Why do dogs rub themselves on the grass

Pet Talk

By Dr. Norette L. Underwood

Why does my dog rub itself in the grass?

Even the most peculiar dog behaviors have a logical and often fascinating explanation. Your dog may rub his head in the grass because he smells something appealing, or he may be using the ground as a natural scratching post.

Perfume

Like humans, dogs are attracted to scents they find appealing. Unlike their human companions, a dog’s version of an attractive scent can range from grass and furniture to feces and even dead animals. The simple explanation for why your dog rubs his head and face on the grass is that he likes the smell and wants to carry it with him.

Getting Rid of Unwanted Smells

Does this sound familiar: After swimming or giving your dog a bath he or she immediately looks for something to roll around in (often grass or the dirtiest spot outside). Just because you think something smells wonderful doesn’t mean your dog will agree. Your dog could just be drying their fur.

Victory Dance

Wolves are known to spread the scent and blood of their prey all over their heads and bodies after they’ve killed it — a victory dance to celebrate their hunting prowess. Similarly, some dogs may rub their heads on the ground after eating, even though their “prey” is kibble rather than a wild animal. It is also possible that the dog’s action derives from the wolf’s natural instinct to mask his own scent from whatever prey he is hunting.

Nature’s Washroom

Just as cats clean themselves by licking their fur, dogs may rub their heads and faces in the grass and against other surfaces in order to remove food, dirt or debris from their face, teeth or gums after eating.

A Bad Itch

Your dog may be rubbing his head to relieve an itch caused by a health issue such as fleas, or skin allergies caused by his food, household products or the grass itself. If the rubbing is incessant, or if you can see fleas, inflammation or an infection, consult with your veterinarian about the cause and treatment.

Obsessive Behavior

A little head rubbing can be fine, but if its constant, it might be a sign of pent up energy or frustration. The remedy? You may need to play more with your dog, invest in a few new toys or bones, or walk your pal more frequently in order to channel that energy in a positive way.

If you have questions about why your pet rubs their head, please contact Dr. Norette L. Underwood of Trumann Animal clinic and Best Friends Vet Mobile service at

Dogs do many weird things that we humans do not seem to understand — at least until we really get to know our pets. One confusing thing that dogs tend to do is roll in the grass. What is it about grass that attracts dogs to it so much? It turns out that there are several reasons that a dog may like to roll in the grass. Here are 10 reasons that every dog owner should be aware of.

The 10 Reasons Dogs Roll in Grass:

Sometimes, dogs roll in the grass simply due to instinct. Wolves in the wild tend to roll in fresh areas of grass and weeds as they travel. They sometimes do this to gain knowledge about the area, but mostly they do it just to experience all the scents, textures, and feelings of the grass and weeds. Since dogs are descendants of wolves, many of them inherit the instinct to roll around in grass whenever they find a new patch that they have never visited before.

Whether due to fleas, small injuries, or just a good old itch, many dogs like to use the grass to scratch themselves. They typically throw themselves on the ground and start rumbling and tumbling in the grass to get their itch scratched. They might even look like they are riding a bike upside down while trying to scratch their back in the grass!

The grass is an awesome cleaning mechanism for dogs. Owners might notice that their dogs start rolling in the grass after running in the sand or getting muddy. Sometimes, dogs roll in the grass to clean the “soapy” smell off them after a bath. Dogs may also try to get the residual smell off them after getting a flea treatment. Any time that a dog feels dirty in some way, even if the “dirt” is just a smell, there is a good chance that they will roll in the grass if they have an opportunity to.

Most people think of a male dog lifting his leg and peeing to mark his territory. However, some dogs prefer to roll in the grass to leave their mark. Rolling in the grass leaves behind some of the oils that a dog’s skin produces, which in turn, helps mark the territory. Dogs do not do this to try to claim the space. Instead, it is their way of communicating to other dogs that they have been there. Marking a territory also helps dogs to recognize when they come upon an area that they have been to before.

