Why do dogs like to roll in disgusting stuff like dead animals? Is it like a perfume to them or something?

Answer 1

Aaah ... dog perfume. Rolling in smelly things is a favourite pastime of almost every dog. We can't understand the attraction, but we sure know it's there. Some of my dogs' favourite things in which to roll:
dead fish (lucky us, they find some near the bayou in the neighborhood in which some big bird or raccoon has killed and eaten some of)
bird poop, which is worse than you may think
another dog's poop (this just baffles me, why would they want to smell like a different dog?)
and my personal favourite - garbage, and all that word implies. (Care for an old MC Donald's french fry anyone?)
As far as stopping this behaviour altogether, I confess I've never been able to manage it. During the summer when my dogs are off canvassing the open fields (within my eyes view mind you) in the neighborhood, chances are they'll come back smelling like something I forgot to throw out months ago (use your imagination). However, we have managed to curtail this noxious habit around people. (Just a note, this is a "catch-in-the-act" type of thing, and if nobody's there to stop him. they love to wear dead things.) eu de skunk anyone? >:}

It always helps if your dog knows the voice inflection that means "do and forget about coming for a snuggle". It doesn't have to be "no" outright, as long as they know that extreme disapproval is there waiting. Watch for the signs, it doesn't have to be a constant eyes glued watching, but if your dog starts to sniff the ground in a tight circle with great interest, then your need for vigilance has just increased. A hunkering of the shoulders, positioning of the body while his gaze is to one side of him, and as soon as you see that shoulder dip and his upper body start to twist, say it loud and clear - "don't you DARE!" I like to use "ah ahh, NO!" And use their name and call them in. Typically thier body straightens, they'll look at you, and as you call them to you, praise in resisting the great foul temptation. Note: And then you must take him out of the area before he decides to investigate the smell further again.

Answer 2

I remember as a child our beagle did this and since our vet was a family friend I thought it would be an appropriate question to ask him the next time he was at our house for a party. He said after bein shocked I would ask about this then that it was an inate thing with dogs from when they were not domesticated to do this. He said that domesticated animals do a lot of things now that we have no full explanation since its from their ancestry. Like why would anyone drink out of a toilet as our dog did when he had a fresh water bowl on every floor in our house - ancestry.

Answer 3

It's a predatory thing with dogs. It cover their own sent so that it will not allow what every they are hunting to smell them.
Even though todays dogs don't need this act they still do it.
Much to my distress when my Goldens come to the back door covered in something that smells like it died last year!

Answer 4

no its not like perfume actualy its their way of spreading there own scent glands on the corpes of the dead animals thats what predators do because in all actuality all dogs ancentry are reginated from the wolf

Answer 5

It's instinct. They do it to loose their scent so they can't be tracked. Even though dogs are domesticated, they still have the instinct to roll in grosse things.

Answer 6

Oh lawd- my girl does that too - dead animals, fish, poo! She also rolls in my laundry, couches, etc.

Its just the way it smells. They are labeling it (I believe) with their smell. Rolling in it disposes their smell from their glands onto things they want to claim.

Answer 7

I think it's because they are claiming it. In the wild they wouldn't want other animals to eat there food so they are just marking their territory on the animal.

Answer 8

Actually it is. Dogs have a different aesthetic than people. They are probably grossing out when we give them a bath afterward with all that sweet smelling shampoo.

Answer 9

It is there way of camouflaging there true smells...Has to do with hunting and survival..

Answer 10

because they want to get rid of there own scent , our old golden retreiver use to do it