Hi List 

I have a 3.5 year old bitch who has started rolling in fox poo. She has done this about 6 or 7 times now, and it's driving me crazy!  Not only does the smell make me want to puke, but I have to stop what I'm doing to bath her, plus any of the other dogs she has touched.

Her current playmate is a puppy aged 5 months.  Does this 'rolling' reinforce her dominance over this puppy?

I see this bitch as the No. 2 in my pack.  I have an 8 year-old who I treat as pack leader, but in my experience it is the middle-ranking females who direct the pack.

Her usual playmate (same age as her but No.3 in the pack) is currently raising a litter of puppies - again, could this 'rolling' be something to do with the puppies?  And will it stop when the puppies have grown up/gone away?

My immediate reaction is going to be to exercise her on her own at all times, so that I can keep and eye on her, and keep her occupied with a ball, but ANY help or advice from anyone who has experienced this problem would be most gratefully received!!

Lewie

I have no solution unfortunately but my puppy nearly 6 mnths rolls in fox poo and other things,dont always know what they are,she has always done it,it is getting a bit less,we now tend to watch where the offending substance is and next time round that part of the field i distract her with treats,if youcan catch just before the point she is going to roll it may well work,it does for Zanta,I have met people who say there pups did this and outgrew it so I live in hope,but as your dog is older dont know if she will,sure there will be plenty of others along more experienced in the dominance issues you have raised and may be able to throw some light on your problem,HTH,and good luck.

Same here, there isn't much of a solution sadly - my boy does this a lot.  What I have done is to watch him as he's going to do it, so I can recognise the subtle signals - the sniffing with an ever-so-slight dip of his front half, for him, just before he goes in for the roll.  It's only a slight hint that he's going to do it, but it gives me a chance to catch up and hopefully grab his collar before he does it!  I did try using my remote spray colalr, but to no avail - he's very responsive to it in everything except poo-rolling. doh!

Bengi likes to roll so now when i see the signs he going to roll i say NO firmly and he stops. It took a while for him to grasp this but seeing that hes always on a lead at first i gave the command and realed him in at the same time so he didnt have much of a chance to roll, now he will stop but give me the look of you spoil sport :D

Keep her away is my only suggestion , this is not a "behaviour" that can be corrected.

Hi Lewie,

I have no experience of a mature bitch suddenly doing this in conjunction with another having a litter but my first bitch did start to roll in fox poo out of the blue when she turned around 4 years :rolleyes: YUK!  Anyway, I basically from then on had to observe her carefully and at any sign of frantic sniffing in an area distract or recall her immediately ;)  She didn't outgrow the urge to do it, but after I'd mastered spotting the signals (which was around 6-8 baths later :P ) I did prevent it happening again.

Incidentally, don't know if you're aware, but tomato ketchup or tinned tomato is an excellent way to reduce the pong and more effective than "smelly" shampoos ;)

HTH, regards, Teri

Agree entirely about tomato ketchup. I keep some in the bathroom cabinet with the dog shampoo. Bath your dog as normal. then use a handful of ketchup on your dog as if it was conditioner. It really works a treat. Tinned tomatoes have the same effect (I tried when out of ketchup once) but obviously not as handy to use.

Sorry - no advice on how to stop them from rolling in it in the first place - if you ever suss it please let me know!

Jane

Thank you!  I hope there isn't a NEXT time, I'm watching her like a hawk - but if there is, I'll certainly give the ketchup a go! 

regards
Lewie