For whatever reason, dogs do not always like the way that they smell. So, when they want to mask their smell, they will roll around in any patch or field of grass to get a grassy smell on them. Even the dirt and mud underneath the grass can rub onto a dog’s coat to help mask their smell. This way, they don’t smell like anything but grass or dirt, which typically makes dogs happy.

One simple reason that dogs roll in the grass is for the feel of it. To them, it is like rolling around in a massaging bath of bubbles that invigorates the skin and gets rid of loose hair. Rolling in the grass is like a mini spa for dogs. Doing so helps massage the muscles, exfoliate the coat and skin, and stimulate the nerves. Plus, many dogs get a great stretch workout while enjoying their grass-rolling expeditions.

Another reason that a dog might roll in the grass is to relieve discomfort. Believe it or not, dogs can get sunburned just like we do. When sunburn does develop, dogs can gain relief by rubbing their bodies against the cool, damp grass. Dogs with rashes will also find relief in the gentle massage of soft grass against their bodies. Rolling around in the grass can even help cool a dog off on a hot, sunny day where no shade is available.

Dogs that are trained to hunt or protect livestock may look to grass as a means of camouflaging themselves. Doing so will optimize their performance and help ensure success. To prepare for a hunting or protecting job, a dog may vigorously roll around in the grass to get the smell and actual grass blades on their bodies. This gives them a sense of confidence that they will not be detected by possible predators or prey.

At times, dogs just want to roll around in the grass when they feel happy. This most often occurs in the backyard or a dog park when excitement and playful interaction are present. Part of the reason for rolling around in the grass is to get rid of pent-up energy that is exploding from within due to the excitement around them. Another reason for this behavior while happy is to show love and affection to those who are around them.

Unfortunately, some dogs roll in the grass because of an obsessive determination to do so. It can be tough to tell why a dog is obsessed with rolling in the grass, so working with a personal trainer is recommended. A trainer should be able to determine why a dog is being obsessive over the grass, so efforts can be made to stop the behavior if necessary. Signs that a dog is obsessive about rolling in the grass include:

• Constantly rolling in grass anytime that the dog is outdoors
• A tendency for the dog to do nothing but search for grass to roll in when outside
• A lack of interest in anything but rolling in the grass when spending time in the yard

If you suspect that your dog is obsessed with rolling in the grass, contact your veterinarian to schedule a checkup that should confirm or rule out any medical reasons for the obsession. Your veterinarian can recommend steps that you can take to stop the obsession. They should even be able to refer you to reliable dog trainers who can help you.

Can Anything Be Done About This Behavior?

Many of the reasons that dogs roll in grass are harmless. However, the activity can result in smelly dogs and unwanted debris in the house. Obsessive behavior should definitely be curbed if possible. Here are a few things that you can do to stop your dog from rolling in the grass if you cannot tolerate the activity:

• Hire a Trainer: This is the most effective way to ensure that your dog will stop rolling in the grass when you don’t want them to. Trainers have the resources, tools, education, and experience necessary to address core problems and redirect your dog’s actions.
• Practice Redirection: Any time your pooch heads toward a patch of grass to roll around in it, get their attention and offer them a treat so they forget about the grass and focus on your offerings. Instead of treats, a game of fetch or Frisbee can be utilized as a reward. Continue redirecting your dog’s attention in these ways as often as necessary.
• Practice Training Activities: When your dog shows too much of an interest in rolling in the grass, get their attention and start practicing training moves. This works best with dogs that are eager to please and have already been trained in basic obedience.

In Conclusion

Since there are so many different reasons that a dog might roll in the grass, it is important to pay attention to their attitudes, temperaments, intentions, body language, and actions whenever they do it in order to figure out why they are doing it. Hopefully, this guide will make it easy for you to determine why your dog likes to roll in the grass and how to stop it if necessary.

In case you might be wondering:

Featured Image Credit: Rita_Kochmarjova, Shutterstock