Why does my dog smear himself in skanky stink?

[blueST]

Basil has developed a new hobby. He finds the smelliest mingingest item on his walk and proceeds to rub his head and ears in it. So far we've had mole hills, badger poo, swan poo and a dead frog. Any idea why and how I might dissuade him from doing it?

Gratuitous and uneccessary photo of the disgusting adolescent.

[HarryW]

Perfectly normal behaviour imhe, dogs like to mask their own smell, it's hard wired into them. I find mine will normally give small warnings they are going to do it, extra sniffing and bending their front legs just before they go down. Normally a shout at that point is enough to stop them. However sometimes they just go for it.......

[blueST]

Yes, if I'm keeping an eagle eye on him I can spot the signs, but he usually waits until I'm not watching.

[boxst]

Are you bathing him in anything smelly or have something new on the floors/carpets? My dog starting doing it after we bathed him presumably to hide the 'disgusting' smell of the new shampoo.

[Shaw Tarse]

Favourite for my sister's dog is fox poo!

[blueST]

boxst said:

Are you bathing him in anything smelly or have something new on the floors/carpets? My dog starting doing it after we bathed him presumably to hide the 'disgusting' smell of the new shampoo.

Not changed the shampoo. We only bath him about once or twice a month and I don't think this behaviour started just after he had been bathed. He is 19 months so he's probably just growing up.

[Morningside]

Thats Bassets for you! Mine (Columbo) used to roll in anything or go and find the nearest stinkiest muddy river and wallow in it. Usually while carrying a dead rabbit that he had found.

Edited by Morningside on Tuesday 15th July 20:34

[HenryJM]

Shaw Tarse said:

Favourite for my sister's dog is fox poo!

The only dogs on this planet that don't love fox poo are those that haven't met it. Disgusting stuff.

[blueST]

Morningside said:

Thats Bassets for you! Mine (Columbo) used to roll in anything or go and find the nearest stinkiest muddy river and wallow in it. Usually while carrying a dead rabbit that he had found.

Edited by Morningside on Tuesday 15th July 20:34

Haha, I know you're right! On his walk earlier he materialised with a rotten sheeps leg from a carcass. As soon as he saw me come for him he dropped down and tried eat as much as possible before I got there. Dead birds are another fave.

[Jasandjules]

HenryJM said:

The only dogs on this planet that don't love fox poo are those that haven't met it. Disgusting stuff.

Actually (and I most grateful for it) my two boys both ignore it. Our bi**es on the other hand, roll merrily....

[MYOB]

blueST said:

We only bath him about once or twice a month.

This is far too much! Once or twice a year is sufficient.

[blueST]

MYOB said:

This is far too much! Once or twice a year is sufficient.

It's more like once a month, rarely twice. If he'd stop galloping through the nature bog we could probably go to longer service intervals.

[FailHere]

If you think fox poo is bad, wait till they find hedgehog poo, my old terrier loved it. Current Spaniel is pretty good, yes he likes to get wet and muddy as he's a Spaniel; but the only thing he tends to roll in is food.
Any food inadvertently dropped on the floor immediately gets rolled in, he will then try to eat it. Mince pie filling is quite difficult to get out of a spaniel's coat, as is curry sauce.

[Pesty]

Air Sprey behaviour corrector.


Every time Logan went near fox or horse poo blew it.

Only needed a couple of times then just getting it out of my picket did the trick.

Now he sees horse of fox poo he just veres away from it.

[bexVN]

blueST said:

MYOB said:

This is far too much! Once or twice a year is sufficient.

It's more like once a month, rarely twice. If he'd stop galloping through the nature bog we could probably go to longer service intervals.

Normally I would agree with bathing frequency but actually with Bassetts as long as it's a good shampoo (like an aloe/oatmeal type) it's ok (and thoroughly rinsed) and good for their skin folds.

Plus it is hard not to wash that often if they roll (Bryn is proving to be an obsessive roller though I can stop him if I see him !)

[MYOB]

Stop bathing him. Dogs hate being clean and smelling of soaps. I bet he's rolling in smelly stuff to camoflage the smell of shampoo.

Just rinse him off in the garden without shampoo.

[bexVN]

Makes no difference to Bryn, we are forever showering him off in the garden and next day he'll still roll in something. We rarely shampoo him unless he is proper caked!

[evoivboy]