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Watching a dog roll on their back and exposing their tummy to the air is a relatively common (and funny!) sight to many dog owners.
It’s traditionally always been seen as a submissive gesture, but there’s actually much more to it than that.
So, why do dogs roll on their backs? Let’s do some digging…
They’re Disguising Their Scent
Despite the fact that dogs have been domesticated now to close to 10,000 years, our canine friends still have some behavioral throwbacks to their wolf ancestors.
One of these throwbacks is the primal instinct to survive in the wild.
By rolling on their backs – particularly in something smelly outside – they’re able to coat themselves in a new scent and disguise their own.
This is a behavior that will help them defend themselves against the real and imagined predators they might encounter in the wild. Bears, for instance.
Unfortunately, Fido doesn’t realize that he’s unlikely to encounter any bears at the park on your morning walk.
When he spots a big, steaming pile of mud (and goodness knows what else), he dives straight in, rolling on his back to effectively cover as much body area as possible, thus diverting the bear’s attention away from his noticeable doggy scent.
Of course, when he emerges from the mud pile, he sees that there’s no bear, just you wearing a pained look on your face as you realize that Fido needs yet another bath.
It’s very hard to stop your dog rolling in smelly spots as it’s a natural behavior, but training your dog to ‘leave it’ when they come across something temptingly smelly and come back to you instead is the best way to manage it.
They Need a Good Scratch
If you consider the canine skeleton for a moment, it’s clear that it would be pretty hard for dogs to scratch themselves if they had an itch on their back.
As such, the only effective way to relieve that itch is to roll on their backs and rub the itchy spot on whatever surface they find themselves on, whether that’s in the grass, on your sofa or in your bed.
Of course, while the occasional itch is completely normal, it’s worth investigating further if your dog seems to be rolling over to itch themselves more than usual.
They could have fleas or ticks, or perhaps even be suffering from dry skin and allergies.
Make sure that they’re on a flea and tick program, and consult your vet if you’re concerned about allergies.
They will be able to advise if your pup needs any medication or supplementation to relieve their discomfort and restore them to normal.
Rolling Over can be a Defensive Tactic
When it comes to play fighting with other dogs, rolling onto their backs is often seen as a submissive behavior, but new studies actually indicate that this could be a calculated move to engineer themselves into a defensive position instead.
If your dog enjoys play fighting with other dogs, it’s likely you’ve seen this rolling movement often during their skirmishes.
This new study, from the University of Lethbridge and University of South Africa, has found that rolling onto their backs actually allows dogs to better evade bites during play, and even to launch their own bites on their play opponent.
So, instead of being a sign that they’re raising a white flag and asking for peace, your pup rolling onto their back could actually be them tactically assuming a position to best defend themselves and to regain the upper hand.
But it Could Also be Submissive
While rolling onto their backs during dog-dog play is a defensive tactic, the movement in a different context is often submissive.
Again, dogs have inherited this behavior from their wolf ancestors, who used to roll on their backs to show due respect to the Alpha of their pack.
The move also used to be deployed to persuade any approaching predators of their helplessness and to encourage them to retreat.
So, if your dog rolls on their back in front of you, it could be them showing you respect as a the Alpha of your household pack.
By displaying themselves at their most vulnerable – exposing their usually hidden side and effectively disabling themselves from running away quickly, they’re showing you that they trust you as their leader.
Some owners take this behavior further and choose to train their dog to roll over on their backs at their command.
This is really more of a trick rather than typical behavior training, but is nonetheless a great crowd-pleaser and a great way to train and supplement the communication between you and your dog.
Here’s a video outlining some training pointers for the roll over trick:
They’re Happy and They Want You to Know it
Rolling onto their backs can also be a joyful movement for dogs.
We all know that the one thing your dog cherishes above all else is time spent with you, their owner.
If you’re petting them or giving them a tummy tickle, the sheer ecstasy they feel at being lavished with attention from you is enough to bring out their submissive side, like we discussed above, and make themselves vulnerable to you as their owner.
