Why do dogs rub their head on the floor?

Pet Talk

By Dr. Norette L. Underwood

Why does my dog rub itself in the grass?

Even the most peculiar dog behaviors have a logical and often fascinating explanation. Your dog may rub his head in the grass because he smells something appealing, or he may be using the ground as a natural scratching post.

Perfume

Like humans, dogs are attracted to scents they find appealing. Unlike their human companions, a dog’s version of an attractive scent can range from grass and furniture to feces and even dead animals. The simple explanation for why your dog rubs his head and face on the grass is that he likes the smell and wants to carry it with him.

Getting Rid of Unwanted Smells

Does this sound familiar: After swimming or giving your dog a bath he or she immediately looks for something to roll around in (often grass or the dirtiest spot outside). Just because you think something smells wonderful doesn’t mean your dog will agree. Your dog could just be drying their fur.

Victory Dance

Wolves are known to spread the scent and blood of their prey all over their heads and bodies after they’ve killed it — a victory dance to celebrate their hunting prowess. Similarly, some dogs may rub their heads on the ground after eating, even though their “prey” is kibble rather than a wild animal. It is also possible that the dog’s action derives from the wolf’s natural instinct to mask his own scent from whatever prey he is hunting.

Nature’s Washroom

Just as cats clean themselves by licking their fur, dogs may rub their heads and faces in the grass and against other surfaces in order to remove food, dirt or debris from their face, teeth or gums after eating.

A Bad Itch

Your dog may be rubbing his head to relieve an itch caused by a health issue such as fleas, or skin allergies caused by his food, household products or the grass itself. If the rubbing is incessant, or if you can see fleas, inflammation or an infection, consult with your veterinarian about the cause and treatment.

Obsessive Behavior

A little head rubbing can be fine, but if its constant, it might be a sign of pent up energy or frustration. The remedy? You may need to play more with your dog, invest in a few new toys or bones, or walk your pal more frequently in order to channel that energy in a positive way.

If you have questions about why your pet rubs their head, please contact Dr. Norette L. Underwood of Trumann Animal clinic and Best Friends Vet Mobile service at

Whether your dog might smell something appealing or simply wants to relieve an itch, finding the cause for this common behavior in your canine friend will help you put a stop to it. By rolling on their backs, dogs aim to coat themselves with a new scent, while disguising their own. It all goes back to their survival instinct and the need to protect against potential dangers in the wild. And although the “wild” is not exactly as they picture it to be, their primal impulses always win. In some cases, dogs simply want to bring home the scents they find appealing outside. Which, unfortunately, in most cases translates to grass, dead animals, and even…feces. The canine nose is much more sensitive than ours, to the point that what smells good for you is actually quite irritating for them. Of course, scratching an itch on their back can only happen when they rub themselves on the ground. However, the frequency is very important here. You need to be aware of how many times this happens, as it could be an indication of dry skin, allergies, or fleas. Whether indoors or outside, addressing the issue will help you get to the bottom of the situation. Occasionally, there will be a medical cause for this behavior and some of the most important of them are:

Internal parasites: Tapeworms can cause your dog to rub his backside on the ground because of the severe itching they generate on their hind end.

External parasites: Often caused by fleas, the allergic symptoms in dogs include itching and biting.

Gland problems: This happens when your dog’s two little glands, situated on his rear end, do not empty entirely or correctly.

Apart from all the doom and gloom, your dog could also be defending himself, when it comes to play fighting with other dogs. It’s a natural, defensive position that allows him to evade bites and prepare for his next move. It’s important to find out what exactly causes your dog to rub on the ground, so a simple visit to the vet can definitely answer your question.

Dogs are known to do some peculiar things, and in today’s article, we are going to look at why do dogs rub their faces on the ground. You can catch your dog rubbing its face on almost anything like walls, floors, furniture, and other things.

It is fairly normal for your dog to rub its face on the ground, for example, as it sometimes something as simple as having an itchy face.

