Why does my dog roll in gross things?
You just finished bathing your dog. Their coat is shiny and clean, and your pet smells lovely. So, inevitably, what do they go do? Find the grossest thing they can—poop, unidentifiable ickiness—and roll in it right away. Why?
The prevailing theory is that your pooch is trying to hide their perfumy scent. After all, any self-respecting squirrel or deer would sense your dog coming a mile away if they smell like lavender or coconut. Smelling like nature camouflages both the shampoo smell and their own natural doggy smell so that they may better sneak up on their prey.
However, since we can’t ask our dogs, we can’t know for sure that this is what’s going through their canine minds as they happily wiggle. So a few other theories exist to explain this behavior.
It’s possible that your dog is collecting smelly information to share with you, so that you too can know about the “interesting” things they found nearby. Perhaps they are marking their awesome find as their own. Or perhaps they simply like the smell. Beauty is in the eye (or nose!) of the beholder, as they say.
The best way to stop this stinky behavior is to train your dog to have a good “leave it” or “come” command, so you can stop them in their tracks before they drop and roll. Regular practice with a healthy treat will wire your dog to respond when it matters most. Always keep your pup up to date on their parasite preventives so they don’t pick up any intestinal parasites during their smelly adventures.
