Why dogs roll around in rotten meat and excrement - reasons for how to wean them off

Negative odors

Why do dogs love to wallow in rotten meat? This question was of interest to our ancestors. First of all, they associated this with pungent odors. As you know from the anatomy course, the sense of smell in animals is several times better developed than in any person. What seems disgusting to us, on the contrary, is very attractive to them. This is a kind of perfume that dogs enjoy. Thus, it is not difficult to guess why they do this. They experience great pleasure from such smells.

It is worth noting that they also have the opposite effect: from smells that a person feels pleasure from (perfume, air fresheners, deodorant and other strong aromas), the dog develops a feeling of disgust, and they immediately try to run away to another place. They may also begin to sneeze, wash their faces, and shake their heads.

Why do dogs love to wallow in carrion?

Everyone knows about dogs’ love to roll around in rotten meat while walking. If you look at them at this moment, you will notice obvious pleasure: their eyes sparkle, their mouths curl in a relaxed smile. Having made sure that they have thoroughly smeared themselves with muck, they run with a confident gait “with their heads held high,” showing with all their appearance that the day was a success. A dog can be attracted to decomposing animal remains, fish, animal and human feces, and other sharply and unpleasantly smelling (to the human nose) substances.

This is part of normal instinctive behavior: dogs love to wallow in rotten meat and carrion. The reasons for this behavior are not entirely clear. Most often this is explained by the dog’s desire to mask its own smell [1,2,8] or to remove the smell of perfume that is unpleasant for the dog from the skin, because It has been noticed that dogs like to do this after washing. Moreover, the more often we wash the dog, the greater the likelihood that it will immediately fall out again. [1,2]

Some believe that in this way the dog is trying to mask its own scent from potential prey. From a human perspective, there is logic in this, but most animals have a much more developed sense of smell, and a dog rolling around in excrement will smell like a dog and excrement to them. In addition, most of the animals hunted by canids rely more on hearing and vision. Ungulates have eyes located on the sides of their heads: this allows them to monitor their surroundings even when their heads are tilted towards the grass. And let’s not forget that although wolves sometimes attack from ambush, their more common method of hunting is pursuit, and there is nothing special there and you need to be inconspicuous.

Patricia McConnell supports the "guy with the gold chain hypothesis." Dogs, as scavengers, are not too picky about the freshness of their meat. They eat what is available, and moreover, they want to live in an area where there is plenty of food available. There is an assumption that dogs ride on dead meat as a kind of advertising for other dogs. “Hey, look at you! I live in a prestigious area, full of all sorts of good things.” [3]

There is also an opinion that dogs use this to contribute to the spread of their own scent in the environment. In this way, the dog simultaneously destroys the scent mark of another animal and leaves its own scent in this place, or they try to “stake out” a resource. However, dogs are more likely to mark resources with urine or feces on or near them. [2.8]

The explanation that wallowing in excrement is a way to combat parasites does not stand up to criticism: the smell and particles of dirt will not in any way affect the vital activity of fleas and ticks. And this only attracts some insects.

According to wolf research and Pat Goodman's speculation, wolves, and probably domestic dogs, tend to roll around in any new, strong-smelling substance, so that they can then carry the new smell back into the pack so that other wolves can get a good look at it. This theory is confirmed by the fact that in experiments wolves rolled around (and smelled) not only in rotten fish, feces, etc., but also in mint extract, Chanel No. 5 perfume, dog repellent, mosquito repellent, sandwich with fish and tartar sauce and even Old Spice deodorant. The researchers noted that wolves objected when repellent was sprayed on the tips of their ears, but they themselves rolled in them if they found the smell on the ground. [7, 12]

There appears to be a social function to this rubbing of other people's scents into fur, but Simon Gadbois, an expert on animal behavior and odor perception at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, says it may be much simpler. In the packs of wolves that he studied in Canada, the leader, as a rule, was the first to ride through a strong-smelling place, and only then did the others follow his example. “It was like he was establishing what the whole flock would smell like,” Gadbois says. “I’ve seen it in both coyotes and foxes.” This was also observed in African wild dogs: females rolled on the ground where males from the pack they wanted to join urinated. Likewise, dogs in a pack regularly rub against each other, trying to smell the same.

