Why do Hounds like to roll their heads is stuff?

Any idea why dogs, especially hound breeds like to roll their heads in nasty stuff and mud?

Both my dogs, actually all dogs I've ever known, love to roll on gross/dead things, especially around the head and shoulders.

Why? No idea. I have some vague rememberance of being told it was something to do with masking or enhancing their own scent...

or something.

Sure is gross though, my dogs love doing it. Blech. Here's Jaida rolling on what I suspect was a dead worm or slug. Foolish.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1192/852073222_5e294b3ffd.jpg

You are right, bendyfoot. Dogs are essentially hunters. They learned to mask their scent by rolling in the feces or something that smelled close to the prey they were hunting.

http://school-for-champions.com/behavior/dogs_roll.htm

http://petcaretips.net/stop-dog-rolling-poop.html

http://www.mmilani.com/dog-eats-feces.html

Just some interesting reading. :D

My goldens love to roll on dead animals too :yuck: :shrug:

Mine too, she will roll in anything out of the normal, cow poo, shredded grass, newly cut grass, saw dust, wood chips, pine cones...mud, bog, rabbit pellits, you name it..

If she's not interested in eating it, she will roll in it. :laughing: Aww....one of lifes interesting mysteries...:shrug: