Disgusting Things Dogs Do

• Dogs may eat feces – their own or another animal’s – out of hunger, boredom, curiosity or, most appalling to us, they appear to just plain like it.
• Dogs lick their crotches during grooming and sniff each other’s crotches during normal greeting.
• Dogs like rolling in smelly things – dead fish, garbage, anything they can find.

What You Can Do
These habits, while upsetting to humans, aren’t typically dangerous to dogs. Still, in the interest of having a well-mannered pet that is welcome in the house, you can try to control these behaviors or at least learn how to deal with them.

• Try to keep your dog healthy and entertained to alleviate hunger and boredom.
• Pick up waste that is left in the yard every time you take your dog outdoors.
• Coat feces with a bitter flavor to create a negative memory for your dog — your dog will be more likely to avoid it in the future. (Be sure to provide plenty of fresh, clean drinking water so your dog can get some quick relief.)
• Licking is part of a normal grooming routine, but excessive licking could indicate an infection or irritation. If you’re not sure, ask your veterinarian.
• A well-trained dog who obeys your command to ‘come’ can be steered clear of tempting targets to roll in.
• If your dog does get smelly, simply bathe him and try to prevent him from rolling in the future by keeping him on a lead, removing the attractive item, and working hard on his ‘leave it’ and ‘come’ commands.

Remember
Do pick up after your dog. Don’t leave him off-leash in an area where there are temptations. Do work daily on his basic training so he’ll respond reliably. Don’t punish a dog for being a dog – he won’t understand.