Why Do Dogs Roll In The Grass? - PetMD

Why Does My Dog Roll in the Grass?

It may not seem logical for us, but there are many reasons dogs roll in the grass. Sometimes you can figure out why your dog is rolling in the grass by cluing in to their motivations.

Masking Their Scent

Dogs evolved from hunters, and rolling in the grass may be a remnant of that behavior. Dogs may roll in grass to cover up their own scent with whatever they are rolling in.

This could mean rolling around in the dirt and grass, or it could be that another animal recently urinated or defecated in that spot and your dog is trying to pick up that scent. This kind of behavior may have aided wolves while hunting—it would allow them to get closer to their prey without being detected by the prey’s strong sense of smell.

Covering Up a Scent

Similarly, a dog may be trying to cover up their own scent by taking on the odor of the grass. For example, many dogs roll in the grass after being bathed, and this may be an attempt to rid themselves of their clean, freshly shampooed scent. (Just because we like the smell of soap doesn’t mean our dogs do.)

Communication

Dogs communicate through scent. Many dogs (especially males) will leave small urine markings as they go on walks to communicate to other animals that they were there. Another way to leave their scent is to roll in the grass. Where one dog leaves a mark, another may roll to pick up that scent or add their own to the mix.

Scratching an Itch

Dogs can’t reach every part of their body to scratch, so sometimes they roll on their back to relieve an itch. If it’s just an occasional itch, that’s okay, but if it’s frequent or your dog won’t stop scratching and rolling, it could be a sign of a skin problem.

Similarly, dogs who rub their ears on the ground may have an ear infection. If you are concerned your dog may have a skin infection or something else that causes itchy skin and ears, call your veterinarian for an appointment right away.

Because It Feels Good

Some dogs may roll in the grass because they are happy and having fun and it feels good. There’s nothing wrong, and they don’t have a specific motivation; they are just being dogs. It’s kind of like sitting in a massage chair for a few minutes—it’s relaxing, and if the opportunity presents itself, why not?