Many dog owners have experienced the situation where their freshly bathed furry friend suddenly jumps into a puddle or even a pile of feces to roll around.
Reasons Why Dogs Roll in Feces
While enjoying a leisurely walk with your beloved dog under the beautiful sun, you might stumble upon a filthy pile of waste. Sometimes, it could even be animal carcasses. And you may recall your dog’s reaction?
Many owners have shuddered in shock as their dog dashed off excitedly, rolling joyfully in the disgusting mess.
It’s hard to imagine. Our beloved canine companions have an incredible sense of smell with about 300 million olfactory receptor cells! So why can’t they distinguish between foul odors?
Calm down and let’s explore the reasons behind this behavior!
1. A Clever Camouflage Technique to Avoid Predators
Dogs exhibit a rather “smart” behavior by rolling in feces to hide from predators.
If you’ve ever watched The Walking Dead, you’ll find the first explanation for this peculiar behavior of dogs rolling in foul substances.
In the show, humans cover themselves in zombie blood to disguise their scent and avoid being hunted. Similarly, dogs may roll in feces or animal carcasses as a clever way to conceal their scent from predators.
But that’s just a scientific hypothesis. In reality, this behavior often drives owners crazy.
2. An Effective Hunting Method
The act of rubbing against smelly substances serves as a camouflage technique for dogs.
Rubbing against smelly substances is a form of camouflage that helps dogs deceive their prey and launch surprise attacks.
This may very well be an instinctual behavior of dogs! Since ancient times, their ancestors have used similar tactics to disguise themselves and attack enemies.
Dr. Stanley Coren, an expert in dog behavior, shares that: “When hunting antelopes, wild dogs often roll in antelope feces, which misleads the antelope’s sense of smell and catches them off guard.”
3. A Form of Communication
This could also be a form of communication among dogs.
On the other hand, this behavior may serve to inform their pack about what they have discovered during a hunt.
Pat Goodmann, a wildlife care expert at Wolf Park in Indiana, USA, once shared that: “During a hunt, if a dog encounters a strange smell (such as animal carcasses or feces), they often sniff and roll around to bring that scent back to the pack.”
Moreover, they may also roll in pleasant-smelling substances. In one study, Goodman was surprised to find that wolves enjoyed rubbing against fences scented with mint or perfume.
4. A Strong Connection to Their Brain
Scientist Alexandra Horowitz has dedicated significant time to studying canine cognition.
Through various experiments, she discovered a strong connection between a dog’s nose and its brain. Believe it or not, a foul smell stimulates the olfactory lobe in the brain and significantly impacts the activity of the cortex.
Horowitz explains that: “This transmission enables dogs to discover new scents.”
Interestingly, dogs’ brains do not register “toxic smells,” yet they seem to derive immense pleasure from “bathing” in disgusting and repulsive odors.
5. A Way to Impress Mates
Rolling in smelly things may attract potential mates.
Incredibly, rolling in foul substances is perceived as a “plus” in the eyes of potential mates for dogs.
Dr. McConnell, a dog behavior researcher, humorously referred to this action as a demonstration of them being “the guys wearing gold chains.”
Dr. McConnell states: “Rolling in smelly substances may attract mates. It’s as if they’re saying to their partner, ‘Hey babe, look at me. I just scored a “trophy.” Do you think I look cool?’”
However, rolling in dirty things can be unsanitary and affect your beloved dog’s health. Therefore, it’s essential to take good care of and clean your furry friend!
6. Why Do Dogs Like to Eat Feces?
As dog owners, we not only prepare ample food and fresh water for our dogs but also many snacks. Yet, many people cannot explain why dogs enjoy eating feces.
Pet experts have provided some insights. Dogs often eat feces mainly due to a deficiency in certain trace elements in their bodies, which they can obtain by consuming feces. Another factor is that some dogs do not receive enough food, prompting them to eat whatever they find, including snacks and feces.
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