There are other times you should be more concerned when your dog is constantly rubbing or scratching their face.

So why do dogs rub their faces on the ground? Let’s look at some of the main reasons why this might be happening to your dog below.

Why Do Dogs Rub Their Faces On The Ground?

It’s important to notice the difference in how your dog is rubbing their face. Occasional rubbing of your pups face nothing out of the ordinary, but if your doggo is constantly rubbing their face, there might be something worth talking to your vet about.

Some of the most common reasons your dog could be rubbing its face can be related to a tooth or eye injury, fleas, and irritation due to allergies, wet or dirty fur. Your dog could also enjoy the sensation of rubbing its face on the ground.

Allergies

Your dog may be suffering from allergies. Allergies in dogs tend to present themselves as itchy skin rather than the usual runny nose in humans.

Dogs tend to be more affected in their face or paws, as you can imagine. If your dog is suffering, they will find great comfort and pleasure from rubbing their face across the ground.

Allergies do tend to be seasonal in dogs, which reaches its peak during the summer months. It’s worth paying more attention during these months to your dog’s habits for things such as excessive licking around the paws, armpits, or tummy.

Dogs with light-colored coats will have more noticeable signs of licking in that their fur is stained rust-colored.

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Territory Marking

One of the main reasons dogs rub their faces on the ground is to mark their area. Most people overlook this and think that dogs only mark their territory by defecating or urinating.

When your dog rubs their face on the floor, they leave pheromones on the surfaces they come into contact with. They do this to signify that the object belongs to them.

This should start to make more sense as to why do dogs rub their faces on the ground. This is a prevalent behavior in dogs, even though humans can’t smell the pheromones other dogs can.

Collar Irritation

If the behavior of rubbing is something your dog has recently started doing more, it might be because of a new or tight collar.

Your dog will rub its face or neck on your furniture, floor, or walls to get some relief from the discomfort of the collar. If you have recently bought your dog a new collar, it’s worth making sure it’s not too tight or if there is anything caught inside that might irritate them.

Another quick tip for dog collars that many dog owners tend to overlook, which is easily done, is to make sure you change your dog’s collar as it grows. It’s also good to take the collar off from time to time.

Fleas, Ticks, And Mites

When looking at the reasons why do dogs rub their faces on the ground? One of the more common explanations is fleas, ticks, or mites.

I don’t know about you, but it makes me itch when i think of the word flea. Fleas, however, may not be the only parasite affecting your dog. Lice, ticks, demodectic mange mites, or fox mange can be some of the invisible irritants annoying your dog.

It can be difficult to find and identify most mites as they tend to be rather tricky to see for a long enough period of time. Other mites will bury themselves deep into your dog’s skin (Demodex). ( 1)

Any mixture of these parasites is common amongst dogs. If you notice your dog has started to itch and rub themselves more than usual and is overdue for their flea treatment, it could be the cause.

During the summer months, it is recommended to treat your dog for fleas more regularly. If you’re ever in doubt about your dog’s issue, I would always recommend you contact your vet for pice of mind.

Earache

A dog’s ear canal is an L-shaped structure that is rather long. The length of the ear canal can make the initial problem manifest its self in other areas, so you might see your dog scratching its head or rubbing its face along the floor.

Monitoring your dog’s ears is a great way to notice anything that might be there that shouldn’t. If you check your dog’s ears after each walk, you will become aware of any redness, inflammation, or discharge.

A common problem for dogs is getting foreign bodies stuck in their ears, such as foxtails. Foxtail burrs can cause a variety of issues for your dogs, such as earache and nasal problems.

If you believe your dog has an issue with its ears, n infection will be fairly noticeable because it will smell and usually have a discharge, and the ear will be warmer than usual.

For example, spotting foreign objects in your dog’s ears, such as foxtails, prove to be rather difficult as they end up rather buried in your dog’s ear. If you think something is stuck in your dogs, a trip to the vet would be best; they can use an otoscope to check.

