Why Do Dogs Roll in Poop?
Your dog is sporting the new “Eau de Poo-fume”…
You just got your dog home from the groomer: they are so fluffy, soft to the touch, and that sweet “shower fresh” scent filling your nose is irresistible!
But it always seems the first chance your dog gets, he rolls around in poop, or something else equally as yucky. All that time and money spent fluffing up your pup is pointless now! Really though, what is it about stinky things that are such a draw to dogs? Why do they feel the need to roll around in it, and come home just utterly smelly? Why can’t the house smell like sweet flowers instead of the manure used to grow them?!
Today we are talking all things stinky dog, how to prevent the stink, as well as methods to remove the smell if they have already taken the poopy plunge.
Why Do They Roll in Stinky Things?
Behaviorists and naturalists have been able to explain most of the reasons why our dogs act the way they do, but rolling in stinky things seems to be confounding. There are several possibilities as to why dogs love to be smelly, most of which date back to their pre-domesticated dog sensibilities. Treehugger has presented most of these theories in a well-rounded way.
They want to smell “good”
What smells good is subjective. To us humans, we like things that smell fresh, sweet, and crisp. But dogs have a different idea of what “good” smells like. This probably has something to do with how nuanced their smelling ability is compared to us humans.
If you notice your dog is headed straight to smelly things fresh after her bath, she is probably trying to remove that smell of the perfume in the shampoo she was washed in. Dogs prefer the smell of things more odoriferous and complex like garbage, carcasses, rotting food, poop, and anything else stinkier and more pungent than the “lavender” shampoo smell.
A good form of camouflage
It may be less about removing the smell of flowers, and more about removing the smell of dog altogether. Dogs are inherently predators. It has been observed in wolf behavior to roll in stinky things, so they can mask their scent from potential prey and be more stealthy on their hunt. If your dog is an avid squirrel chaser, this could be an explanation for their desire to stink.
To tell other dogs where they have been
In the pack, wild dogs bring back smells on their backs (literally) to show a potential for food.
Our domesticated pups may be displaying a similar behavior. If he walks around smelling like many different things from his most recent adventure; than when he meets up with a fellow fur-friend, he can show off all the places he’s been. When they do their sniffy greeting, he can proudly tell his friends about all the interesting things he’s encountered while he was on his journey.
Marking their territory
Have you noticed while on your walk, your dog likes to (or tries to) mark every single bush or lamp post you pass? Well, they have different ways of marking their territory than just peeing on things. Another way for dogs to mark is by rolling on something. When they rub the back of their neck on things it releases pheromones, and they can leave their scent behind. This will signify to other sniffing dogs that your dog was there recently to enjoy the stinky odor.
It’s FUN
Let’s not discount the idea that dogs could just be having a lot of fun rolling around in something mushy and stinky! It could be a result of boredom, or they just find great joy in rolling in things like mud, dust, puddles, and…poop. Unusual for humans, Disneyland-type fun for pups.
How to Prevent the Stink
Your dog may prefer to smell like a decaying carcass, but don’t fret! There are ways you can prevent them from getting too stinky too fast. Now that you know some reasons why dogs would roll in the poo, you can start to watch your dog and determine what her motivation for rolling in the stink is. Here are a few tips to help prevent the “ewy roll:”
Clean up your dog’s poop immediately after they do their business
Keep them on leash in areas you know they are likely to stop, drop, and roll
Teach them the basic “leave it” or “off” command, to lure them away from the pile before they roll
Getting past the stink
Even with all of your best efforts, your dog may still come up to you sporting that “Eau de Barnyard”. We understand, it can be off putting to say the least. The best way to combat the odor is to give them a bath with an odor neutralizer. Brands like Nature’s Miracle have dog shampoos with odor neutralizers built in.
*Hint: orange oil is a pet safe deodorizer and degreaser. You could make your own deodorizer with a combination of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and a mild liquid soap (this method was proven on Mythbusters), but be sure to avoid contact with eyes, and give them a thorough rinsing.
Another preventative measure you could take during your dog’s bath time is to use an unscented shampoo. We understand that you love the smell of “honey sage,” but your dog may not appreciate that smell; and you could potentially prevent that sniff and roll by not putting that perfume on your pup.
Dogs have been rolling amuck for hundreds of thousands of years; it’s a behavior that is ingrained in the fiber of their being. But with some good training, you can convince your dog to perform a more desirable behavior. All it takes is some patience and hopefully a good chuckle when they come running back with a giant smile on their face, sporting the latest in the Cow Poop Couture.
Written By: Gabby St.Martin
Gabby is a dog walker and writer for Dog Tired Adventures. She loves being active, the great outdoors, and loving on her Doberman.