Most pet owners have undoubtedly witnessed the rather unsavory sight of a dog rolling in poop or dead things. But why do they do it?
While there is not yet a scientific explanation for this behavior, there are theories.
“I am not aware of any scientific studies that have been done looking at why dogs do this, or how common it is,” says Dr. Melissa Bain, a veterinary behavior specialist and professor of clinical animal behavior at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. “One thought is that it is an evolutionary behavior, in which a dog will mask its scent with feces. It generally is the feces of another animal, not of dogs. There is also a hypothesis that it may be scent marking. Instead of the thought that they are depositing the odor onto themselves, they are depositing their odor onto the feces to mark their territory.”
“Wolves and wild dogs used to roll in poop to mask their scent, which is useful when hiding from predators and sneaking up on prey,” agrees Dr. Ivana Crnec, of Veterinarians.org. “Modern dogs, despite evolving past the need to hide and hunt, are still true to their ancestral heritage.”
Dr. Crnec noted that rolling in poop and dead things is very common in dogs.
“Dogs roll in their own feces and poop from other animals like cowpats and fox poop,” she says. “Interestingly, rolling is not limited to poop. In fact, dogs enjoy rolling in all types of smelly, organic matter.”
What To Do About Dogs Who Roll in Poop
Dr. Bain says if dog owners witness poop rolling, there’s likely not much to be done.
“Likely there is not a whole lot to do in the moment aside from trying to get the dog away from the area by calling the dog away and rewarding [her] with a high-value treat,” says Dr. Bain. “However, that high-value treat may not be any better than the feces in which the dog is rolling. In that case, they should either ignore the dog [or] walk away.”
She says prevention is key to keeping dogs from rolling in poop.
“Keeping the dog on leash will almost always prevent these incidents,” she says. “This is especially important if you know that you are going to an area such as a barn. If the dog is rolling in things in their yard, they should be sure to keep the yard clean.”
She says it’s generally not harmful to a healthy dog, but there may be parasites or other infectious diseases in the feces that can be transmitted to the individual dog, other dogs, or people.
“This would be if [the] feces were to be ingested inadvertently,” she says. “It also can be stressful for some owners when they continually have to clean up the dog and the house, especially if the dog doesn’t like baths.”
Dogs Roll in Poop
However gross it may seem to humans, rolling in poop is pretty normal dog behavior.
Dr. Crnec says there is no determined pattern for dogs rolling in poop and the habit is seen in all breeds, ages, and genders.
“However, interestingly, regular rolling is more common in certain breeds such as Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Jack Russell Terriers, and mixed-breed dogs,” she says.
