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Why Do Dogs Love to Roll in Stinky Things?
By BL Ochman
Even well-trained dogs who seem otherwise sane relish rolling around in smelly things – the more disgusting the better.
If you have a dog, you know that can include poop, dead animals, garbage, or any decaying organic matter.
Every online forum about dogs includes this question, and the consensus seems to be that it’s related to their wild days when disguising their own scent would help them while hunting prey.
My favorite theory comes from Dr Stanley Coren, noted expert and author on the human-animal bond, who writes in Psychology Today:
“I have another theory, however, which is of no scientific merit whatsoever. … I believe that the real reason that canines roll in obnoxious smelling organic manner is simply an expression of the same misbegotten sense of aesthetics that causes human beings to wear overly loud and colorful Hawaiian shirts.”
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6 Comments
[...] Why Do Dogs Love to Roll in Stinky Things? from [...]
The instinct to roll in stinky stuff is very strong in Malamutes. One of our Mals used to drop a large Milk Bone on the floor, then “dive” on it and rub her chest against it. I guess she wanted to smell like a Milk Bone so she could stalk Milk Bone prey!
We always carry a 3 foot length of garden hose when traveling. That way when the “stinky stuff” appears, we can hook up to a hose bib in a park, a gas station or rest stop for cleaning. Dr. Bronner’s peppermint liquid soap is great for removing poopy smells from doggies!
Ed – Benny isn’t as interested in stinky rolling, but my Lab, Sammy, sure was. He rolled in a dead seagull carcass at Fire Island once and stunk for a week. He was sooooo proud of himself for finding it. And it took four people to get that vile thing away from him. Then there was the half a dead squirrel he found while we were hiking….
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by BL Ochman, Paw Fun. Paw Fun said: Pawfun: Why do dogs love to roll in smelly things? A funny theory. http://bit.ly/4duu1m [...]