Everyone agrees that dogs are cute, but they can also do awkward, gross stuff sometimes. Have you ever caught your furry friend eating their own poop or sniffing a crotch? You may have scratched your head and wondered, “Why do they do that?”

Let’s talk about some of the gross behaviors your dog has probably done at one time or another, and why they do it.

Key Takeaways

• Dogs sometimes engage in behaviors that seem gross to humans, but many of them are normal.
• Many “gross” dog behaviors are their way of gathering information, playing, or expressing excitement.
• Management strategies can be used to reduce unwanted behaviors.

5 of the Grossest Things Dogs Do

1.     Rolling in Poop

No one has provided a suitable reason why dogs roll in poop. But even though the exact reason isn’t known, there are some educated guesses. One idea is that it provides them with some type of camouflage. Some of the other theories for why dogs roll in poop are:

·         It communicates where they have been.

·         It masks their scent from prey.

·         It creates a shared scent, such as a pack of wolves that all roll in poop together.

·         Maybe it’s just a fun thing for us dogs to do!

The instinct is strong, so you may not be able to prevent your dog from rolling in poop. But maintaining close supervision while you are on a walk or playing outdoors can give you time to redirect them before they get all smelly.

2.     Sniffing Other Dog’s Butts

A dog navigates their world using their sense of smell. You humans have about 400 olfactory receptors, but us canines can have up to 300 million, depending on the breed. Sniffing other dogs’ butts is very normal behavior for dogs, especially when we are greeting each other. One sniff offers us tons of information like stress levels, sex, and hormones.

3.     Eating Their Own Vomit

Have you ever seen your dog eating their own vomit and wonder why in the world they would do that? Well, if you think about it, it still smells like food. Dogs are natural scavengers and odors associated with refuse or decay are not necessarily bad to them. There really isn’t much difference between the food that was in our bowl and what we just regurgitated.

4.     Eating Poop

Many humans think eating poop is one of the grossest things dogs do, even though it is a very common behavior. Mother dogs eat newborn puppies poop but usually stops as the pups get a little bigger. Adult dogs may find the taste appealing because it can contain fat or protein. Sometimes, dogs eat poop due to boredom, attention-seeking, or dietary deficiencies. And there are times when they are just exploring their surroundings. Good management can help stop this habit. Pick their poop up right away so it’s not accessible to your dog. If you have a cat litter box, place it where it’s out of reach of your dog.

5.     Scooting

You look up to see your dog scooting their butt across your carpet! Gross! It may even look funny to you, but it’s usually a sign that there is something going on with their rear end. They may be relieving an itch or something uncomfortable. It may also be due to irritation of the anal gland or issues with pooping. Some breeds have trouble with impacted anal glands. Good grooming habits, like cleaning your dog’s rear end with Pawer Lab’s All Natural Pawer Dog Wipes can help keep them comfortable and prevent some scooting. If it persists, have them checked out by the vet as it could indicate more serious problems.

About the Author: Hazel

Hazel is the head engineer at Pawer Lab. He develops and tests the latest pup-focused inventions for Pawer Lab. He is passionate about enjoying the small things in life. The border collie’s hobbies include riding in the car, stalking the mailman, and fetching tennis balls.