It’s a bugbear in every pet owner’s life – but it usually something they have to put up with from time to time – why their dog is so obsessed with rolling in fox poo
It’s a common annoyance for every pet owner, but usually something they have to tolerate occasionally. Unless your dog is well-trained, they’ll likely seize the chance to roll in fox poo, leaving you with the unpleasant task of cleaning up to prevent your house from smelling.
This led one dog owner to question why our pets enjoy rolling in another animal’s mess so much, posting on Reddit: “My two-year-old female German shorthaired pointer constantly rolls in fox poo. Although I understand this is normal, it’s become a habit now and on every walk she does it. It’s not hygienic for anyone, and we spend lots of time cleaning her and she does not like it either.
“Has anyone found themselves in this situation? Do you have any advice on how to stop it? Thanks a lot.”
According to dog experts The Kennel Club, pooches can’t resist rolling in fox poo because they don’t want to miss the chance to disguise their own scent.
A statement reads: “Before dogs lived in domestic situations, they had to rely on hunting skills to survive. Masking their own aromas and smelling like other types of predators may have given them an advantage.
“Another theory is that dogs might avoid becoming prey if they conceal their own smell. Certainly, in domestic situations, dogs don’t have any natural predators. But if you go back in time, bears, wolves and big cats would have been dangerous to dogs.
“By rolling in fox faeces, dogs mask their own scent and protect themselves from being detected by other animals that may want to eat them.
“It is also possible that by rolling in fox poo, your dog is telling other animals passing by that they have been there by leaving their own scent at the scene. It could be a way of your dog marking their territory.”
Not only this but dogs likely find the smell attractive and want to cover themselves in it like a dog perfume.
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However, there are ways you can prevent your dog from rolling in the mess when out and about – with the most straightforward being the ‘leave’ command.
The statement adds: “The aim of training dogs ‘leave’ is that you can use it when you are out walking. You can use the leave command if you see your dog scoping out something noxious to roll in.
“It also works if you don’t want them to pick something up, eat something they avoid or roll in bad smells.
“If you aren’t sure how to teach your dog the ‘leave’ command, join a local dog training class. It’s a very useful command to have in your repertoire.”
Commenting on the post, one Reddit user said: “Could be worse – my Weim found and rolled around anywhere skunks had squirted. Even better was getting squirted directly.”
One owner shared: “One time at Fort Funston (best dog park ever) we came upon a beached whale, and before we could stop him he rolled around next to the carcass.”
Another owner chimed in: “Just got home from a hike in the state park with my dog. He rolled in some raccoon poop. Yesterday it was deer poop. (I prefer the grassy notes of the deer poop.) I digress, there’s nothing I’ve heard as a remedy but a wash and a night in the garage.”
A third owner recounted: “I had a Bracco Italiano that rolled in duck poop every chance he got for his entire life.
“My 10-month-old dog just eats the duck poop. No idea how to cure it or which one is more gross. I guess I could get rid of the ducks and you could shoot the fox.”