Dogs enjoy wallowing in smells that people find downright unpleasant. Stanley Coren suggested that they do this for the same reason that we use perfume. They like the smell. And they do it to look more attractive or just for their own pleasure. [9]

By falling out in something sharply smelling, dogs can pursue another goal, also inherited from their wild ancestors: to pretend to be another predator, larger and more dangerous. This idea seems to be supported by a study by Max Allen published in September 2021. Allen, an ecologist at the University of Wisconsin, recorded several cases of unusual behavior of gray foxes using cameras installed in the Santa Cruz area in California. Usually leading a solitary lifestyle, these foxes regularly visited places marked by male cougars. The video footage shows the foxes rubbing their cheeks on the surface of the ground where the male cougars had just left traces of their odorous urine. Allen believes foxes use the scent left by larger predators as camouflage to help them hide from coyotes. “Coyotes are significantly larger than foxes and see foxes as competitors for resources,” Allen says. “Foxes can’t fight them, so they use the scent of pumas as camouflage.” This scent may give them extra time to escape the coyotes." However, this does not explain why such powerful predators as wolves also like to smell other people's scents.

Stephen Harris from the University of Bristol (UK), who studies red foxes, does not agree that they use someone else's scent as camouflage. In his opinion, animals usually try to spread their own scent rather than collect others’ scents. “Foxes use their saliva and secretions from glands located in the lip area for this,” he notes. “We don’t know exactly the function of these glands, but you can often see foxes rubbing their muzzles and necks against various objects. They seem to do this in response to some strong odors. An unfamiliar scent stimulates them.”

Another reason for this behavior is given by V. Gritsenko: “carrion or excrement can be used as Vaseline for wool and skin if there is not enough secretion from the own sebaceous glands or their secretions are washed off with soap.” [1]

“I suspect they are experiencing a strong rush of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that produces feelings of pleasure and satisfaction,” says Muriel Brasseur from the Oxford Center for Animal Behavior. “Even if this behavior is evolutionarily inherited from the deep past and is somehow related to survival, it is also incredibly fun now.” As Gadbois explains, once upon a time there were some very important reasons for this habit. “Over time, these reasons have disappeared, but animals still do it. Smell is a very important part of their world, and we don’t understand anything about it.”

Interestingly, not all dog breeds are equally fond of wallowing in foul-smelling substances. Hounds, huskies and other primitive breeds are more prone to this, although a white toy poodle joyfully returning to its owner after a successful spa procedure is also not a rare occurrence.

It is important to remember that such behavior is not a deviation from the norm, i.e. It's natural for a dog to roll around in other people's feces and smelly garbage.

Gritsenko V. A dog without problems. - M., IPOL, 2000.
K. Overall Clinical methods for correcting the behavior of dogs and cats. Per. from English - M.: Sofion, 2005.
Patricia B. McConnell Beyond the Leash. How to understand a dog and become understandable to it. Dogfriend Publishers, 2010.
Scent Rolling: Why Do Dogs Like to Roll in Smelly Scents?
L'Eau Pour Chien. Why do dogs rub up against things that smell bad?
Scent-Rolling
Why do dogs roll in garbage, manure, or other smelly stuff?
Why Do Dogs Roll in Disgusting Stuff?
The many reasons why dogs might roll in smelly poo

Psychological condition

Veterinarians managed to find out another reason why dogs roll around in rotten meat. In their opinion, they only do this during periods when they are in a state of deep stress. Thus, they try to “bury themselves” from various problems. For example, this happens during periods of illness, when the dog experiences separation from its owner or another individual. In addition, symptoms such as worse sleep, worse appetite, and decreased activity may occur.

What to do in such a situation? It is recommended to show extra attention to your pet! Try to pet him more, play and go for walks. Perhaps the animal has a favorite treat, for example, a crispy bone, why not please your beloved dog with such a gift?

Instinct or bad habit

Man tamed the dog almost 14 thousand years ago, and since then the four-legged companion has faithfully served his master. It seems that during this time the dog should have already lost the habit of ancient habits, but it is precisely the love for dirt that proves the opposite. The more smelly, the better for the dog: this is how his ancestors once masked their own smell when going hunting. Why do dogs roll around in rotten meat today, since they no longer need to get their food in wild forests? There are different assumptions:

Instinct. Still, this is the first and more plausible version. Watch your pet, he is probably looking for other people's feces and happily smears himself with them. Previously, when going out to hunt, the wolf would fall out in the excrement of its potential prey. The need for hunting, of course, has disappeared for the modern dog, but the love for pungent odors remains. The dog may not like perfume or the smell of spices, but the aroma of grass, rotten meat and the excrement of other animals are the most pleasant aromas for him. Experienced dog breeders will tell you that hunting breeds have a special love for dirt.

The desire to stand out. Oddly enough, fetid odors are more pleasant to the dog itself than the aromatic shampoos with which the owner washes his pet. Synthetic aromas can irritate the sense of smell, which is why the animal tries to get rid of them. A person buys perfume for himself, wanting to inhale a pleasant smell, and for the same reason a dog rolls around in rotten meat and excrement. If you watch your dog, you will probably see that it is not all dirt that attracts him, but certain stench. Another confirmation of the love for unpleasant odors is the instinct to mark territory with urine. Herbivores, by the way, even urinate on their food, and only then start eating.

