Dogs are fun companions to spend time with, but they can also be a bit gross at times. For example, many dogs love rolling in poop whenever they get the opportunity, which might be awesome for them but is disgusting to us. You may be wondering why your pup does this, so here are five common reasons that dogs like to roll in poop.
The 5 Reasons That Dogs Roll in Poop
1. Dogs Like the Smell of Poop
One big reason a dog might roll in poop is simply that they like the smell of it. Dogs tend to have different scent preferences than we do, so what may smell bad to us could be the opposite for dogs.
The feces they are rolling in also provides them with all kinds of information about the dog, cat, or other animal that left the poop behind. They can tell what the animal smells like and what they’ve eaten, for example.
2. They Want to Cover Up Their Own Scent
Dogs may have come from hunters, but they can also be prey to larger animals. For both reasons they may instinctively want to cover their own scent. They don’t want prey to sniff them out before they have a chance to pounce, and they don’t want predators to be able to find them.
3. Dogs Want to Leave Their Scent Behind
Some dogs like to leave their own scent behind so other dogs and animals can pick it up and learn more about them. They have a few ways of “marking” things in their paths, such as peeing on trees and fire hydrants, pooping on grass and walkways, and even rolling around in other animals’ poop. They might also roll around in grass and dirt to leave their scent behind.
4. They Want to Show Off Where They’ve Been
Dogs like to show off to their “pack members” where they have been while they’ve been separated. So, a dog might roll around in poop in an attempt to bring the scent of the feces back to family members at home that were not present on their walk. Of course, humans don’t have the ability to figure out what certain scents mean (as canines can smell up to 10,000 times better than us!), but our dogs don’t know that!
5. Dogs Are Trying to Get Rid of “Unnatural” Scents
When a dog gets bathed, they tend to end up with scents on them that are not natural, typically thanks to the shampoo that was used. Therefore, they may try to get rid of those unwanted scents by rolling around anywhere they can, whether on the carpeted floor inside or a pile of poop in the yard.
What to Do When Your Dog Rolls in Poop
It’s usually not a pleasant experience to watch your dog roll around in poop. After all, you’re going to be the one to clean everything up when all is said and done. However, remember that your pup is not engaging in the activity to make you upset; they’re likely doing it for more natural reasons.
Therefore, you should never show your anger or frustration toward them if they do this behavior. Carry dog-safe wet wipes with you whenever you’re out with your pup so you can quickly clean them up if they roll around in poop and ready the bath when you get home.
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How to Stop a Dog From Rolling in Poop
It can be tough to stop your dog from rolling around in poop while you’re enjoying the outdoors together. However, there are a few things that you can do to help stave off the behavior, at least part of the time.
Ensure that your dog knows commands such as “leave it” and “come” so that you can get them to come to you if you see that they are interested in poop that’s lying on the ground. Then move them away or engage them in another activity like fetch.
You should also make sure your dog stays on a leash so you can control their movement any time you’re outside. This will help you steer clear of any opportunities to roll around in poop.
Conclusion
Dogs might roll in poop for several reasons, and whichever one it is tends to be extremely important to them. We think that the behavior is gross, but our dogs think that it’s completely normal because for them, it is.
Featured Image Credit: Chonlawut, Shutterstock
Contents
- The 5 Reasons That Dogs Roll in Poop
- 1. Dogs Like the Smell of Poop
- 2. They Want to Cover Up Their Own Scent
- 3. Dogs Want to Leave Their Scent Behind
- 4. They Want to Show Off Where They’ve Been
- 5. Dogs Are Trying to Get Rid of “Unnatural” Scents
- What to Do When Your Dog Rolls in Poop
- How to Stop a Dog From Rolling in Poop
- Conclusion
