WHY DOES MY DOG ROLL IN DISGUSTING THINGS?

Does your dog roll in poop or manure? Dirty clothes? How about worms or dead animals?

You may be asking yourself why they do this, and that is a great question. It’s gross and disgusting and we wish they just wouldn’t do it. I did some digging to find out why our pups think this is necessary and I discovered a few theories.

First,…It is a completely normal behavior so there is nothing wrong with your dog. He or she will not need medical attention or treatment. You did not cause this undesirable behavior.

However, have you noticed that after your fur baby gets a nice fresh bath he or she instantly runs out and rolls in something smelly? Well, that clean & fresh smelling shampoo you love so much…your dog doesn’t love it. He may even hate it. Our pets don’t want to smell like flowers or laundry soap. Obviously, we have a different idea of what smells good than our pets do.

Another theory goes back to their ancestors hunting in the wild. Dogs, like wolves, are known to roll in animal feces or carcasses to mask their own scent in order to be more successful and undetectable by prey during a hunt. It makes total sense, as disgusting as it is.

I also learned that dogs roll in unfavorable things simply to let their pack mates know where they have been or who they may have encountered. And if you catch them sleeping on or fluffing your dirty clothes, it’s a compliment to you.

So the next time your four-legged loved one slides into a big ole pile of YUCK…remember, it’s probably instinctual.

It’s all about the love…Mama T