Some dogs actually sleep on their backs with their legs sticking in the air, and this shows that they are totally at ease in their environment and at their most comfortable.
Again, this is a sign of trust and confidence in you as their Alpha, as they’re willing to sleep in their most vulnerable position, with their muscles completely relaxed.
You’re unlikely to ever see a wolf sleep that comfortably in the wild!
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Why Do Dogs Roll On Their Backs? Fun? Or Something Else? was last modified: October 12th, 2019 by LTHQ
Does your dog roll on its back in the grass a lot? Maybe it rolls around in smelly stuff out in the yard. Or what if your dog's go-to move during puppy play is to expose their belly? A dog will roll on their back for a number of reasons. Some of them are simple behavioral cues and quirks but other instances could be a sign of something more.
One of the most common reason for a dog rolling on their back is not as complex as you may first think. Believe it or not, dogs often roll on their backs to scratch themselves in places they just can't get to otherwise. This can be a normal behavior, but if you've ever had a dog that has struggled with allergies, you know that dogs that are in the midst of an allergy flare up can get very itchy. They may scratch themselves so much that they develop a secondary bacterial skin infection. These skin infections can be painful, and spread rapidly, so if this happens to your poor pup, call your vet immediately.
There are medications that can help soothe your dog's itchy skin and help correct any bacterial infection that may have taken hold. Even if your dog doesn't have any signs of secondary skin infection, though, if they are itchy all the time that could be indicative of an allergy, be it environmental, food, flea, or other. Dogs manifest their allergies by way of itchy skin and paws, ear infections, and anal gland infections. If you are seeing your dog rolling on their back to scratch themselves constantly or if they are doing it in conjunction with chewing their paws, scratching their ears, or even scooting, they could be allergic to something in the environment or in their food.
Your vet can discuss ways of determining what your dog is allergic to and possible immunotherapy (most often in the form oral medications taken daily or injections given every few weeks). There are also medications available that can help block the itch cascade so that your pup doesn't have to suffer with an itch that it just can't scratch.
It is well-understood that a dog rolling on its back and exposing its belly is a sign of submission. A way of saying, "Hey, please don't hurt me, I mean you no harm." Sometimes, if your pup is extremely timid, you may also see submissive peeing in conjunction with an exposed belly.
As with all non-verbal behavioral cues and body language, reading your dog as a whole—looking at other behavioral cues it may be giving in conjunction with an exposed belly, as well as being aware of what is going on in the environment—can give you some insight as to whether this is a true submissive back roll or not. If your dog is in a new environment and/or around new people or pets, especially if your dog isn't very well socialized yet and still unsure of new people and new experiences, a roll on its back may be nothing more than a way to appear non-threatening.
Your dog may also flop on its back in the midst of healthy play with other dogs. In such instances, rolling on its back is a way of showing the other dog that the play is all in good fun. Veterinary professionals and pet owners are becoming more educated in pet behavior, body language, and how pets communicate with us and with each other. Reading up on canine body language, appropriate play, and healthy socialization skills are important tasks for any dog owner, but above all else is simply knowing your dog. The more you learn about different ways your dog communicates how they are feeling with you—how they behave when they are happy, scared, or upset—the more you can set your dog up for success in any situation.
What if you have a dog that thoroughly enjoys rolling around in dirty, foul smelling stuff outside? Your dog does not roll around in goose poop simply because it knows how much you hate it. Rather, dogs will routinely mask their own scent by rolling in items that are far more fragrant. It's easier to try and stalk the geese at the park if you smell like them. Keeping your yard clean of anything malodorous that your dog may be obliged to roll in and keeping an eye on the path at the park can help keep your pup fresh and clean. Sometimes those public leash laws really are in your best interest.
Most of the reasons your dog will roll on its back, exposing its belly, are relatively benign. Sometimes they amount to nothing more than just a behavioral quirk. Of course, if it's becoming a concern for you or if you fear there may be an allergy component to this behavior, consult your veterinarian. They will be able to suss out if there is a medical component to the rolling.
Why Do Dogs Roll in Poop?