Surely, most of the time, dog owners are out of their wits witnessing the “strange” behavior of their pet dogs. Regardless of how well it is trained, it is common for dog owners to experience their furry friends flopping over the ground out of nowhere, rolling back onto their backs, and acting as if they are swimming or wiggling like a fish out of water.
The above act isn’t limited to lawns or parks only; whenever they get the opportunity, they will perform this act, whether their owners like it or not. It is a fact that dogs love rolling outside, and although it appears silly, there is a specific reason for them to do likewise. So, let us also try to “roll” out the reasons behind their behavior.
Rolling is deep-rooted in ancient times
Many dog owners would not know, but rolling on the grass has a deeper connection with history. Long before dogs were the faithful friend of humans, their wolf ancestors primarily hunted to survive. If you didn’t know this, wolves regularly roll in grass, leaves, mud, and even over smelly stuff like dead animals.
The reason was simple: the wolves wanted to mask their scent. As you can understand, if other animals get the scent of the wolf, they would not remain there anymore. However, a wolf that smells like grass, mud, or anything else is more likely to succeed in catching its prey off guard. Yes, your pet dog no longer requires hunting at present, but those instincts are still intact inside their brain. Thus, they can never overcome the urge to perform this act at periodic intervals.
It is a way for them to communicate
Well, dogs cannot speak or send text messages to others; they tend to share information via smell. Therefore, rolling over something is their way to interpret that they have found something and are checking it out. Pet owners, who have other dogs at home, must have noticed that when the dog that has rolled over a surface returns home, the other dogs sniff it closely. Sniffing is the key thing for dogs. This is the dog’s way to send messages to each other, like it is their way of saying, “I have just found something new and explored it to the fullest”.
Consider it as their natural perfume
As the pet owner, you would surely prefer the love of fresh shampoo from your dog. Unfortunately, your furry friend isn’t a great fan of the same smell. The science behind a canine nose proves that human fragrances are not acceptable, and they appear too strong and artificial to them. For that reason, just after a bath, you might often notice the dog would speed outside and roll in the grass, which is kind of their way of removing that “human stench”. The smell of grass is natural and considered normal in the dog’s world. It also helps them to restore their confidence.
You cannot ignore the fun side associated with it
As mentioned earlier, since rolling comes naturally to dogs, they will do so for nothing. For dogs, grass offers them a cool, soft, tickly, and comfortable experience that nothing else can. So, by rolling around, the dog will get both physical and mental stimulation, and overall joyfulness. As the pet owner, consider this habit as their way of getting happy vibes.
A good way to massage to get rid of itching
Understandably, dogs can also feel itchy, and unlike humans, they cannot use their paws to scratch the areas. Rolling in grass also helps them, as it acts as a natural scratch tool for them. It helps them to scratch hard-to-reach areas like the back, neck, and shoulder conveniently. Here is when, as the owner, you need to observe. If you notice the dog is pausing to scratch a specific spot a bit too much, it can be a sign of allergies, fleas, or dry skin.
The natural temperature check for dogs
Grass is the natural air conditioner for dogs. As we all know, dogs cannot sweat like us; their cooling mechanism is different, like panting, releasing heat through paw pads, and lying on cool surfaces. By rolling, the cooling sensation spreads across their body, especially during the summer days.
A medium for anxiety relief and emotional release
The habit of rolling of dogs is also associated with the dogs’ way to relieve stress. Researchers have concluded after various studies on them that the reason for their rolling can be attributed to releasing tension, relaxing their muscles, calming their nervous system, and normalizing their mood after sudden excitement or fear.
Rolling at times can be a red flag
Well, thus far, you must have noticed, the habit of rolling of dogs seems to be harmless and instinctive. However, at times, rolling can signal trouble too. It is important to keep a vigil if you notice these signs:
- Constant body rubbing and head shaking while rolling might be due to an ear or skin irritation.
- If bald patches and redness are noticeable after rolling, it is a sign of allergies, mites, and fleas.
- If it keeps rolling on a particular area of the body, it can be due to something stuck in its fur.
Whenever these signs are evident, it is best to consult the vet without further delay.
But why do dogs roll over disgusting things?
Okay, grass is still acceptable, but sometimes, dogs tend to roll over poop, rotten leaves, and even dead fish. Understandably, such behavior is unacceptable for their human parent, but looking at it from the dog’s perspective has a different meaning. According to dogs, strong stink helps to disguise scent better, smell for them is knowledge, and they firmly believe that if something stinks, then it must try it for once.
Can humans prevent this habit?
Well, you would not want to eradicate the joy from the life of your dog. As mentioned before, rolling in grass is both healthy and stimulating for a dog. But if it becomes a habit of rolling over mud or other stinky things, dog owners might prefer them to overcome this habit somehow. You should watch out for the common mistakes while walking your dog.
In such cases, you can try using commands like “leave it”, “stop”, and “come”. Lastly, do not forget to reward them when they obey your commands. Alternatively, you can also try to avoid taking out the dog in areas with poop, garbage, pesticides, and unknown smelly substances. Preferably, dog parks are the best place for them.
Managing grooming
Regular baths, use of anti-itch products, and flea protection can help suppress the dog’s urge to go for scent-masking and reduce the need for itch-driven rolling.
Let dogs be dogs
Precisely speaking, if rolling in the grass makes the dog happy and isn’t harming it, then there is no reason to stop them. When you let them explore their instincts, they will become more energetic and vibrant. On your part, just wash away the dirt once they are home.