hi all

One day when over the fields with my gsd, she started to roll on her back in the grass,I assumed she was itching her back or just enjoying rolling in the grass and didn't think much of it until i walked over to where she had been rolling, there was a dead bird lying there. I now know that whenever she rolls on the grass there is a dead mouse or bird there and I am baffled as to why she does this, I have since tried to discourage her, any ideas anyone?? thanks.

I've heard that dogs do this to disguise their scent, and is an instinctive thing. I'm sure someone will let me know if I've got this wrong :D

liberty :)

It's a dog-thing, I'm afraid! There are theories as to why they do it (disguising their scent so that they can get closer to prey being the best idea) but it's a behaviour which is 'hot-wired' into their brains.

my border collie has a weird habbit, whenever you give her a treat or shes playing with her hide bone she tosses it up in the air then rolls all over it, we laugh and say kill it haha she reminds of us a cat?
we just put it down to a play habbit.
sam

HI all
My 13 week old lab does the toss and roll all over with my hair brush, it keeps her happy for hours. lol

Debbie

My mates little dogs roll on earthworms!
Lara x

The first time that I gave Bramble some raw liver, he picked it out of his bowl - put it on the floor and rolled on it :D

Daisy

HI,

I have a GSD and have bred them and been owned by them for years ;-) I only have 1 bitch left now, but she is dominant and some would say disgusting:-0 She has just turned 6 yrs, not that age matters, and will roll in literally anything!!
Especially other dogs poo, her own poo, foxes poo, dead rodents, rancid fish, you get the picture, she'll roll:-( I have found that it is to reinforce her status. She is a great stalker (she'll be on crimewatch soon) She loves to stalk magpies, and has unfortunately brought one down, dont know how she did it!! foxes, cats, and basically anything that moves. I know that she does it to mask her scent and when ever i bath her, the first thing she does is roll in .............you've guessed it...........undesirables!!! All I can suggest is, live with it! You cannot stop a dogs natural instinct all you can do is deal with it when the worst is done:-( ie, like other suggestions on here, cover in tomato sauce before bathing so that it gets rid of the smell.....before the next session. Try to reprimand and they will do it anyway, when they think that you arent looking! Only other suggestion is keep on a lead, but this is nearly always impractical. Sorry i cannot find the answer that you want, but i also own a Briard and he doesnt show any inclination towards this behaviour, only the GSD:-)
Jo

If I were you I'd just be very grateful that its not the very dead hedgehog (complete with spines ) that I had to pick out of my tibetans coat on one occasion :) :) and it was two miles of walking before I could get him home for a bath  EEEEEEEEEEEwww the smell

Dill

Rotton fish on the beach is even worse!!

Sarah

The jury is out here on the very worst smell for a dog to roll in. It's a toss-up between long-dead rat (with car journey home afterwards) or dead grass-snake ...

Hi all
thanks for your replies, I'm feeling quite lucky after reading some of them, and thank goodness it's not poo she chooses to roll in as I have a very weak stomache, picking it up after her is bad enough so cleaning it off fur yuk. thanks again.
maggie

The worst job I ever had was when one of mine ate another's poo. 1 hour later puked it back up on my new carpet. I was nearly puking myself when cleaning it up. :P