Seasonal shedding. Rolling on the ground, the animal seems to comb itself out on its own, getting rid of the hair that falls out. At the same time, the dog looks for relatively clean places, not garbage dumps. In this case, it is most convenient to roll on grass or dirt so that the adhering dirt does not knock the wool into clumps.
Getter instinct. Zoologists have long been trying to establish the true cause of the strange behavior of dogs and conduct various experiments. American scientists have developed a theory that by wallowing in rotten meat and excrement, the animal is trying to tell loved ones about something important. Wolves are pack creatures. The task of each of them is to find prey and lead the others to it. An experiment was conducted: a wolf in a zoo was fed spicy food for a long time, and then released into an enclosure with other animals. Smelling a new smell, the rest of the flock began to follow the “fragrant” fellow on the heels, thinking that it would lead them to a place with food. If your pet regularly rolls around in carrion, think, maybe he calls you, as his closest ones, to a place where he can eat?
Stress. Mud baths help a person calm his nerves. Dogs are looking for a place where they can hide from an unpleasant situation. By camouflaging, the dog protects itself from the outside world.

Facts about the instinct of self-preservation

Why do dogs wallow in rotten meat? As mentioned earlier, this question has worried people since ancient times. Previously, zoologists associated this reaction with the instinct of self-preservation. Each dog is an absolutely individual creature, with its own habits, characteristics and body structure. They, just like humans, have their own smell, by which other individuals recognize them. An adult dog knows perfectly well that other dogs can “track” him. Accordingly, he will wallow in slop, dirt and puddles in order to lead the enemy astray and mask his smell. It is worth noting that this turns out quite successfully!

Opinion of zoopsychologists

Relatively recently, an unexpected suggestion was made about the behavior of dogs. Animal psychologists have suggested that tailed animals use stench to emphasize their individuality. Agree, people use perfume not only to smell nice.

Many people have favorite scents that evoke special associations and a feeling of confidence. Perhaps dogs seek to acquire an extravagant scent in order to stand out from the crowd, show their authority or attract the attention of their relatives.

This is interesting! Some animals use the smell of their own urine, excrement and rotten meat to ward off blood-sucking parasites.

Severe itching

A dog can roll around not only in rotten meat, but also on the asphalt, in the sand and anywhere. This is due to the fact that she experiences severe itching. Thus, she tries to get rid of unpleasant sensations. Most often this happens during the molting period, when the old fur comes off and new hair comes out. You can associate this process with the detection of red spots or wounds. If the reason for such strange behavior of the animal is connected precisely with this, then you need to try to eliminate it by giving an antiseptic drug. When choosing medicine for your pet, you should pay attention to its age, breed and weight category. It is recommended to additionally use the services of a veterinarian.

Features of a dog's sense of smell

A dog, lying in dead meat, wants to confirm its individuality

A dog's sense of smell differs from the human sense of smell in the subtlety and peculiarity of the perception of odors. What causes a gag reflex in people is better than French perfume for pets. Trying to rid the dog of its natural scent, owners use pet cosmetics with what they consider to be a pleasant smell. True, dogs do not always perceive this with understanding and take measures to smell fragrant as they see fit.

Precautionary measures

It doesn't matter at all why dogs roll around in rotten meat. It is important that such an activity can turn into a habit. If the owner is tired of his beloved pet constantly smelling unpleasant odors, then he needs to take the following measures:

Try to find out the cause and eliminate it.
It is not recommended to walk with him in the area of garbage, landfills and other waste routes.
The dog should always be kept strictly on a leash so that the owner can control its actions.
If you use any cosmetic product for your dog, it is recommended to change it; perhaps it causes irritation in the animal, and in this way it wants to get rid of an unpleasant odor.
You should carefully monitor the condition of your dog's coat by brushing it regularly.

Why do dogs rub against rotten meat? There are a huge number of possible reasons, but none of them are reliable. These are just speculations of scientists. Only the pet itself can know the true meaning of this behavior. In any case, it is necessary to assess the general psychological and physical health of the dog. Sometimes an experienced specialist can figure out such strange behavior.

Is it possible to wean

The problem cannot be completely eliminated, but the pet’s behavior can be corrected.

When walking your hunting dog, avoid landfills and trash. Find yourself an open area, away from houses, otherwise the natural instinct of the hunter will win, and you will bring home a stinker. If this is not possible, walk your dog strictly on a leash.
If during a walk your dog regularly looks for mud, puddles, or simply rolls around in the grass and on the ground, change your animal care products. Choose an unscented shampoo so as not to irritate your pet's sense of smell.
If your dog begins to shed, comb the fur thoroughly so that the animal has no reason to take care of its own hygiene. Also regularly treat for parasites.
If wallowing in excrement is simply a bad habit, try to switch the animal to more useful activities. More physical activity, joint games, training - all this will help distract the dog from pointless running around and searching for dirt. In the same way, you can relieve your animal of stress.

