they decide to roll in stinky things. But there are few theories for this gross behavior, including that it’s instinctual — just like circling before lying down. Wild dogs and wolves need to hunt for their dinner and to be successful, they need to remain hidden while sneaking up on their prey. That not only means being quiet, they also need to be undetectable to their prey’s sense of smell. It’s theorized that wild dogs roll in the poop of prey animals or in other not-so-scary smells as a way of masking their own scent from their prey. They may also cover their natural scent to confuse any potential predators that are hunting them! Domestic dogs aren’t out there hunting prey for food or hiding from things trying to eat them, but they still might have the instinct to disguise their own scent (even if they don’t understand why they’re doing it!).
Rolling Helps Your Dog Communicate with Other Dogs
Another rolling theory related to a dog’s wild ancestors is about communication. It’s thought that rolling is a way to communicate to their pack members (in this case, you) that they found something amazingly superb. Their pack mates can then follow the scent trail back to the feast or other smelly item that their fellow canine was wanting to tell them about. Rolling on the ground (and not “in” something) can also mark a wild dog’s territory and tell other packs not to come any closer.
Why Do Dogs Roll on Dead Animals?
Watching in slow motion as their dog rolls around on a dead animal while they’re shouting out “Noooo” is a dog owner’s nightmare. Unfortunately, this totally disgusting dog behavior is completely normal, and your dog won’t think twice about rolling in that “delicious” odor. We’ve covered some of the reasons for their scent-rolling behavior, but another reason dogs roll in smelly stuff could be that they just like the smell. We may think the strong scent of dead animals is revolting, but your dog may think it’s the best smell ever and want to proudly show off their new perfume.
Why Do Dogs Roll in the Grass?
If your dog isn’t rolling on something in particular, they may be rolling in the grass to leave their own scent behind. They’re letting other animals know that they were there, essentially marking their territory with a good roll. Dogs have scent glands in their skin that can leave their own smell on the grass for others to sniff.
Why Do Dogs Roll on Their Backs?
Other than rubbing their scent on the ground, many dogs will roll on their backs to reach an itch they can’t otherwise get to. It can also just feel good and be fun! An occasional roll in the grass is nothing to worry about, but if your dog is constantly rolling and scratching, their itchy skin may be a sign of a health condition like allergies, a skin infection, sensitive skin or fleas.
How to Stop My Dog Rolling in Poop?
If your dog likes to roll in feces or other smelly stuff, there are a couple of things you can do to help stop them before it happens. One long-term solution is to train them to “leave it.” Since this will take some time, a shorter-term solution is to redirect their attention when they start sniffing gross things. If your dog is sniffing something intensely, that’s a good sign that they may be about to roll in it. Grab their attention with a toy or treat and try to entice them away before they dive in. If your dog loves to find smelly things to roll in when you go for a walk, take high-value treats with you to distract them from the stinky thing. Alternatively, keep them on a leash so they have less chance of rolling in something while you’re not looking.
Bath. Roll. Repeat.
Even the most well-trained dogs may still find it hard to resist their instinctual behavior of scent-rolling. In that case, you’ll need to invest in some good-quality dog shampoo (not human shampoo as this can dry out your dog’s skin). Keep in mind that the “clean” smell of a freshly shampooed dog may appeal to us, but most dogs aren’t fans. That’s why they’ll roll in grass or anything else they can find to get the “clean” smell off of them and replace it with a more dog-approved smell. So keep an eye on them after their bath, otherwise you’ll be back where you started!
Dogs rolling in their own poop, other animals’ poop, dead animals or any other stinky thing is pretty gross according to people, but for dogs it’s a natural thing to do. It’s a reminder to us that our couch-loving, bandana-wearing pups are descendants of wild animals, and sometimes they just have to do what they have to do — much to our horror!