Dental Pain

You may have already thought this is the answer to why do dogs rub their faces on the ground as it makes the most sense.

As you can imagine, if your fur baby has a bad tooth or other mouth pain, it could cause them to want to rub their head to help relieve the pain.

You should notice if your dog has tooth pain because it may eat less, chew on one side of their mouth, or only show interest in soft food. Signs your dog might have something wrong in its mouth will include bloody saliva, bad breath, or your dog could be continually licking their lips.

Your dog’s tooth could fall out by itself self, but this can take a long time to happen. It is also worth noting that if your dog’s tooth does fall out by itself, it’s worth taking to the vet to make sure there is no infection in the tooth socket.

A good practice is getting your dog used to having their mouth checked. If you can look in their mouth once a week, you will be more likely to notice if something is wrong.

Broken teeth can cause more problems for your dog if left untreated, and if you are ever in doubt, a visit to your vet is always recommended.

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Eye Irritation

There are a lot of different things that can irritate your dog’s eyes. Something could get stuck in your dog’s eye, which will usually work its way out and generally isn’t anything to worry about.

Your dog may have a scratch on its eye, or an ulcer might form under the cornea in some instances. Both of these should be more obvious as your dog will be in pain and show some resistance if you try to inspect its eye.

All of these things can cause your dog to want to rub its face on the ground or anything it can to try and make itself more comfortable. You may also notice your dog might paw at their eye or hold it shut if they have an infection.

With your dog’s eyes, if you suspect anything is wrong, a trip to the vet is your best bet. It could be something straightforward, but you want to prevent it from worsening if it’s something more serious.

Brain Tumour

One of the more severe issues when it comes to why do dogs rub their faces on the ground is a brain tumor.

Brain tumors are not one of the most common reasons why a dog would rub their face, but it is still a possibility. The main reason why a dog with a brain tumor would want to rub its face is because of the build-up in pressure on the brain.

This build-up in pressure would be rather painful and uncomfortable for your dog. Common signs of dogs with brain tumors are seen in dogs who press their heads against a wall or hard surface.

Changes in dogs’ behavior and seizures are also common and sign brain tumors in dogs. If you notice any serious changes in your dog or something that doesn’t seem right as always, I would advise you to speak with your vet.

Something On Its Face

Your dog could be rubbing its face on the ground or another surface simply because it has an irritant on its face.

If your dog has dirt, food, or anything else on its face, it may be annoying your dog, and it simply wants to get rid of it. The most common time you will see your dog rub its face, for this reason, is after feeding, a bath, or when it’s been playing outside.

Usually, this is no reason for concern, and your dog will probably appreciate a bit of help wiping his face.

Your Dog Enjoys It

I know my dog loves rubbing his face on a specific blanket, which we use as a throw for our couch. Dogs just like the feel of certain textures and fabrics they enjoy rubbing up against because it makes them feel good.

If your dog seems happy and content and you don’t mind the behavior, then it’s nothing to worry about.

Why Do Dogs Rub Their Faces On The Ground After Eating?

If your dog rubs their muzzle after eating, they could be expressing pleasure. Your dog may also be trying to relative discomfort, which is triggered by an irritant or food allergy.

Understand Your Dogs Language

One of my dogs makes an entire routine out of eating and usually shows delight after finishing his meal. Some dogs don’t care when they have food available they want to eat it and be done.

You may also notice your dog gets excited when you are preparing their food, and they might rub their face on the floor during preparation.

All of this is an expression of happiness. Some dogs will also rub their chests and their muzzles on the floor while happy.

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Contentment Ceremony

It’s worth identifying this muzzle rubbing, which is associated with a happy activity so that you are aware of it.

Stanley Coren, a dog psychologist, identified these contentment ceremonies in his book “How To Speak Dog Mastering The Art of Dog-Human Communication.”

