Why Do Dogs Roll In Dead Animals? An Ultimate Guide

Most of us can’t stand the sight of disgusting things, whether it’s rotten food, fresh animal poop, or decomposing corpses. A dog, on the other hand, will happily paw at a dead animal and roll in it carelessly. But just why do dogs roll in dead animals and stinky stuff?

Dogs roll in dead animals for a variety of reasons, such as it being an inherited hunting technique (more on that in a moment), a way to attract other dogs’ attention and mark territory, they find it enjoyable, to name a few. But as you’ll soon see, this conduct poses a threat to the wellbeing of your dog.

Continue reading to learn why dogs roll in stench and animal carcasses like it’s the greatest thing ever. Furthermore, I’ve put together a few suggestions to assist you in quitting this repulsive behavior.

Please continue reading so I can show you the post’s more in-depth information.

Why Do Dogs Roll In Dead Animals? 

Your dog’s friend just took a nice bath and probably smells like new roses. Since they detest being blow-dried after a bath, you’ve chosen to take him for a stroll through the woods in the evening, which is the ideal opportunity for them to air-dry.

Things appear to be in order. You’re admiring the magnificent view of nature. In front of you, busy sniffing around, is your strolling companion.

Then the unimaginable occurs. Your dog stumbles upon a dead, rotting rabbit and immediately begins to roll around in it. Yuck!

We are aware that our dog friends are members of the Canis Familiaris species. Let’s just leave it at Canis Yuckus, though, given their repulsive rolling-in-carrion behavior. You understand what I mean.

You might be perplexed as to why, given all the amazing things your dog is capable of, they would choose to engage in one of the most repulsive actions ever.

Experts have investigated this peculiar but typical dog behavior and have developed hypotheses for why it occurs.

If you’ve been trying to wrap your head around why dogs often roll in animal carcasses, these six reasons will satisfy your curious mind:

An Inherited Hunting Technique

The ancestors of our dogs are wolves. Dogs were first domesticated thousands of years ago, but they still exhibit wolf-like traits.

Because of their wolf-like DNA, your dog’s natural instinct is to roll in dead animals.

Wolves frequently roll on dead animals while hunting to mask their scent as they pursue their prey.

Dogs enjoy pursuing their prey. Additionally, they probably understand that their prey will be alerted to the presence of their attacker if they smell dog-like.

What then will a dog do in its place? They roll on anything that is dead they come across to cover themselves in that foul smell.

Because they don’t smell like dogs, your dog probably thinks it’s simpler to sneak up on prey like squirrels and raccoons.

Almost Anything For The Park

As you may already be aware, dogs are social animals. They enjoy being around others and will sacrifice themselves to protect the group.

Only that the “bullet” here means soaking in stinky carrion on behalf of the other dogs.

When a dog has this pungent carcass smell on their body, they’ll return to their dog squad and “submit” the smell for review. This strong smell lets the other dogs know what “delicacies” await them out there. The other pack members will begin their hunting mission in the same manner.

Additionally, dogs in a pack might decide to roll in the same animal carcasses so that they all have a distinctive scent that distinguishes the pack as a whole.

Crave Admiration And Want To Impress

A dog will occasionally seek out the limelight. He will do anything to attract the attention of his canine companions, including rolling in dead animals.

Dogs are particularly intrigued by strong smells.

Your dog is probably aware of the fact that being covered in this offensive odor will make him stand out among his canine companions. He is approached, and they immediately begin to smell his body. They’ll be impressed by his prowess as a predator right away, believing that his foul odor came from wrangling a prey.

Love The Dead Carcass Smell

Strange scent preferences are common in dogs. They detest the smell of perfume on their bodies but enjoy dousing themselves in the smell of decaying animals.

In other words, if you find your four-legged friend romping around in a carcass, they might be attempting to mask the scent of the scented dog shampoo you used when giving them a bath.

Claiming Territory

When it comes to territory marking, dogs are experts. They urinate nearly everywhere while on heat all the time. And they’ll do it if they come across dead prey.

Because of the distinct scent that is released from the anal glands beneath our animal friends’ tails, dogs frequently go bonkers while smelling each other’s butts.

The sole reason your dog may decide to roll on the carcass of the squirrel is to mark the object with his natural imprint. As a result, the carcass is recognized as being his by other dogs in the area.

For Fun And Games

We are aware of the considerable playfulness of our canine friends. However, occasionally they might decide to go too far.

Dogs also enjoy rolling in carcasses and dead animals to spread them around. Perhaps at that precise moment, nothing even comes close to the joy of turning and twisting on a dead animal, but they love it nonetheless.

Is It Dangerous?

Although rolling over a dead animal is not a good habit, it is not necessarily dangerous for your dog.

