Why Do Dogs Roll In The Dirt?

If you own a dog, it will surely have happened to you sometimes: while walking together in the green of nature, you get distracted for a moment and soon he reappears, muddy and smelly, after having splashed around in puddles or among the feces of other animals. Today we explain to you what are the reasons why dogs roll in the dirt.

Wallowing around in smelly places is normal behavior in dogs

The first thing you need to keep in mind is that such behavior is absolutely normal and natural for your dog. That something disgusting appears to you is your problem, not yours. Therefore, no reproaches or punishments.

Always remember that it is a dog, not a human being. They are two different species, so do not fall into the temptation to humanize it, to expect it to measure things according to your parameters.

If your pet doesn’t criticize any of those aspects of yours that might seem strange to him, such as soaking up that strong and peculiar smelling cologne, why should you criticize him for his preferences? Just because they are different from yours?

To understand dogs, you have to go back to their ancestors, wolves

According to experts in animal behavior, the reasons dogs roll around in dirt can be varied.

First of all, we must not forget that dogs are descended from wolves. Although sometimes it doesn’t seem like it, they still retain some genetic traits of their ancestors, such as hunter instincts.

Although a domestic dog does not need to hunt to get food, it still maintains some attitudes related to this behavior. An example is chasing the “prey”, be it a ball, a cat or a bird.

Genetic inheritance: one of the reasons dogs roll around in dirt

Also due to this hunting instinct inherited from wolves, your dogs will roll around in dirt, in places full of litter, mud and other unsightly substances in our view.

Every good hunter must act without revealing his presence. Hence, by masking your scent, a prey will be less likely to notice its arrival.

To ensure a good hunt, the best method that wolves have, and consequently our beloved dogs their descendants, is to cover themselves with strong smells.

Furthermore, disguising their own smell allows these animals to keep themselves safe from possible predators.

Other reasons dogs roll around in dirt

Wolves, in the same way, usually roll around in certain places and substances, in order to be able to communicate something to the rest of the pack through the smell they soak. Eg:

• Their location;
• A warning;
• A discovery.

However, rubbing against something can also be considered a territorial matter, as these animals possess scent glands. Therefore, not only do they try to impregnate themselves with other smells, but they also leave traces of their own, as if they meant “I saw it first”.

These behaviors, typical of wolves, seem to be replicated also by dogs.

We humans are also to blame for dogs rolling in dirt

By going beyond genetic inheritance, we humans can also contribute to our four-legged friends rolling around in filthy places. This is because of our tendency to humanize pets.

Surely it bothers you that your dog gets dirty in this way, particularly when it happens right shortly after you bathe him and perfume him carefully.

However, while it may seem difficult to understand, the bathroom is the main reason dogs roll around in dirt. The detergents and soaps we use to wash our furry friends, although they can arouse good sensations to our sense of smell, represent absolutely unpleasant and unnatural odors for them.

So, be patient and don’t get irritated with your four-legged friend. Rather, try to figure it out by trying to find a shampoo that, at least, isn’t so bad that you have to go like a fool to find better smells to impregnate your body with.

Main image author: Juan Luis Naranjo