Why Do Dogs Love Stinky Stuff?

Ever wonder why your dog adores rolling in gross smells? Science says it's about survival and canine couture; masking their scent to evade predators or hunt, and impressing pals (or a mate) with their "Eau de Squirrel Corpse." Next time, maybe try a polite applause? 

The rancid, the putrid, the nasty, the foul: if the smell makes your stomach turn over, your dog probably loves it! A dog's sensitive nose can sniff out cancer, bombs, drugs, food, treats, you name it, so why do they use that powerful sniffer just to find a rotten corpse to roll in or to dig up cat poop? Turns out there might be some science behind a dog's penchant for all things rank.

Two Reasons Your Dogs Love Stinky Stuff

Scent scientists have a couple of theories as to why dogs seek out anything disgusting and then — ack! — roll around in it until they smell just like it (remember the last time your dog found that skunk carcass?).

The first reason has to do with survival. 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 roaming around the area. Nasty, yes, but also effective. But keeping their whereabouts hidden is not the only reason dogs like to smell rotten.

Remember the last time you were invited to a formal event? What was the last thing you did before you headed out the door on your way to the party? That's right, you spritzed on a little perfume! What for? So all your friends would notice how great you smell and like you even more! And if you are single, maybe you were thinking about attracting a mate too. Well, that's exactly what your dog is doing! Not only will a little Eau de Squirrel Corpse impress all your dog's buddies, but it might even score him a new girlfriend. As far as your dog is concerned, you are likely to be really impressed with his new scent too!

But Why Do Dogs Roll in Poop, and Dead Animals Specifically?

If you've ever asked yourself, "Why do dogs roll in poop?" you're not alone. It's one of the most Googled dog behavior questions out there, and honestly, fair enough. The answer gets even more interesting when you dig into the instinct behind why dogs roll in smelly stuff in general.

When it comes to why dogs roll in dead animals, wolves, the ancestors of your lovable couch potato, are actually the key. Wild wolves have been observed doing the same thing, then returning to the pack to share the scent. Researchers believe this may be a way of communicating: essentially trotting home and saying, "Hey, pack, you won't believe what I found out there!" It's a form of scent-based storytelling, and your dog still has that ancient instinct hardwired in.

So why do dogs like bad smells at all when their noses are so incredibly powerful? Ironically, it's because their noses are so powerful. What smells overwhelmingly foul to us is a rich, complex, information-packed aroma to them. Why do dogs like stink? Because to a dog, stinky stuff is basically a news broadcast, a social media post, and a treasure map all rolled into one glorious, disgusting package.

Here's a quick recap of why dogs like stinky stuff, in dog logic:

• Rolling in dead animals = disguise your scent from predators and prey

• Rolling in poop = pack communication ("check out what I found!")

• Rolling in anything rank = social status and attraction ("I am very impressive, yes?")

• All of the above = perfectly normal, totally ancient, deeply satisfying dog behavior 🐾

So, gross as it may be, your dog has some pretty good reasons to find, and then cover themselves in, as much stinky stuff as they can dig up. Do them a favor next time they come home smelling like something dead, and at least try to act impressed. Then…bath!