Why Do Dogs Roll in Grass?
One of my dog’s greatest passions in life is rolling in grass. She is obsessed. I’ve told her many times to knock it off because I know she is likely coating her fur in something stinky. She usually ignores my requests, and says I’m just jealous. When I ask her, “Jealous of what,” she responds by rolling her eyes.
Anyway, her behavior got me wondering why exactly do dogs love rolling in the grass. According to PetMD, our furry friends could have several goals in mind when they are exhibiting the behavior.
For one, they could be essentially viewing the area as we would an expensive bottle of perfume. Well, kind of. I can only assume that the smell of grass and whatever gross substance is between the blades smells magical to our canine companions. Not only that, but the grassy area will conceal your dog’s signature scent. While speaking to Reader’s Digest in April 2024, veterinarian Dr. LeHoullier explained that this is a technique our pretty pup’s descendants, wolves, use to catch their prey.
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“Dogs may roll in the grass in order to mask their natural scent with either the scent of the grass or that of another animal whose scent was present where the dog is rolling,” said Dr. LeHoullier. “This behavior would have assisted in hunting as the dog could then potentially get closer to their prey.”
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Your dogs could also find joy by rubbing their back on the grass. I’m sure the sensation is pleasant. However, I wouldn’t know because I am very allergic to grass. Perhaps this is what my dog was referring to when she was accusing me of being “jealous.”
Speaking of allergies — some pups who suffer from allergies have a strong urge to rub on grass. During the same April 2024 Reader’s Digest interview, veterinarian Dr. Kevin Puzycki stated that sometimes “countless allergens, invisible to our naked eye, stick on a dog’s fur, paws and more, causing consistent irritation to the skin.”
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“Signs such as paw licking and rolling around are attempts at scratching that itch,” said the vet.