Reasons for this behavior

Before you start fighting this “bad habit,” you need to find out the possible reasons why dogs sometimes like to roll around in carrion and excrement.

Ancient instinct

The dog is a predator. Our four-legged creatures inherited the habit of rolling around in animal remains, garbage, or something very smelly from their ancient ancestors - wolves.

In order for the hunt to be successful, to get as close as possible to the prey without the prey sensing danger, wolves need to cover up their own scent with something more pungent and smelly. And for this purpose, like nothing else in the wild, the natural odors of foliage, grass, dead meat or feces of other animals are most suitable, and not the aroma of delicious shampoo that gives away a hunter.

When the prey does not sense the predator, it is easier to catch it. That is why this instinct is especially pronounced in dogs of hunting breeds.

Desire to get rid of unpleasant odor

Very often, dogs roll around in rotten meat if they want to get rid of an unpleasant odor. And it is not at all necessary that this smell is stinky and disgusting. It could even be a simple change of shampoo.

It is not a fact that your pet will like the aroma that is pleasant to you. If the smell of shampoo or conditioner is too strong, the animal will try in every possible way to get rid of it. After all, dogs don’t really like all artificial scents, and a four-legged nose perceives them hundreds of times more acutely than ours.

Nice smell

We all know that a dog’s sense of smell is completely different from that of a human. They perceive all smells and aromas differently than we do. It may seem a little strange, but what is a disgusting stench to a person may be the best scent in the world to a dog.

Shedding

You can often see a dog “rolling” on the ground. In this way she tries to get rid of dead fur. By the way, exactly the same reaction can occur if the animal is “overpowered” by fleas.

Stress

Trying to avoid unpleasant situations or meeting new animals, dogs roll around in rotten meat or garbage, trying to “disguise” and protect themselves from these encounters. This can happen in anticipation of, for example, injections or a trip to the veterinarian.

How to stop wallowing in rotten meat

It is impossible to completely get rid of this habit, since the reason lies in the dog’s hunting instincts.

To rid your dog of a bad habit, you should:

use the command "Ugh!" (or “Stop!”, “You can’t!”);
walk your pet away from fragrant garbage dumps;
switch the animal’s attention to a game or a treat when she shows interest in the next pile;
Brush your pet in a timely manner during the molting period.

The easiest way to correct the behavior of a dog is that it is obedient and knows commands. Making it so is the task of a smart owner.

Most dog owners love to keep their pets clean and beautiful - bathing, hair and nail trimming, beautiful accessories. People are even more disappointed when they see their clean and tidy dog lying around in suspicious-looking and smelling garbage. It is not always possible to fight this habit. Many dogs systematically fall out in mud and debris, and a few owners become overwhelmed with despair. It’s not so bad if the dog is a street dog, but what to do if the pet permeates the apartment every day with the “aromas” brought from a walk? Why do dogs behave this way? To understand this, let's take a deeper look at the issue.

Nice smell

There is a claim that dogs rub against fish simply because they like the smell of it, comparing the animal at this moment to a woman who puts perfume on her body. Perhaps this statement has a right to exist, because after the dog rubs itself against the fish, its behavior changes dramatically - it becomes cheerful, cheerful, and its eyes begin to sparkle.

Very often, novice dog breeders are perplexed by the fact that their dogs are lying around in rotten meat. When a dog appeared in our house, we also had to deal with a phenomenon that was strange for us at that time. Next I will tell you how it happened.

It so happened that my friends and I almost simultaneously acquired small tailed tomboys of the Jack Russell Terrier breed. Here they are. On the left is our Jack, smiling, and on the right, his childhood friend Veter is sniffing a flower.

One day, when our little critters were already about 6 months old, we were all walking together in the yard of the house. At some point, literally for a few seconds, the Wind disappeared from our field of vision.

The picture of his appearance was impressive: covered from head to toe in some kind of muck, a dead crow in his teeth, and an incredible trail of “perfume” from this entire artistic “composition.” And most importantly - a contented and cunning face with a smile to the very tips of Russell's ears.

We stood in shock for a couple of seconds. Then, of course, they tried to catch him in order to completely “throw him into the washing machine.” But this “arrogant red face” so deftly climbed under a car standing nearby and, in addition, as it seemed to him, to add to his fashionable “outfit”, began to eat this bird. We only managed to drive him out from under the car with a stick.