From scent communicating to simply because they require to , our pups love a little tail wiggle now and again .

At first glance , the odd thing our wienerwurst do make no sense at all . But more often than not , there ’s a reason behind them . eat on rocks , for case , can be because your dog is lacking key minerals … or because he ’s blase . Burying bonesand other item might harken back to instinctual " caching " behavior by salvage something to gnaw on for later .

But why do dogs seethe in the grass ? Is there an account ?

dog rolling in the grass

Photo: Brie Passano

3 Reasons Why Dogs Roll Around in the Grass

Sometimes this conduct is about communication , or mayhap it ’s to scratch a particular itch . Or it ’s simply because theycan . We ask Miles Bensky , PhD , a pet behavior scientist withPurina , for more insight into why dog roll around in grass .

They’re Using Scent to Communicate

A hound ’s sense of smell is unbelievable . Humans have six million scent receptors;dogs have up to300 million . This is the chief reason why they surpass at scent - based jobs such as arson probe , search and saving , COVID sensing , and more . And it ’s why you often chance dogs roam around outside .

" Grass - rolling may serve multiple purposes look on a number of factors at play , but in general , it ’s probably about smell , " Bensky enunciate . " It ’s always significant to retrieve that there are many olfactory perception in the environment that our human noses are blind to , but that are justscreamingto firedog to be interact with . "

There are a few rough-cut theory regarding canines ' sniffing communication , Bensky say , including :

They’re Stretching

It ’s that simple . Just as we do , a intelligent stretch feels unspoiled after a courteous long walk or nap . roll around helps our pup crony loosen up their joint , take loose pelt , and boost circulation . Next good thing?Doga !

They’re Expressing Happiness

" When dogs are happy , their behaviors are often at large and exaggerated . Just watch when dog are play with each other — you see tons of exaggerated bounding and rolling around , " Bensky says . Being on their back and exposing their tummy is a vulnerable side , so when dogs are tramp around , " it can be a planetary house that they feel felicitous , safe , and are just having a good time . "

Just call up : when your dog is range around in the Gunter Wilhelm Grass on their back that this does n’t necessarily think they want abdomen rubs ortickles . Some puppy do n’t savour these touches !

How to Stop Your Dog From Rolling in the Grass

" Overall , rolling around in the grass or on the ground in general is a totally natural demeanour — even when it require your dog getting into some thing that you might wish they had not , " Bensky says .

So you do n’t of necessity need to stop your pooch from doing it , but you might require to train them to answer to your pool stick to not always founder down on the stinky stuff . Bensky advocate usingpositive reinforcement trainingsuch as strong recall or targeting to airt your pet . " Just commemorate those odour can be extremely cark / enticing for dogs , so make certain you put in the time to work on these redirection behaviors with extremely reinforcing wages , " he aver .

However , if you feel your whelp is rolling around excessively — peculiarly if theirbody languageisn’t loose or relaxed — and it seems like they ’re persistently trying to scratch an itchiness , it might be clock time for a veterinary consultation .

" find out with your vet to see ifyour bounder is supersensitized to somethingin their intellectual nourishment or environment and ways this can be mitigate , " Bensky says .