By rolling around in dead stuff for example, dogs mask their own scent. Covering themselves with the aroma of decay can create a confusing sensory event for predators, throwing them off the trail so to speak, and it can also keep prey from noticing they are roving about the area. Nasty yes, but also effective.
Why do dogs like the smell of death?
“Numerous dog behaviorists believe the actual reason for such rolling is that dogs try to deposit their natural scent on the dead stuff: Scent-marking their prey, dogs' ancestors publicly claimed it and kept other scavengers away,” says Claudine Sievert, DVM, a Kansas-based veterinarian and veterinary consultant at ...
Why do dogs like rotten things?
It's been suggested by scent scientists and wildlife biologists that they engage in this behavior so they can mask their own canine scent. Here's why: The strong aroma of carcasses and decay creates a sensory explosion for animals who rely on their snouts for sustenance.
Why do dogs rub on dead stuff?
It's From Their Wolf Ancestors This is a fairly common behavior called “scent rolling.” When your dog rolls around in carrion, or the decaying flesh of a dead animal, it may be because he's channeling his inner wild ancestors.
Why do dogs like to smell smelly things?
They're trying to hide their own smell Well-known dog expert and psychologist Stanley Coren, author of many books on dog behavior, says the explanation that seems to make the most evolutionary sense is that dogs roll in odoriferous things to disguise their own scent.
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