You sure have noticed that most dogs love the thought of being outdoors, whether it is just strolling or playing in your yard or having a short walk in the park.
But one striking thing that keeps your pet overjoyed is having to roll in grass. You can tell how excited your dogs are and how it feels good for them as they go rolling in grass and playfully wiggle their tails.
Owners may find that weird, but their affinity with grasses is common to all dogs whether it be a puppy or a mature one and across all breeds. As others may find that odd, you have to admit it; this kind of attraction is cute at the same time.
The reasons why dogs love to roll in the grass
There are a lot of reasons behind this grass rolling behavior. Your dog probably did it not just once or twice but countless times whenever you take him outside. They like to roll on the ground covered with grass not minding whatever dirt it may have.
Is it simply a plain attraction to the scent of the grasses, or do they smell other dogs who previously rolled in the same grass spot? These questions must have bogged your mind for quite some time.
1. Hunting instinct
History tells us that dogs are natural hunters. Even if the dogs in today’s generation have been domesticated and do not need to hunt for food, they still have their ancestral instinct. That is among those unpredictable behaviors you have to deal with as a canine owner.
This hunting instinct is one of the reasons for their grass rolling behavior. As they hunt for food (in their past life), they need to mask their scent so that the chances of getting near their prey are high. As they roll in the grass, the smell of the grass, soil, and even the environment stick into their fur, hiding their ‘dog scent’ from their potential prey.
Sensing through the grass would also help them pick up the trails of their possible prey. Although hunting for prey dates back to ancient times, domestication does not easily take away that instinct, so they tend to act on it.
2. A means of interaction or communication
Aside from masking themselves with the scent of the environment, dogs roll in the grass because it is their means of investigating the surroundings. Dogs gather valuable information from the various smells. Once they get enough information from sniffing and rolling, they relay it to their pack. Wolves, who are considered dogs’ ancestors, also practice scent rolling. This is also a common practice in communicating with every wolf in their pack.
In other words, because of their strong sense of smell, sensing is an effective means of communicating and interacting with the world around them – whether it be their prey or other dogs with whom they love to play.
3. Marking their spot
Mine, mine, mine! Dogs love to mark their spot and belongings – toys, dog bed, or even their owners. That is referred to as territorial masking because, by nature, they are territorial. Give your pup a new dog bed, for example. You will then notice him rub its body around the bed as if making sure its own scent sticks on the whole surface. The same idea applies to dogs rolling in the grass. By rolling, they leave their scent on the grass, and this is a way of telling other dogs they were there on that same spot.
4. A way to relieve the itchy feeling
Another reason why dogs roll in the grass is to relieve themselves of the itchiness and feeling of discomfort brought about by some allergies and skin irritation. Rubbing their body in the grass gives them a similar relief as scratching.
Watch for signs of irritation and skin allergies in your dog. These signs could include redness, swelling, and even hair loss. Whenever you notice your dog starts to scratch their ears, check the area around the ears immediately as mites and other parasites might be thriving.
When your dog feels itchy, its rolling behavior is not limited to grasses. You can find them rubbing their body on carpets, floors, sides of the furniture, or even your legs.
Sneezing is also a manifestation of allergies in dogs. If you notice something unusual or suspect your dog has allergies, take your dog to the nearest veterinarian in your area. Never wait for the condition to get worse before seeking professional help.
Should the diagnosis yield a positive result on allergies, the veterinarian may give your dog oral or injectable medications. Aside from that, the vet may also recommend allergen-free shampoos, conditioners, and wipes for your dog.
5. Getting rid of their body scent
A dog’s sense of smell is so sensitive. There may be times when the scent of their shampoo is irritating to their noses, and they want to get rid of that scent, and rolling is their way of taking that scent off their body.
What may be pleasant to humans may be disgusting for dogs. While we love the fruity or flowery scent on their fur each time we cuddle them, these scents may be the stinkiest smell for them. The act of rolling is their way of self-grooming as they try to get rid of the nasty smell. They could not bear to lick their paws. Also, it is undeniably hard to reach their backs. Thus, they resort to grass rolling. To avoid this situation, use unscented dog cleaning or grooming products instead.
6. They love to roll
Dogs are fun-loving, and it could be that they enjoy rolling in the grass. It is their way to relax and be carefree. For them, that feeling is priceless. You can tell when your dog enjoys rolling through its body language. That is perfectly a normal behavior in dogs.
7. Out of obsession
Some dogs find the urge to roll. If your dog rolls for this reason, then be sure to redirect your dog’s obsessive behavior.
8. Scent attraction
The grass and the environment outside can have various scents – food, decomposing leaves, garbage, other dogs, or other animals, including dead animals. Remember that a dog’s sense of smell is 40 times more sensitive than humans. Dogs may find all these scents attractive and would love to roll. Whether it is a pleasant or unpleasant smell, dogs can get attracted to it. They can either love it or just become curious about that particular smell. Notice them sniff around, make a couple of turns, then roll over the grass.
How to stop or prevent your dogs from rolling in the grass
Before addressing the issue of how to stop or prevent your dogs from rolling into the grass, the first question to answer is: “Should you stop your dog from doing so?” The answer to this question depends largely on the reason why your pooch rolls.
Let your dogs be dogs. As long as they become happy and relaxed, you can allow them to roll to relieve themselves of stress once in a while.
But when your dogs get so attracted to the stinky smell in the grass, you must stop this behavior. Redirecting their attention is necessary. Basic training is required. Add to it positive reinforcement to successfully curb their grass rolling behavior.
Training your dog may not be as easy as it sounds. So whenever you find it hard to train your dog and stop this behavior, you can always seek professional help from certified trainers in your area.
Catching your dog rolling in the grass is not very alarming except for causes involving health issues and obsession. After all, it is a way of connecting with their ancestors as it traces back its history of grass rolling.
So the next time you see your dog roll, don’t be so strict of a fur parent. This behavior is harmless. Be happy and supportive of your dog and give them a piece of heaven.
*photo by fsergii.kl.ua-depositphotos
