Why Your Dog Rolls in the Grass!

Do you commonly find your pup rolling around in the grass on a warm, sunny afternoon? This behavior may seem like just an odd quirk, but there are actually many legitimate reasons why your dog likes to roll around in the grass, a couple of which may indicate the need for medical attention.  That is why our veterinary clinic in North Merrick has cataloged the top 4 for you!

#1 – Instinct

Dogs aren’t the only animals that roll around in the grass, their distant cousins, wolves, do it too! When a wolf comes across certain odors, they will first sniff them and then roll around in them to get the scent all over their face, neck and body. When the wolf returns to its pack, they will start to thoroughly investigate that particular scent, sometimes following the scent all the way back to its origin.

#2 – They are itchy

Dogs can’t scratch their own backs, and they have a hard time communicating to you that they need to be scratched, so that leaves them with rolling around on the ground when they have an itch to scratch. There are many things that could cause your dog to be itchy, including tick or flea bites, allergies and other health issues. If your dog is constantly itchy, it’s always a good idea to have them examined by your veterinarian to identify the true source of their itchiness.

These are just a couple of the many reasons why your dog might be rolling around in the grass. Want to learn about the last couple? If so, please stay tuned for our next blog!

Have you had a chance to read our latest blog yet? If you have, then you already know about a couple of the main reasons why your dog rolls around in the grass. To recap, we’ve already talked about instinct and itchiness. The following is a list from our veterinarian in North Bellmore of the last 2 common reasons why your dog rolls in the grass:

#3 – Covering up smells 

You may feel that the shampoo you bathe your dog with smells great, but they may have other ideas. If your dog is constantly rolling around outside after you bathe them, chances are, they don’t particularly like how they smell after their bath. Buy several small bottles of doggy shampoo so you can experiment with different scents. You may find one that you and your dog both love!

#4 – Obsessive behavior

Dogs, just like people, can get obsessive compulsive disorders, and if you dog always needs to roll around in the grass, they may have one. The best way to handle it in this kind of circumstance is with consistent training. Keep your eye out on your dog as they are sniffing around, when you notice that they have found an excitable smell that they may want to roll around them, call them to you and keep them engaged with a reward of a game.

Is rolling around in the grass safe?

Lawns are treated with all kinds of things that can irritate your dog’s skin, like herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. Ticks, fleas and other parasites also like to hang out in the grass. Before you let your dog roll around in the grass, make sure that they are up to date on their vaccines and that you are utilizing a solid tick and flea prevention regimen. It is also advisable to only let them roll around in grass that is untreated.