Due to the fact that you are unsure of the circumstances surrounding the creature’s demise (i.e., it could have been poisoned or had rabies or another disease), but most of the time there is no need to worry.

If Your Dog Rolls In A Dead Animal: Do What?

However, as any seasoned dog owner will tell you, it is not the end of the world when your dog rolls in a dead animal for the first time. Your dog will probably do this a few times over the course of their lifetime. As a result, this is what you should do.

Brush

The first thing you should do after bringing your dog home is to brush their fur. Slicker brushes work well for this because they are made specifically for detangling dog fur.

It is best to brush your dog all over, but pay close attention to any areas where they have rolled. Simply brushing their fur should be enough to remove most of the residue.

Shampoo Bath

You should give your dog a bath once you have removed as much dirt and debris as you can. Make sure the affected area is completely covered with a deodorizing shampoo before washing their fur. Allow the shampoo to remain on the dog for a few minutes to help with odor removal. Repeat the process if necessary.

Rolling In Carcasses Is Dangerous For Your Dog’s Health: Why?

Regardless of how small the dead animal is, you should be alarmed if you see your dog on top of it. Your dog could become infected as a result of physical contact if the deceased animal had a fatal contagious disease.

Additionally, dead animals are rife with parasites. The carcass’s numerous ticks, fleas, and mites will be happy to find a fresh victim to terrorize.

Therefore, while your dog is enjoying himself by rolling in carrion, these parasites will attach themselves to his body. That might be the first sign that your furry friend’s health is deteriorating.

See more about Why Do Dogs Sleep With Their Bum Facing You

What Makes Dogs Roll In Gross And Smelly Stuff?

When you own a dog, it frequently happens that your pet comes back to you smelling foul and looking as though it had rolled in trash. They smell bad, and you can’t help but wonder what other revolting thing it has discovered. It seems impossible to get rid of the odd smell even after taking a bath and using shampoo. Dog owners consequently begin to wonder about the behavior of their canine companions.

Due to their keen sense of smell, dogs are frequently drawn to human waste, animal carcasses, and even poop. They are capable of smelling things buried in the ground and can detect scents from a great distance away. The combination of their keen sense of smell and their owners’ natural curiosity makes for a nightmare for humans. Every time you go for a walk or spend time in the park, they are sure to smell something funny that usually stinks and roll in it.

Even though they are aware that doing so will turn them into unappealing animals, there are a few reasons why they would want to roll around in smelly and disgusting material like a dead animal. Dog breeders think that by rolling in odors and rubbing their bodies in whatever icky and stinky things, dogs can mask their odor from predators. They apply the foul scents to themselves in order to mask their natural scent from potential predators. To inform their pack of whatever is causing the odor, they occasionally wear the foul smells.

Wolves have demonstrated similar behavior. Every time a wolf discovers something intriguing that it thinks the other wolves in the pack should be aware of, it rolls in that scent and returns it to the pack. This can include details about food, waste, dead animals or carcasses, and the like. It enables all other wolves to locate the object that their friend has found. Dogs mimic wolves in the wild by acting in similar ways. They roll in the scents of their fellow pack members to create a sense of bonding amongst all the members, just like wolves do. As a result, when your pet dog rolls in icky and stinky stuff, it could be providing information for your other pet dog.

Exactly Why Do Female Dogs Roll In Dead Animals?

Female dogs behave differently than male dogs do. Women are nurturing and have a gentle touch. They enjoy protecting their families and themselves with ferocity. Usually, their instincts are stronger than those of males. The tendency of females to be more perceptive of their surroundings is a natural adaptation.

All of their senses are even more acute when they are having a litter. They are faster than men at gathering information about their surroundings. When they believe that they or their young are in danger, they act even more quickly and think more quickly. They can catch prey when necessary thanks to their instincts, which also help them avoid becoming prey. Wild females can be just as vicious when defending their own as wolves.

Females are frequently discovered rolling in dead animals. However, it is still unclear why they would choose to cover themselves in such repulsive smells. Females roll in both feces and dead animals. Actually, it’s quite easy to respond to that. In addition to hunting, they are also being guardians. As you might expect, young puppies are not yet able to hunt. What their mother gives them to eat, they consume. However, it is the duty of females to guide their pups through the process of surviving. Puppies must be able to locate their food.

Females expose them to recognizable scents as part of their training. They begin by learning to tell the difference between the smell of food and feces. A dog’s sense of smell is so acute that it comes naturally to them. In order to bring the scent back to their families, females roll in dead animals. In order for puppies to be able to do the same in the future, it is a great training exercise. Female dogs must roll to get at the smelly objects in order to rub themselves on the remains to bring back to their families.

Why Does A Dog Roll Over On Its Back?

