It’s a common question here at Daily Paws. You’re at the beach or the park and suddenly Rover is flat on his back, squirming joyously in a dead fish or mouse, or whatever other nasty thing he’s found. Has he gone mental? Not at all – this is perfectly normal, although the smell might drive you mental.

This behavior is instinctive with dogs, a remnant of the time when they ran with wolves. When out hunting, it’s best to camouflage yourself as much as you can. Deer hunters buy special sprays to cover their human scent, but try watching a dog use an aerosol can…it rarely works. So they roll in rotting garbage instead. It’s often unpleasant, since you probably have the urge to wash them every time this happens, but consider it a window into behavioral evolution.


Can you stop it? Probably not. If your dog is outside without you, that instinct is just going to kick in. However, when you are on walks with your dog, you can usually intervene successfully. When you see your dog just about to flop down in that pile of whatever, give a sharp call, the kind that says “no food for you if you don’t stop right now.” That generally does the trick. Your other option is to train your dog to use one of those cans of deer scent; if you manage to succeed at that, please tell us how.




We’ve tried to find the best sources we can for the information above, but you should always consult a veterinarian, professional trainer or other expert for any pet problems.