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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 ScratchIf 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 TacticWhen 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 SubmissiveWhile 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 itRolling 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! Top Picks For Our DogsFor a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining.com blog. Why Do Dogs Roll On Their Backs? Fun? Or Something Else? was last modified: October 12th, 2019 by Dogs rely heavily on body language to communicate with other dogs as well as to people. Understanding what your dog's body language signals means can help you learn more about your dog's mental and physical needs.
If you see a dog roll on their back and wiggle or kick their legs, and their overall body language looks loose and relaxed, this is a dog that is feeling happy and playful. You may also see dogs do this when they are playing with each other. Rolling onto the back is a natural play behavior that actually helps a dog to avoid playful bites from the other dog or dogs, while getting in some of their own.
Some dogs also roll on their backs to scratch and itch on their back or to enjoy the surface they're rubbing on, such as fresh grass or if you see a dog rolling on a bed. This is a normal behavior but if you notice your dog doing this a lot and flaky, irritated skin, bring your dog to a veterinarian to see if they have a skin allergy or other condition.
On the other hand, if you greet a dog and they immediately roll on their back, or do this when greeting another dog, this is a dog that is nervous or fearful.
If you see a dog laying on their back and napping, this means your dog feels safe and relaxed in his environment. A dog willing to sleep with his belly up feels confident and secure. Note that this doesn't mean if you see a dog sleeping in different positions that they are not relaxed, because dogs are just like people and everyone enjoys different sleeping styles.
The play bow is a body language signal used to solicit play from other dogs or even people and other types of pets. A dog will do this to get another animal to play, or you might see them doing it toward an object which can indicate excitement. Play bows are usually accompanied by other excitable behaviors such as circling, barking and growling.
Stretching looks very similar to a play bow, but it's not accompanied by excited, "bouncy" body language. A dog will stretch at certain times, such as first thing in the morning. Dogs will also stretch when "greeting" someone they are comfortable with. Most dogs will also do a stretch in two ways for a full body stretch.
Some dogs love prancing around the house or yard with a toy in their mouth. This behavior generally indicates play and happiness.
If your dog begins yawning, it could just mean that he's sleepy and needs a nap. But yawning can also be a sign that your dog is stressed. If your dog yawns and then curls up and goes to sleep, then he's probably fine. But if you notice him yawning during a stressful situation and it's accompanied by other stress signals such as lip licking, drooling, shaking, whining or turning away, this means your dog is anxious.
Dogs that are nervous will lick their lips or do what is known as a "tongue flick" where the tongue seems to flip up and touch or even cover their nose. Lip licking will usually happen in concert with other stress body language signals such as yawning and turning away.
This is a subtle body signal that humans often miss. If you notice your dog turning his head to look away from something bothering him, this means he's stressed. Dogs will do this when greeting other dogs that they may not feel comfortable with. It can be observed in other situations such as a dog being in a room where people are yelling. You will usually see the dog do other stress signals at the same time such as lip licking.
If the dog appears stiff and "frozen in place" this can indicate they are either terrified or getting into an aggressive posture. Some dogs will freeze in place if they are "hunting" and are getting ready to pounce and chase their prey, such as dog focusing on a squirrel in a tree. Other dogs will freeze in place if they are so scared, they don't know what to do. You can tell the difference from the context of the behavior and other body language signals.
Sniffing is a natural behavior but can also be what's known as a "calming signal." You may notice this behavior when your dog meets new dogs or is in an area that he's not familiar with and is nervous. It may not indicate anything more than your dog is sniffing the ground to learn about the place he's in or the dogs he's meeting, but if you see this behavior accompanied by other nervous signals, this means your dog may feel on edge.
A dog with his tail tucked down is showing fear. Depending on the breed and physical makeup of the dog, the tail may either point straight down, tuck somewhat under his hind legs or even point underneath his body almost parallel to it. You may also see trembling and the dog's body crouching lower to the ground as if the dog is trying to make himself look "small."
It's important to understand that just because dogs use body language signals to communicate, they will not necessarily interpret humans mimicking these signals in the same way. The best thing to do when you see your dog communicating with body language is to understand the dog's overall intent.
If your dog is showing any signals that he is happy, such as the play bow or rolling over and wriggling, it's safe to assume your dog wants to play and get attention from you. You can reciprocate by joining him in a play session or enjoying some cuddles.
If your dog is trying to tell you that he's afraid, respect his wishes and don't push him to do or experience anything he's scared of. He may simply need some time and space to relax around the scary object, animal or person. In cases of intense fear, consult with a qualified behavior professional who can help you develop a behavior modification plan to work with your dog's fears.
A dog that is using aggressive body language, either in an offensive or defensive posture, is letting you know that he's uncomfortable and pushing him further could lead to a bite. In these cases, it's best to remove your dog quietly from whatever is stressing him and do not chastise him.
The way dogs communicate with each other is endlessly fascinating and research continues to find new, more complex interpretations of their behavior. The more you know about what your dog is trying to say, whether it's to you or to another animal, the better you'll be able to ensure your dog is comfortable and minimize stressful encounters. © 2022 LoveToKnow Media. All rights reserved. |
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