They merely enjoy playing. Every chance they get, they use their preferred playing strategies. Rolling on their backs is one of the most popular playing techniques. When they are secure in their tidy homes, we typically don’t mind this behavior. However, a dog becomes a nuisance when it rolls over in the backyard or a public park. They need baths more frequently than they should because they get so filthy.

Although watching a dog roll over on its back is very cute, dog owners find the thought of cleaning them afterwards to be very taxing. They, on the other hand, are carefree and enjoy rolling over. What, however, causes dogs to roll maniacally on their backs?

This behavior can be explained in a number of ways. The behavior of dogs is explained by studies that dog breeders have published. Dogs actually use rolling on their backs to greet people by exposing their bellies. It poses no threat at all. Dogs believe that by showing their bellies, people will be more likely to approach them. They seek the confidence of those who are close to them. Dogs want people to understand that they are just playing with them and won’t attack them. And a dog’s way of expressing that is with a roll of the back. This strategy is one that well-socialized, sociable dogs adopt when they encounter new environments and people.

This behavior appears to be acceptable, but as dog owners, be aware of how often your dog rolls over. They frequently roll onto their backs when they are experiencing an itch that they can’t seem to get rid of. You must pay closer attention to your dog’s body language if it suffers from allergies. Some itches may be brought on by a bug bite, while others may be the sign of a serious infection. It’s crucial to get your dog to the vet before it’s too late. Dogs roll on their backs for the same reason we talked about earlier: to hide their scents.

Prevent Dogs From Rolling In Animal Remains

Prior to anything else, it’s important to realize that it most likely forms a natural and healthy behavior. Dogs will roll around on the ground for a variety of reasons, most frequently just to play and burn some energy. It might always be possible the dog is wallowing in something like feces or dead animal remains, but doesn’t intend to. It is not the same as eating feces, which can be a sign of something wrong as discussed in our article on the reasons why dogs eat feces.

Only if the dog is experiencing stress that is really cause for concern. If so, you should deal with these stressors and stop the behavior in question.

If you think the dog might be going towards something you don’t want them to roll around in, then you can use (or refresh) their basic obedience training. These may contain elementary instructions like “heed” or “sit.” A control mechanism for unhygienic behavior can be used when training the dog properly, which involves the use of positive reinforcement.

You must remove the dog from the area and reward them for their good behavior after you have successfully stopped them from rolling in animal remains. We can also help them to ignore these animal corpses through games and generally providing adequate physical and mental stimulation.

Why Does A Dog Consume Animal Waste?

You should probably take your dog to the vet if it regularly consumes animal or human waste. Dogs may consume human waste for a number of reasons, but one of them is an enzyme deficiency. It might be difficult to digest some foods or have general nutritional deficiencies. An exocrine pancreatic insufficiency can also cause malabsorption. Because of this, it’s crucial to pay attention to any additional symptoms that appear after a dog consumes excrement. The dog will typically lose weight, have diarrhea, and will try desperately to eat anything to get the nutrients it is lacking.

Dogs may eat the feces of other pets, such as cats, rabbits, or rodents, if you have them because the stools contain vitamins. Particularly rodents and rabbits produce excrement that is high in vitamin B.

Another possibility is that the dog has worms or other intestinal parasites. The nutrients your dog typically consumes from food are absorbed by intestinal parasites. Stool can serve as a natural dewormer in the wild. If you provide a suitable diet for your dog and yet they are still searching out other food in the form of dead animals or feces, then you need to take them to the vet to rule out dietary issues or parasites.

FAQs On Dogs Rolling In Dead Animals

Why Do Dogs Roll In Smelly Objects?

Dogs will roll in mud and other stinky materials because they simply love foul smells. They acquired this disgusting rolling behavior from wolves.

Dogs Roll In Dead Animals And Feces, So Why?

Dogs roll in poop and dead animals for a variety of reasons, such as amusement, to mark their territory or mask their natural scent when hunting, or simply to impress other canines with their peculiar odor.

What Causes Dogs To Roll In Dead Bugs?

Dogs like to roll in dead things like bugs for a variety of reasons. For instance, the dead bug smell will endear them to other dogs, it is enjoyable, and they want to claim the area where the dead bugs are as their territory.

Why Do Dogs Roll In Worms That Have Died?

As previously mentioned, dogs enjoy rolling in dead things like worms because they enjoy the strong smell they leave behind. Among other things, they roll around because they enjoy it or because they want to get rid of the scent of any perfume on their body.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many causes for dogs to roll in dead animals. It might be to get the smell of the dead animal on their fur or to get their scent on the dead animal. Although the precise cause will never really be known, we do know that it is a very common behavior in dogs.

Fortunately, as repulsive as it may be to us, your dog is rarely at risk from it, with the possible exception of parasite transfer or a rare instance of a sick animal showing contagious symptoms. Try to avoid it altogether, but if it does, just hold your nose and give your dog a bath.

Thank you for reading.