Why Do Dogs Roll in Fox Poo?

While there are many wonderful aspects of dog ownership, there are some that are a little less pleasant. There’s really nothing worse than going for a nice walk in the countryside only to find your dog rolled in fox poo. 

You’ll know right away if your dog has rolled in fox poo because of the distinct, musky odour and the way it clings to your dog’s fur in a typically tar-like consistency. But why do dogs do it? Here, we explain why dogs roll in fox poo, how you can get them to stop, and how to get rid of that fox poo smell on your dog. 

When it comes to questioning your dog’s behaviour, it’s important to remember that dogs were once wild animals, and while there’s no definitive reason as to why dogs would roll in fox poo, there are a couple of theories, including:

1. To mask their own scent to keep them protected from predators. 
2. Because they like the aroma (this may be why dogs roll in a number of nasty-smelling things they find while out on walks)
3. To communicate with members of their pack where they are or to signal that they’re on the trail of prey.

While these theories haven’t exactly been proven, nor do they make much sense to us, it’s important to remember that dogs are still animals. They still hold onto many instinctual behaviours linked to their survival, like how they sniff other dogs' bums as a form of greeting. 

Is it a pleasant thing to do? No. But they’re going to do it anyway because it’s in their nature. 

Aside from being disgusting, there are other reasons you should try to stop your dog from rolling in fox poo. Foxes are wild animals and are very prone to parasites and other diseases that domestic dogs are treated or vaccinated against.

Foxes tend to carry a number of intestinal worms which can then be left behind in their poo. The most common kinds are: 

• Lungworms
• Roundworms
• Tapeworms
• Hookworms

These parasites can then be ingested by your dog when they groom themselves after rolling in fox poo, leading to an infestation. While keeping your dog up to date with their routine dog worming treatments should help prevent this from happening, it may not be one hundred per cent effective, so stopping your dog from rolling in or eating fox poo is important as well. 

Unfortunately, as their owner, it comes down to you to clean your dog after they’ve rolled in fox poo. This can be challenging if your dog is particularly fond of their new smell, but it’s got to be done. 

1. To start, rinse your dog to remove as much of the poo from their coat as possible.
2. Next, cover your dog in a suitable shampoo and massage it into their fur right down to the skin. Fox poo and its odour can be particularly stubborn,  so we’d recommend using a specifically formulated fox poo dog shampoo to really get it out. 
3. Rinse the shampoo from your dog and continue as if it’s an ordinary bath, using any conditioners or other dog-safe grooming products you normally would. 
4. Dry your dog with a clean, dry towel until they’re 80% dry, then let them air dry the rest of the way. You can also leave a towel in their bed or on their favourite nap spot to help keep your home dry. 

If you’re a new dog owner or you’ve never given our dog a thorough bath before, you can find more information and step-by-step instructions on how to bathe your dog in our blog.

Prevention is always key when it comes to curbing unwanted behaviours in dogs or protecting them from certain situations. Rolling in fox poo is no different. 

One of the best ways to stop dogs from rolling in fox poo is by implementing a “Leave it” command into your dog’s training routine so you can call them away when they’re off the lead. This can also work with “Sit” or “Come Back” if you notice they’ve found something worth rolling in or eating. 

If your dog is particularly stubborn or just has a real love of all thing fox poo, then the best course of action is to keep them on the lead when walking through places that are likely to have fox poo, like fields or on paths in urban areas known to have foxes. 

It can be difficult to prevent your dog from rolling in fox poo while out on a walk since dogs are drawn to new smells as part of enrichment on their walks. However, we hope we’ve given you the necessary information so you know to handle a fox poo incident should one arise. You can even find a fantastic range of dog grooming products from some top brands here at Pet Drugs Online. 

This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle thoroughly with your vet before starting any program or treatment.

This post was written by a human.