Here\u2019s a history lesson for you: Dogs probably roll in fox poo as an evolutionary means of survival. Back in the day, rolling in fox poo or other wild poo lying around left a strong scent on their fur which helped mask themselves from predators like bears, and them from hunting other animals too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some more details on theories of why dogs roll in fox poo and other kinds of poo. The world is full of them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We tend to think of modern-day domestic dogs as animals located pretty high up on the food chain. But there was a time when much larger predators were above them like wolves, bears, and maybe even woolly mammoths! <\/p>\n\n\n\n By dogs rolling in fox poo (or dead fish or rotting carcasses\u2026gross) they masked their own scent to avoid being detected and surviving an extra day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We know we can\u2019t imagine your Pug<\/a> being much of a prolific hunter either, but early dogs would have hunted, even if they were small as Pugs<\/a>. Rolling in fox poo would have helped to mask their scent and allow them to hunt successfully. Kind of like a camo disguise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another theory behind why dogs roll in fox poo is that they do it to leave their own scent behind. Dogs have scent glands that release pheromones, a bit like a doggy cologne that gives other animals information about them. Two of these scent glands are located on either side of their bum holes and leave a fishy, pretty strong scent behind when expressed. But dogs also have scent glands in their feet, which typically release scent when they scratch the grass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is something quite amusing about how dogs react around fox poo. It probably gives them a huge dopamine rush. If you\u2019ve ever had the (dis)pleasure of getting a whiff of fox poo, you\u2019ll instantly recognize it because it absolutely stinks like nothing you\u2019re smelled before. Just think about how sensitive a dog\u2019s sense of smell is. It\u2019s no wonder the foxy smell makes them go a bit giddy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we\u2019re sure you know, foxes don\u2019t go in for vet checks<\/a> and routine vaccinations<\/a>, which makes them likely to carry a wide variety of parasites such as fleas<\/a> and worms<\/a>. So, if your dog is eating fox poo rather than simply rolling in it, you bet they\u2019ll be ingesting all these nasties. Not yum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When your dog rolls in fox poop, you’ll want to clean them up as soon as possible. Carry some wet wipes with you on walks to clean off the worst, and then give them a nice bath<\/a> when you get home. And yes, things like fox poo shampoo do exist – you\u2019re lucky people have already thought of ways to get the stench!<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, make sure that your walks together are fun and interesting. Bring their toys along and play with them to keep them on their toes. Next, teach them some basic obedience cues<\/a>. The two most commonly known cues that you\u2019ll want to do a lot of practice for this are \u2018leave it<\/a>\u2019 and \u2018come\u2019 <\/a>(the recall cue!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In puppy language, \u2018leave it<\/a>\u2019 means \u2018leave that, I\u2019ve got something better for you\u2019. This cue is great for getting your dog\u2019s attention back when they\u2019ve caught a whiff of fox poo somewhere. You can teach them not just to leave fox poo, but to leave that trail of leftover chips on the street, or to leave that squirrel they\u2019re staring at a bit intently, or your neighbor in their tight, neon running shorts. You can get loads of use out of this one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Recall<\/a> or \u2018come back when I call you\u2019 is also a useful cue to teach. For example, it\u2019s good to use it just when you see a sniff and a little foot scratch on the poo before the \u2018drop and roll\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Important to note: Recalls should be instant. It should go like this: \u2018I want you to come back now\u2019 and followed up with lots of praise and a reward. Remember to never tell your dog off if their recall is a bit slow, it will make training slower not faster! You can learn much more about this training in our \u2018best dog in the world recall\u2019 in our training games article<\/a>. It\u2019s only a quick read, and you\u2019ll have your dog rushing back to you and away from fox poo in no time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t forget to read our full articles on leave it<\/a> and recall<\/a> – they\u2019ll come in very, very handy when you run into stinkies at the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There we go. We hope you\u2019ll now look forward to wonderful walks where you can smell the pines and roses rather than poo. Hopefully, you won\u2019t be yelling out anything like \u2018for fox sake\u2019 when Rover comes out of a bush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just remember that dogs love to roll in fox poo simply because they\u2019re hard-wired and instinctual. They just can\u2019t help themselves, so if you do have a dog who rolls in fox poo, try to focus on making your walks more fun so they\u2019re more likely to interact with you, but also teach them some easy cues like \u2018leave it\u2019 and \u2018recall\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking to learn more about the quirks some dogs have? How about reading why do dogs lick my face<\/a>, or how about a deep dive into puppy sleep habits<\/a>? You can always learn more about training and behavior with the support of our team of professional dog trainers<\/a> if you download the Zigzag app<\/a>. Not gonna push it, but I swear you won\u2019t regret it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Our team of professional dog trainers<\/a> will also be happy to walk you through every step on your journey. They\u2019re wonderful and will want to help you with all of those burning puppy questions you don’t even know you have yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"spaniel](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/fox-1.png\")
Why do dogs roll in fox poo?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To mask their own scent and avoid predation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a wild hunting tactic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To leave their own scent behind<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The musk drives them quite mad<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"pug](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/fox-2-.png\")
Is fox poo bad for dogs?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What do I do when my dog rolls in fox poo?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do I stop my dog from rolling in fox poo?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"muddy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/fox-3.png\")