Why Do Dogs Rub Up Against Things That Stink?

Though dogs have been the companions of humans for thousands of years, their instincts are the same as when they lived in the wild. These instincts cause dogs to behave in ways that may seem ̶0;anti-social̶1; to humans, but make perfect sense to the dog. Rubbing against substances that stink is one of these behaviors that commonly occurs. Scientists haves studied this behavior and have come up with a number of theories on why dogs feel compelled to engage in it.

  1. Canine Sense of Smell

    • A dog̵7;s brain is only 1/10th the size of the human brain, but the part of the organ that control smell is 40 times larger than a human's, according to the Dog Breed Info Center website. As a result, a dog's sense of smell is 1,000 to 10 million times more sensitive, depending on the breed. Dogs interpret their entire world through the sense of smell. It̵7;s not surprising that their behaviors regarding smelly substances is so much different than ours. They may use these smelly objects to tell their own stories about the world in which they live.

    The Ownership Theory

    • Another theory posits the idea that dogs rub and roll in smelly substances to add their own scent to them, and in fact, to claim ownership of them. This behavior may have use in the wild, where rotted carcasses and plant matter may be used as food. The problem with this theory is that many of the items dogs roll in are unlikely to be used as food.

    The Pack Alert Theory

    • According to "Slate" magazine, researchers at Dalhousie University thought that rubbing against materials that stink is a way that animals communicate an interesting find to the rest of the pack. This would tell them that there is a food source nearby, no matter that it is a rotting or poor quality one. For this theory to have merit, the other dogs could be expected to then follow the foul-smelling dog to the stinky item, but this reaction does not occur, as far as we know.

    The Repellent Theory

    • Yet another theory poses that dogs rub against stinky objects to repel insects and parasites. This theory was suggested based on the Native American custom of rubbing bear fat on the skin to repel insects. The thought was that dogs might do the same using whatever material was available to them. Unfortunately, some insects are actually drawn to these scents, rather than being repelled by them, so this theory fails in real life.

    The Camouflage Theory

    • The theory that makes the most evolutionary sense suggests that dogs roll and rub against stinky items because that is the best way to cover their own scent. Covering their scent helps them to hunt without being detected by their prey.