Why do dogs roll on the ground?

Dogs love rolling on the ground because they’re scent masking or marking their territory. It can also give them relief since grass can scratch their backs. Dogs may also love the feeling of tiny sharp grass blades on their skin. Canines are also fond of stinky objects such as dead bugs and soil.

Is rolling on the ground normal for dogs?

Yes!

Rolling on the ground, whether indoors or outdoors, is a behavior that’s common in dogs.

You’ll be walking with your pup, and suddenly, they just lie on their backs and seem to excitedly sniff the ground and then roll on it.

“Why do they do this?”

There are lots of reasons fur babies behave like this. We’ll discuss the most common ones on this article.

They’re masking their scent

One of the reasons ancient dogs are such amazing hunters is because they know how to hide from their prey. Not just physically hide their bodies, but they also alter their scents so they won’t get detected by their target.

When hunting small animals, dogs usually roll on their target’s poop. It may sound disgusting, but it’s actually genius!

Imagine you’re a small rabbit in the wild, and you smell nothing but leaves on the ground and your own poop. You won’t suspect that a wild dog is already out to hunt you!

They’re marking their territory

As you may already know, dogs communicate with other canines through smell.

They let other dogs know that there’s a dog that owns a certain area by spreading their scent throughout the place.

If your dog treats your home as a place that they need to defend from intruders and other dogs, then you might see them:

• Peeing on the fence.
• Rolling on the ground.
• Frequently strolling around your yard.

It’s one way your dog says they love you!

They love the feeling of the ground on their skin

If you think about it, dogs don’t have a way to scratch their backs.

The only way they can do this is by rubbing their backs on something sharp, such as table corners, walls, and grass, among several other objects they might find in your home.

Sometimes, your pup also loves the prickly feeling of grass and sticks on their backs, which is why they go frantic when they find a patch of grass when they’re out. This is especially true if your furry friend mostly lives inside your apartment.

Is it safe for dogs to roll on the ground?

Generally, yes, it’s safe for dogs to roll on the ground. However, you still need to make sure that they’re not hurting themselves when they do this.

“How are they going to hurt themselves?”

They might get fleas and ticks from dead bugs and other small animals. In some cases, dogs may also prick their skin, and since they’re exposed to dirt, it can cause an infection.