Why Does My Dog Roll Around After Eating? Reasons And Solutions
Dogs are amazing family pets. They have unconditional love and companionship that is hard to beat. I’m lucky enough to have two dogs Duke and Bella, who prove this to be true.
They’re always so happy and excited when we get home. Especially when they see my kids coming home from school.
All four of them can’t get enough of playing with each other. Watching the kids, Duke and Bella all running around the house and yard, I couldn’t imagine better pooches for our family.
But there’s more to being a good dog owner than just watching them have fun. Good dog owners also need to pay attention to their pups and recognize when something is off.
If your dog is acting strange or unusual, it is important to figure out what is going on right away. It could be a sign of an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed. By monitoring your dog’s behavior and being proactive, you can help keep your pup healthy and happy.
So, what about dogs that roll around as soon as dinner is done? Why does my dog roll around after eating? The quick and easy answer is that your dog is probably rolling around after eating because she is happy, is covering up the scent of food, has a habit of it, is cleaning up, is playing, has something wrong or she’s doing it just because.
Happy
‘Fat and happy’ is a saying for a reason. When you’re hungry and also reliant on someone else for dinner like your dog is, getting a meal can leave you feeling pleased and content.
Dogs may roll around on the ground after eating because they feel happy and satisfied.
Covering Up The Smell Of The Food
Dogs still have many of the instincts that their ancestors had when they roamed in the wild. Concealing their food source was a survival skill. Instinctively, your dog doesn’t want predators or competitors to know about her meal.
Rolling around on the ground could be her acting on that instinct and trying to mask the smell of their food from potential threats.
Just Because
Sometimes, dogs’ behavior may be baffling with no obvious explanation behind it. Some dogs might roll around just because they want to, without any logical reason or explanation at all.
Dogs are known for enjoying simple things, and they don’t always have a valid reason to do so.
Habit
Your dog may have had an excellent reason for rolling around after eating at one point, but now that reason is long gone.
My dogs go out to go potty as soon as they are done with dinner. We started doing this during the winter months because it was easy for us to remember all of their needs when we did everything at once.
Now, even in the summer, with the dog door open for at least 12 hours a day, they run outside to go potty when they’ve finished eating.
It doesn’t matter if they went just before dinner, they’ll still go right after dinner as well.
As you can see, when something becomes part of a habitual routine, dogs can have a hard time changing.
Cleaning Up
You love your dog, but that doesn’t mean she’s the cleanest eater. Of course, she doesn’t have the luxury of hands or utensils to eat her food. She just has to make do with a bowl and a snout.
Even though your dog’s entire body might not be dirty from eating, she may feel the need to clean herself after a meal. So, you might observe your dog rolling around after she eats to get rid of any crumbs or food and to feel cleaner in general.
There Are Other Reasons
There’s also the chance that rolling around might not be related to her eating at all. It could be that your dog has an itchy back or she could be rolling for one of several other reasons.
Since dogs may feel the need to roll about for so many other reasons, it might just happen that your pooch does it right after she finishes eating.
Playing
Your dog may want to play. And since you just fed her, she has your attention.
So, what better time to try to tempt you or someone else into playing?
Something Isn’t Right
Although not the most common reason, there is a possibility that your dog may roll after she eats because something isn’t quite right.
For instance, she might have an itchy face due to allergies, or she might be feeling nervous and trying to show submission.
However, if something is genuinely bothering your dog, you’ll most likely notice other signs indicating something is off.
Is It Okay For My Dog To Roll Around After Eating?
In most cases, your dog is merely doing normal dog things, such as trying to clean herself. Rolling around may also be a way for her to express contentment and excitement after a satisfying meal.
It’s natural for dogs to roll around, and this behavior is not always related to their eating habits. However, if your dog is rolling incessantly after meals and it appears to be a symptom of a problem, then you should address that issue and worry about the rolling around later.
How Do I Get My Dog To Stop Rolling Around After Eating?
As I discussed above, rolling around after a meal is a natural behavior for dogs. And unless it’s a symptom of a larger problem it’s a harmless part of your good girl’s routine.
However, I suppose there might be an instance where it’s necessary to train your dog to stop this behavior.
If that is your situation, here are some steps you can take that will help you train your dog to stop rolling around after eating.
Understand the Situation
Because it could be an expression of happiness, her way of cleaning herself, or something else entirely, you should figure out your dog’s motivation first.
You’ll approach the situation differently if your dog is rolling around trying to play verse cleaning herself.
Don’t Punish Your Dog
Punishing your dog for rolling around after eating is not an effective solution. It will only confuse your good girl and could harm your relationship with her.
Instead, reward good behavior and use reinforcement methods to encourage positive behavior.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is the most effective way to train your dog to stop rolling around after meals.
When your dog doesn’t engage in the behavior, you can reward her with treats, praise, or even playtime to reinforce positive behavior.
Use Commands Your Dog Knows
Using commands your dog knows like ‘no’ or ‘stop’ is great for letting your dog know that you are unhappy with her behavior.
The trick is repetition and consistency when training your dog to stop rolling.
Train a New Command
Training your dog with a new command, like ‘no roll’, will also help your dog understand exactly what you want. When your dog starts to roll after eating, you can tell her ‘no roll’ and immediately reward her when she obeys.
With consistency and patience, your good girl will learn the new command and stop the behavior.
Final Thoughts: Why Do Dogs Roll After A Meal?
No matter what the reason, rolling around after eating can be a funny thing to observe in your dog. If you are worried that something is wrong with your dog or if it’s not her usual behavior, take a close look at her environment and how she’s acting.
Of course, it could be that there’s nothing wrong, and she just has an odd habit of rolling around after eating, she’s happy, covering up the scent of food, has a habit of it, is cleaning up, playing, or she’s doing it just because.
Whatever the reason, it’s important to be aware of your pup’s behavior and act when necessary. Doing so will help you get a better understanding of your dog’s needs and keep her safe and healthy.