Do you know who doesn’t love anything more than the smell of freshly cut grass? Dogs. And they love rolling in it. They enjoy rolling on and in grass, whether freshly mowed, bone dry, or muddy. Let us assure you – it’s a pretty common behaviour, so no need to worry. Turn your frown upside down, will you?
In this article, you’ll learn why dogs roll in grass, if it is normal, the reasons why your dog might be rolling in glass, and if you need to worry about your dog rolling in grass. Spoiler alert: probably not.
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Is it normal for dogs to roll in grass?
Dogs rolling in grass is a normal part of canine behaviour. It’s completely natural and nothing to be concerned about.
You might see your dog scratch the grass before they roll in it. They might dig a hole beforehand, or sometimes roll in something truly disgusting like fox or other animal poo!
It’s actually quite interesting to know why they do it, so keep reading to find out. We know the intrigue is killing you.
Why do dogs roll in grass? 7 reasons why
Dogs commonly roll in grass because it smells good or something on it smells good. A widely regarded theory is that they do it to disguise their own scent. They also do it to cool down, massage themselves, or have a good old scratch.
All kinds of animals walk, trot and slither across grass, leaving a scent behind, and it’s normal for a dog to be attracted and roll in it. There are a few other explanations and theories why dogs roll in grass.
1. Dogs roll in grass to disguise their sent
The most commonly held theory as to why dogs love to roll in grass is to cover themselves with another animal’s scent as a means of disguise. Domestic dogs used to be wolves long before they were pampered pooches. However, they still hold this predatory instinct as a means of disguising themselves to hunt.
2. Dogs roll in grass because there’s something stinky on it
Once you know the scent of fox poo, you’ll never forget it. And neither will your dog. They’ll love to roll in it, or on the poo of any other animals, they run into. To them, poo just smells divine and they simply want to wear it like perfume.
Good job we love dogs sometimes isn’t it?
(Yes you can get specific fox poo shampoo to neutralise the smell. You can thank us later!)
3. Dogs roll in the grass for a cheeky massage
Rolling in the grass will give your dog a nice massage. It’s like the ultimate spa treatment; they’ll get a good exfoliation treatment and increase their blood flow to the skin to keep their coat healthy and shiny..
4. Dogs roll in the grass after the groomers or a bath
Dogs will often roll in grass because they don’t like how they smell following a bath or having been to the groomers. Some dog grooming products are strongly scented, and your dog would prefer to smell-au-naturel.
5. Dogs roll in grass to cool down
On a hot day, rolling in grass is an excellent way for your dog to cool down. The grass releases moisture, which has a cooling effect on your dog’s skin. Dogs only sweat through their tongue, and sometimes need extra help by rolling in the grass to cool off.
6. Dogs roll in grass to scratch an itch
If your dog has sore, itchy skin, or just can’t quite get to that bit they need to scratch, then grass is the next best back scratcher. Dogs can itch and scratch due to allergies or parasites like fleas!
7. Dogs roll in grass because it’s fun
I mean, it’s as simple as that. Who wouldn’t love loling about in a wild meadow of grass?
Should I be concerned about my dog rolling in grass?
As we explained, rolling in grass is generally normal for dogs. Keep an eye on the rest of your dog’s body language to decipher if they’re feeling good when rolling in the grass. Do they look happy? Good. Then it’s probably nothing to worry about.
Of course, if your dog is rolling in unsavoury stuff like fox poo or other kinds of questionable animal waste, you’ll probably want to discourage it and teach them to leave it, or you’ll wind up insane from bathing your puppy all the time. They may become ill if they eat the poo, so best just to avoid it.
If your dog is itching and scratching, check that they don’t have fleas or show signs of any allergies. If you’re worried, you should also speak to your vet to rule out any medical issue your dog might have. Dogs can also itch and scratch themselves when in pain, so if your dog is excessively or obsessively rolling in grass, it’s good to get it checked out.
So there you have it! We hope we’ve answered the mystery as to why your dog might be rolling in grass. It’s not usually a cause for concern, but if your dog starts doing something odd all of a sudden or starts doing something new obsessively, get it checked out.
While we’re on the subject of grass, if your pup is chewing down grass like a prize heffer you might enjoy reading our article on why puppies eat grass.
For the best puppy training tool around, download the Zigzag app. We have a personalised programme to get you and your pup off to the best start in their lives. And a team of lovely puppy trainers, itching to talk to you at every step. Give it a go today, and you’ll never look back. Not that you’ll want to anyway.
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