Coren notes in his book that this behavior can be seen in various activities your dog enjoys, such as their favorite outing or eating. It’s worth identifying these contentment ceremonies so you know when your dog is happy and content and be more aware when something may be wrong.

That’s One Clean Dog

Dogs will sometimes rub their faces to clean their muzzle. Your dog may rub their muzzles on the ground, your couch, or any other surface they can find.

Your dog will usually do this to remove food stuck in their teeth or simply because they enjoy the sensation. Dogs have fewer ways of cleaning their face and teeth than humans, so your dog will use every object available to rub their muzzle on.

Some dogs are more meticulous than others and may feel more uncomfortable than others with food or moisture on their muzzles. You can try using a wet cloth to wipe your dog’s mouth after eating to see if they enjoy it.

Rule Out Other Causes

If your dog only rubs their muzzle after they eat or other things they enjoy, and there are no signs of any of the main issues listed above, such as sores, swelling, or watering eyes, this rubbing is probably done for pleasure.

It is worth paying more attention if your dog is persistently rubbing their muzzle. It could be a sign of a problem such as a tooth condition, allergies, skin, or other irritants.

If you feel something is causing your dog to rub their face more than usual, then i would recommend you contact your vet.

Why Do Dogs Rub Their Faces On The Ground After A Bath?

If you have ever bathed your dog, you know they will go crazy after the bath. Dogs will go nuts after a bath for several reasons. It can be for relief, shaking off the excess water, or rolling around to try and get rid of the new scent.

Your dog could also go nuts after a bath because of built-up nervous energy, or it could simply be a sign of joy.

Several names are usually associated with this crazy dog, behavior whether you call it the crazies or the zoomies you’re guaranteed to see after a bath.

Relief

Unless you have a rare type of dog who loves baths, chances are there is a lot of nervous energy built up before the bath. When you finally get your dog out of the tub, it seems to be possessed for ten minutes.

You may notice your dog rubbing its face or other areas of its body on the ground. They are doing this to dry off and release some of that nervous energy that has built up.

What’s That New Smell?

You may be happy with your freshly washed dog but your dog not so much. Your dog smells great to you, but you have added a new scent to your dog with their heightened sense of smell; they aren’t so happy.

Your dog will do almost anything to get their old scent back, which usually involves a lot of rubbing on your household items. Dogs have it ingrained in their DNA to want to smell like poop, grass, or dirt.

Drying Off

One of the most obvious answers to why do dogs rub their faces on the ground after a bath? Is to dry off.

You may spend a good while towel drying your dog to watch them go and rub themselves all over your new bedding. Dogs can be quite particular when it comes to getting dry.

Why Do Dogs Rub Their Nose On The Ground?

When we ask why dogs rub their faces on the ground, we need to understand they might just be rubbing their noses on the floor.

Some of the reasons why your dog might be doing this are as follows.

Instinctive Behaviour

Some dogs will instinctively rub their noses on the floor after eating. Rubbing and rolling are natural behaviors in dogs after eating.

Domesticated dogs may feel instinctively prompted to roll or rub their noses after a good meal, as it is an ingrained habit. This behavior is much like us stretching after having a good meal.

Amazing Smells

As I previously touched on earlier, dogs have an incredibly more sensitive smell than ours. Something on your carpet may interest your dog, and they may choose to investigate this by simply having a good sniff.

You may also observe your dog rubbing their nose on an area of carpet to enjoy the aroma that smells good to them fully. You may even see your dog rolling their entire body over the area in an attempt to smell like the scent.

Scratching An Itch

It could be something as simple as your dog trying to relieve an itch in their nose or the sides of their face. Your dog might have had an allergic reaction to something they have breathed in or eaten.

These irritants can cause your dog’s eye and nose area to itch, and the only way they have to relieve this is to give the area a good rub against a solid surface.

Originally published at https://doolallydogs.com.