Why Do Dogs Roll in Fox Poo? How to Clean Them and Stop Them Doing It Again
If there was fox poo anywhere within sniffing distance, Chester seemed to know about it before I did. He would make a beeline for it, drop his shoulder and roll with absolute enthusiasm, making sure he got it behind his ears, up the back of his neck and anywhere else he could possibly manage.
What made it worse was the look on his face afterwards. He looked genuinely delighted with himself, as though he had just achieved something wonderful. Meanwhile, I was standing there knowing exactly what was coming next — trying to get one of the worst smells imaginable out of his fur.
Fox poo wasn’t the only attraction either. Dead fish, roadkill and anything with that horrible rotting smell seemed to have the same effect. The more disgusting it smelled to me, the more appealing it seemed to Chester.
So Why Do Dogs Roll in Fox Poo?
The frustrating answer is that nobody knows for certain. There are several theories, and the behaviour probably goes back a very long way in dogs and their ancestors.
One theory is that dogs roll in strong smells to disguise their own scent. For wild canines, covering themselves in the smell of another animal or something from the environment may once have helped them approach prey without being detected so easily.
Another possibility is almost the opposite. Rather than hiding their own smell, dogs may be carrying an interesting scent back to the rest of their group — a sort of canine version of saying, “You won’t believe what I found.”
Whatever the original reason, many modern dogs clearly still have the instinct. Unfortunately for us, their idea of an irresistible perfume can include fox droppings, dead animals, rotting fish and other things most humans would go a very long way to avoid.
What Should You Do When Your Dog Rolls in Fox Poo?
As tempting as it might be to leave them outside indefinitely, the best approach is to clean your dog as soon as reasonably possible. Fox faeces can contain bacteria and parasites, so try to avoid your dog licking the contaminated area and wash your own hands thoroughly afterwards.
Use a shampoo made specifically for dogs and work it well into the affected fur, particularly around the neck, shoulders and behind the ears — the exact places Chester always seemed determined to cover. Avoid getting shampoo or contaminated water into your dog's eyes, ears or mouth.
You may need to wash the area more than once if the smell is particularly stubborn. And don't forget the collar or harness, because there is little point getting the dog clean only to put the smell straight back onto them.
How Do You Stop a Dog Rolling in Fox Poo?
This was the part I never completely mastered with Chester. He could find the smallest amount before I had even realised it was there, and once he did his little dance around a singular spot on the ground and that shoulder started going down, I usually knew what was about to happen.
A good recall command can make a big difference, particularly if you spot the danger before your dog does. Teaching a reliable “leave it” command can also help, especially when it is rewarded generously enough to be more interesting than whatever disgusting treasure they have discovered.
If your dog regularly rolls in fox poo in a particular area, keeping them on a lead or long line through that section can prevent the opportunity altogether. Watching for the tell-tale intense sniffing, circling or sudden lowering of the shoulder can also give you a precious few seconds to intervene.
But some dogs are remarkably determined. You may be able to reduce how often it happens without ever completely removing the instinct.
One of Those Things That Made Chester Who He Was
At the time, Chester rolling in fox poo drove me absolutely mad. And you could almost guarantee there was a road trip between the fox poo and the nearest tap, which meant sitting in the car with that smell for however long it took to get home. Windows down, air freshener redundant — nothing touched it. The smell seemed to fill the whole car, while Chester sat there looking incredibly pleased with himself, completely oblivious to what he had just put me through.
By the time we got home, I couldn't get him into the bath quickly enough. Even then, one wash rarely seemed enough to completely get rid of it.
But looking back now, it is one of those ridiculous little memories that makes me smile. I certainly don't miss the smell, but I do miss that enormous expression of pride on his face when he genuinely believed he had just found the greatest thing in the world.
Our pets have plenty of habits that confuse us, frustrate us and occasionally make us wonder what on earth is going through their heads. But those strange little behaviours are also part of their personality — and often, years later, they become some of the memories we treasure most.
Crafted by hand, inspired by love.