Why do dogs roll around in rotten meat and excrement?

Why do dogs roll around in rotten meat and excrement and happily jump in puddles and mud? You'd think they were domesticated, well-behaved, and knew their commands, yet they behaved like this!

Instinct or bad habit

Humans domesticated dogs nearly 14,000 years ago, and since then, these four-legged companions have served their masters faithfully. One would think that by now, dogs should have abandoned their ancient habits, but their love of dirt proves otherwise. The fouler the smell, the better for the dog: this is how their ancestors once masked their scent when hunting. So why do dogs today roll around in rotting carcasses, when they no longer need to forage for food in the wild forests? There are various theories:

• Instinct. This is the first and more plausible theory. Observe your pet; it's likely searching for other people's feces and happily smearing itself with them. In the past, when hunting, wolves would roll around in the excrement of their potential prey. The need to hunt has certainly disappeared in modern dogs, but their love of strong odors remains. A dog may dislike perfume or spices, but the scent of grass, rotten meat, and the excrement of other animals are the most pleasing aromas to it. Experienced dog handlers will tell you that hunting breeds are especially fond of dirt.

• The desire to stand out. Oddly enough, foul odors are more pleasant to dogs than the fragrant shampoos their owners use. Synthetic fragrances can irritate their sense of smell, so the animal tries to get rid of them. Just as people buy perfume to smell pleasant, dogs roll in rotten meat and excrement for the same reason. If you observe your dog, you'll likely notice that they're attracted not just to dirt, but to certain foul odors. Another example of their love of unpleasant odors is their instinct to mark their territory with urine. Herbivores, by the way, even urinate on their food before eating.

• Seasonal shedding. By rolling on the ground, the dog seems to groom itself, removing shedding hair. Dogs seek out relatively clean areas, not garbage dumps. It's best to roll on grass or dirt roads to prevent the accumulated dirt from clumping the fur.
• The foraging instinct. Zoologists have long been trying to determine the true cause of dogs' strange behavior and have conducted various experiments. American scientists have developed a theory that by rolling in carrion and excrement, the animal is trying to communicate something important to its loved ones. Wolves are pack creatures. Each wolf's job is to find prey and lead the others to it. In one experiment, a wolf at a zoo was fed spicy food for an extended period of time and then released into an enclosure with other animals. Sensing the new scent, the other pack members began following the "aromatic" wolf, thinking it would lead them to the food source. If your pet regularly rolls in carrion, consider whether it's calling you, as the closest person, to a place where it can find a treat.
• Stress. Mud baths help people calm their nerves. Dogs, on the other hand, seek refuge from stress. By camouflaging themselves, dogs shield themselves from the outside world.

Is it possible to wean?

It is impossible to completely eliminate the problem, but it is possible to correct your pet’s behavior.

• When walking your hunting dog, avoid dumps and trash. Find an open area away from houses, otherwise the natural hunting instinct will take over, and you'll bring home a stinky dog. If this isn't possible, always walk your dog on a leash.
• If your dog regularly searches for dirt, puddles, or simply rolls in the grass and on the ground while out on walks, consider changing your grooming products. Choose a scent-free shampoo to avoid irritating your pet's sense of smell.
• If your dog begins to shed, brush its fur thoroughly to prevent it from grooming itself. Also, treat it regularly for parasites.
• If rolling in feces is simply a bad habit, try to redirect your pet to more beneficial activities. Increase physical activity, play together, training – all this will help distract the dog from pointless running and searching for dirt. This can also relieve stress.

Read also:

• Dog Eats Its Own Poop: Why and What to Do
• Why does the dog eat dirt?
• Why does a dog eat dandelions?