Extra Sniffy -- Wanting to roll?

[LNsBeatles]

So I don't have any real concrete evidence of this, except for a few instances, but lately I've noticed that Louis is extra "sniffy" when we go outside -- like, intensely sniffing around - straining at the leash to smell something, becoming fixated on a particular smell, darting here and there, etc. If I try to get him to walk away, he will run back to it the first chance he gets. This is definitely a new behavior, and it's not just one particular area. (Although the pavement near the dumpster is a favorite spot :rolleyes: )

He's also trying to roll in smelly things -- he's been successful a few times (yuck!) but now I'm watching him like a hawk, so I think I've been able to deter him.

I read somewhere (on an online list?) or maybe heard that a dog's inclination to roll can sometimes be a sign that they are nutritionally deficient in something. Is this true?

I thought it also could be the fact that it's spring now (more things to smell) or that he's getting bigger/older (seven months now!)

I think I'm always going to worry a little bit that Louis' raw diet might be missing something, so this has just fueled my neuroses, lol.

Wanted to throw this out to the boards and get some thoughts.

[gmacleod]

Can't say I've ever heard of a connection between rolling in things and diet before ;)

Is Louis neutered yet? Even if he is, he'd likely still be interested in the scent of an in-heat female if he could smell one... And since that particular scent can carry for miles, well, it's hard to ask you whether there are any intact females within a five mile radius of you that could possibly be in heat and expect you to know the answer! But it's certainly a possibility there ;)

[Haus]

Lola's been sniffing a lot lately too when we walk her. I think it's just because it's spring and there are so many new scents for her to take it. She's about 7 months old, like your little guy, so she's never experienced spring before. It definitely makes for some long walks! I'm not sure about the rolling though. Lola doesn't do much of that.

[Chris&Eti]

I think this has a lot to do with puberty. I noticed some changes in Eti's behavior around this time also. Marking, kicking up to spread his scent, and definitely a much greater interest in other marked scents. Rolling in strong smells is connected to this- a form of scent disguise.

Also, their hard wired instincts start to take shape at puberty-which provides another explanation for rolling- it's a natural instinct to self medicate-strong smells or volatile oils interfere with bacterial respiration and also act as natural insect repellants.There's an interesting book called 'Wild Health" by Cindy Engels that provides some interesting insight into these behaviors like rolling and grass eating.

[bulldoggin30]

We had a female American bulldog who, at any age, would love to roll around in smelly, dead stuff. Someone told me that in the wild, dogs would do that, but I can't remember why, maybe dominance or something.

[imogene]

Domestic dogs roll in stinky stuff too. Jessica has a really funny story about Clementine and Sardines. My G. Parents live on a lake and at least once a year (in the spring) a big dead fish would wash ashore. Sometimes it would be there for a few weeks before my G-father's dogs decided it was smelly enough to roll in. Dog can be really really disgusting. Belzie wallow and roll in mud puddles and finds spots in our yard to roll around in. I am not sure what make her choose the spots that she does. We clear the yard of smelly stuff and even the neighbors cat stays our of our yard. She still manages to fine the perfect spot in the long grass, and makes herself nice and comfortable.

[BecksDad]

Beckham likes to roll in dead birds. Yuck.
He also sniffs around like crazy and will pick up anything in his mouth and try to eat it, including rocks. Dogs do crazy things!

[phoebesmom]

Phoebe is nearly 5 and still loves nothing more than to roll around in stinky smelling things. The last treat was a dead rat which made her stink to high heaven evilicon . She always has been, and still is, a sniffer of note, and on reflection she should have rather been named Miss Marple :D .

[SadPandas]

I noticed that as soon as we switched Orson to raw, that he began sniffing the ground a lot more. It was almost like he noticed smells better or something. I am not sure. But he hasn't ever been a roller. Knock on wood.:)