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Dogs are known for doing many funny and strange (to us) things! Some dogs like to eat everything in sight, including socks and other things. Then there are dogs that sometimes scoot their bums on the ground. But what makes a female dog roll her back? That’s a great question!
Does your female dog roll on her back? Are you worried when she does this? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand dog behavior can be challenging to decipher!
We’ve put together some information about why female dogs roll on their backs and if this is anything to worry about. Let’s get started!
Why Does a Female Dog Roll on Her Back?
Here are some of the most common reasons a dog may roll on her back!
1. Scent Masking
Many dogs like to roll in things that are completely disgusting to us. They roll in dead things, poop, garbage, and more. Yuck! In some cases, a dog may do this because of their instincts.
Our domesticated dogs are descended from wild canines that lived thousands of years ago. These dogs would sometimes roll in something stinky to mask their scent. This could have been done to protect the canines from predators or even take the scent back to the pack, saying, “Supper’s ready!”
Your fur baby may be harking back to her ancient past and rolling in something smelly to mask her scent for some reason.
2. Itching
Another common reason a female dog may roll on her back is to ease an itchy back. When dogs itch on certain parts of their backs, they’re not able to reach those areas. So, they roll on the ground to relieve their itch.
The itch could be caused by allergic reactions to flea bites, ticks getting a meal, or even a skin allergy.
3. Happiness
Finally, female dogs may roll on their backs because they’re happy! Have you ever seen a happy dog run bounding into the yard and then flip onto their back? They roll around with their tongue lolling out and look pretty crazy. That’s a very happy dog that’s having a great time!
How to Help Your Female Dog
If your dog shows any signs of not feeling good or you’re concerned about her behavior, it’s best to call the vet. The vet can check your dog to see if she has an underlying medical condition causing her to roll around on her back.
However, if your dog’s just happy, there’s nothing to do except to have fun with her! Spend time playing in the yard, going for a walk, and more. Your female dog will be in heaven!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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