Inexperienced pet owners often wonder why dogs roll around in rotting meat. However, this isn't idle play, but behavior driven by serious reasons.
Peculiarities of a dog's sense of smell
The dog, rolling in carrion, wants to confirm its individuality
Canines' sense of smell differs from humans in its subtlety and unique perception of odors. What makes people gag can be better for pets than French perfume. Trying to rid their dogs of their natural odor, owners use pet products with what they consider a pleasant scent. However, dogs don't always understand this and take measures to smell as they see fit.
Why do dogs love the smell of feces?
Another version suggests that the dog wants to convey information that something happened to him while he was outside.
Animals roll in excrement and rotten meat because:
- They find the stench a pleasant smell and derive pleasure from it. To be convinced, just look at your dog's happy face as he "bathes" in the stinking pile;
- They're trying to get rid of the floral and fruity scents of pet shampoos. It's no use trying to explain to a dog that the smell of chamomile is better than feces;
- express strong anxiety, for example, after a visit to the veterinary clinic. An experienced dog may become nervous even on the way there, since he knows that injections and other unpleasantness are unlikely to be avoided;
- They are trying to relieve the itching of their skin from the change of fur during shedding.
The best explanation for dogs' strange behavior is their instinct for camouflage. Their wild ancestors did just that when preparing to hunt: they would roll around in stinking piles, as the natural scent of a predator frightens prey even from a distance, while the stench of carrion doesn't cause alarm.
How to stop wallowing in rotten stuff
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 "No!" (or "Stop!", "No!");
- walk your pet away from fragrant garbage dumps;
- switch the animal's attention to a game or a treat when it shows interest in the next pile;
- Comb your pet in a timely manner during the shedding period.
The easiest way to correct the behavior of a dog is when it's obedient and knows commands. Making it so is the job of a smart owner.
