What Does It Mean When Your Dog Rolls in His Food Before Eating It?

Whether your dog shoves his whole head in his bowl or knocks it over completely to spill his kibble, you most likely find it odd that he insists on rolling around in it. This behavior is typically harmless, but in some cases, it could be a red flag of something serious.

  1. Getting Attention

    • Your furry friend adores you and wants you to give all of your undivided attention to him. But when you fill up his bowl and put it down, you walk away. He doesn̵7;t want that. When he rolls around in his food, you may come over and scold him for making a big mess and creating such a racket. While you probably don̵7;t realize it, you just encouraged the behavior since in the canine world all attention is good -- even if it̵7;s yelling from his human.

    Marking It

    • Dogs are covered with scent glands, particularly on their snouts. When your four-legged family member starts pushing his food around with his nose or shoving his head in the bowl, he̵7;s putting his unique scent on the food, bowl or rug. This instinctual habit lets other pack members know that this meal is already spoken for, so hopefully a more dominant pooch won̵7;t take it.

    Finishing the Hunt

    • Of course, your pooch isn̵7;t a wolf wandering around aimlessly in the woods for food. But according to his genes, he̵7;s still programmed to think that way -- just like his ancestors. He may push his bowl around or knock it over until the kibble goes all over the floor. These movements give his entrée some life, in a sense. He̵7;ll roll around in the food to crush it and push any of that ̶0;life̶1; out -- much like he would do if he did have to hunt for his dinner.

    Other Possibilities

    • If your dog is older, he could be playing with his food because his vision is bad and he can̵7;t see it. Pushing food or rolling around in it gives him a better idea as to exactly where it is and how much is there. Talk with your veterinarian about your fur ball̵7;s odd behavior -- especially if it is a new quirk. Playing with food can sometimes be a sign of other medical conditions that make him have a poor appetite, leading to food play.