Why Does My Dog… Roll in Poop?
Published on December 15, 2011
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Just because a dog has 25 times as many olfactory receptors as a human doesn’t mean he has a superior idea of what smells good.
Pungent as they are, animal feces — especially those of wild mammals like raccoons, badgers and bears — clearly offer dogs a scent sensation they relish.
Our dogs probably can’t fathom why we scream when they come home smelling like, well, poop, but there may be some biological rationale for the disgusting tendency.
It has been suggested that dogs may be predisposed to this behavior in order to mask their own scent, so they can throw predators off their trail and prey off their game.
Here’s another thought: Maybe he’s rolling in it to prove to you, his beloved, how impressive he can smell when he really works at it.
More on Vetstreet.com:
* Why Does My Dog… Eat Poop?
* 13 Largest Dog Breeds: Towering and Commanding
* 5 Dog Breeds That Are Sadly Losing Popularity
Pungent as they are, animal feces — especially those of wild mammals like raccoons, badgers and bears — clearly offer dogs a scent sensation they relish.
Our dogs probably can’t fathom why we scream when they come home smelling like, well, poop, but there may be some biological rationale for the disgusting tendency.
It has been suggested that dogs may be predisposed to this behavior in order to mask their own scent, so they can throw predators off their trail and prey off their game.
Here’s another thought: Maybe he’s rolling in it to prove to you, his beloved, how impressive he can smell when he really works at it.
More on Vetstreet.com:
* Why Does My Dog… Eat Poop?
* 13 Largest Dog Breeds: Towering and Commanding
* 5 Dog Breeds That Are Sadly Losing Popularity