Why Does my Dog Roll around in Cat & Dogs mess in the Garden ?

Question

Hes Boy Springer Spannual and he rolls around in Dog Mess . Why ?

Answer 1

They like the smell - it's like cologne to them! They show off to other dogs with those er smells

Answer 2

Don’t dogs do some of the strangest things? Rolling in feces, though, is really very common. Possibly a dog’s ancient instinct to mask his scent, which would then enable the animal to sneak up on their prey without detection. Even if your dog does not hunt, she may not like the way that she smells—especially if you’ve just given her a bath! Or she just likes the smell of the feces.

Answer 3

Animal waste carries a rich supply of pheromones, potent chemicals that reveal its source's species, sex, reproductive status, and even social rank.

Because many mammals rely on scent rather than vision to identify each other, a dog who rolls in waste or other debris from a member of another species could conceivably fool members of that species into accepting it as one of their own. In the wild, this would enable a predatory dog to get closer to a potential meal than it could otherwise, thereby improving its chances for survival. Because of the survival advantage the behavior conferred, it would become firmly entrenched in the wild dog's repertoire and persist even after domestication.

So basically your dog is just doing the wild thing !!

Answer 4

This is instinctive, all dogs are related to wolves. In the wild, wolves and wild dogs will roll in dead animals or other stinky things. An example would be if a wolf rolled in a dead fish and then hunted a caribou, the caribou has been pre-programmed to be afraid of wolf scent, but will not be afraid of a dead fish.

Answer 5

I used to think that dogs did this because it would make them smell and some dogs like bad smells...... however, through my own research with big cats, wolves and bears, studies show that these animals do the same thing only to rub their sent on the unfamilirar markings (feces or urine) to re-assure that the territory is theirs and not any passer-byers.

I could only assume that dogs do the same thing. When a an unfamiliar dog comes and relieves itself in your dogs yard, in a sense it leaving their calling card, and your dog is probably rubbing his sent in his fur all over it, to let the other dog know that this yard is his, and his calling cards are not welcomed.

Answer 6

I have a male English Springer Spaniel and he rolls in Dog/cat/geese and Fox s**t all the time, It's not just a springer thing my friend has two cocker spaniels and they do the same.

They probably think it,s perfume!

Answer 7

Dogs are dirty creatures. They don't know how to bathe and usually are very stinky. Rolling around dirt or grass, takes away the stink and itch for a while. One good way of getting around that problem, frequently used in Albania is to cut their balls. That pacifies the males a little. As for the females, they are usually all for bathing and using all kinds of shampoos and bathing lotions, so they hide their natural smell. Use of electrical devices is not recommended for pets.

Answer 8

Dogs like to roll around in stinky stuff. It sort of like a perfume to them. Doesn't matter if it is a male or female or the type of breed. It's just a dog thing.

Answer 9

I have always wondered this but thought it was hilarious. My dad had a boy dog named scooby & dad was a car mechanic & every time dad would throw grease out of his grease gun on the ground scooby would roll in it. My mom killed a bunch of water bugs that had gotten on the front porch & was getting into scoobys water bowl one time & she swept the dead bugs into the yard & he rolled on them. Mom use to smoke & she had to be very careful when she put her cigarette butts down. She had to make absolute sure they were out cause scooby would try & roll on them. I always laughed till I cried when he did roll on things though. Its like he was looking at us as he was rolling & saying "awwww feels good on back. Cant stop" !!!

Answer 10

He loves the smell. It gives him status when other dogs have a sniff at him, a bit like the expensive perfumes we human beings wear.