How to Stop a Dog From Rolling in the Grass

Dogs are naturally drawn to the outdoors. Grass is a large reason why dogs prefer the outdoors to the indoors. Once dogs are outside, their natural instinct takes over, and many opt to mark their territory, show enthusiasm and generally bask in the various scents by rolling around in the grass. Although typically not a major concern for dog owners, a dog's rolling around in the grass may need to be stopped if the dog opts for rolling in smelly material that then gets brought into the house. Although training a dog to not roll in the yard is basically training the dog to go against its instinct, this task can be accomplished by breaking the habit and approaching the behavior change in a consistent manner.

Things You'll Need

  • Whistle, squeak toy or other noisemaker
  • Clicker (optional)
  • Dog treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Watch the dog and its behavior before beginning a discipline or behavior training program. Make sure that the dog is rolling in the grass, and take notes as to what the dog was doing before rolling in the grass. Note whether the dog rolls in the grass at a certain location or either before or after urinating on the area. Watch the dog for at least one week before attempting to change the behavior.

    • 2

      Remove objects or patches of grass, including those with any odors, that may be causing the dog to roll in the same spot repeatedly. If this is impractical, cover up the areas with outdoor rugs or tarps. Re-seed areas that have been destroyed, and place a barricade between the areas and the dog to prevent it from going back to those areas.

    • 3

      Always go outside with your dog when trying to break its habit of rolling in the grass. Make sure to have a whistle or squeak toy with you, and attempt to distract the dog the moment it begins to roll in the grass by calling the dog to you or making noise with a toy that the animal is familiar with. If using a clicker method for behavior training, make sure the dog ceases the behavior first, and then use the clicker to encourage the proper behavior --- in this case, stopping rolling in the grass.

    • 4

      Have dog treats with you, and reward the dog every time it stops rolling in the grass when you distract it. Use this method to keep training the dog.

    • 5

      Begin to gradually lessen the number of times you use the whistle or toy once the dog consistently responds to you. While the dog is rolling in the grass, blow the whistle to get the dog's attention, and then firmly and clearly say the word "No" to get the dog to stop the action. Eventually, you should be able to simply say the word "No" and have the dog stop its behavior.