Studying Back Rolling Behavior in Dogs
A dog rolling over on his back doesn’t always mean the animal is being playful, submissive, or looking for a belly rub, especially in instances when other dogs are close by. In 2015, two teams of researchers from the University of Lethbridge in Alberta and the University of South Africa set out to investigate the meaning and function of dogs rolling over during play with other dogs. The researchers wanted to know if a dog rolling over onto the back is really an act of submission that serves to stop aggression or a tactic executed for combat purposes.
The researchers examined videos showing dogs playing together and staged play sessions with a medium-sized female dog paired with 33 dogs of different breeds and sizes. Then, they sat back and observed.
The researchers concluded that while dogs may roll when playing, the move might also be used to gain an advantage in fighting. Of rollovers observed, none of the dogs rolled over in a submissive response to aggressive behavior by another dog. Researchers noted that dogs rolling on their backs in front of other dogs used their position to block playful bites and launch attacks on the aggressor.
Does my dog want a belly rub?
We’ll start by saying that not all dogs enjoy a belly rub, just like not all humans enjoy having their back tickled. It’s down to individual preference. So, if your pup isn’t a fan of ye olde tummy tickle, don’t be concerned. It just means your dog will prefer another way of getting physical affection from you.
When a dog throws themself at your feet with their delicate tummy area exposed to you, it’s a sign of great trust. It’s their way of saying, “This is me at my most vulnerable. I have faith that you will not hurt me.” Think of it as the canine equivalent of a trust fall.
But there are dogs rolling on their backs for belly rubs and there are dogs rolling over for an entirely different reason. A dog may roll over for you if they are scared or fearful. It’s a sign of submission, often used to diffuse an aggressor. Another reason dogs roll over is to scratch their own back on the ground – this one’s easy to identify as dogs tend to wriggle around a lot getting some good back scratches going.
Make sure that you’re interpreting your dog’s body language correctly here. If your dog is on their back but showing signs of fear (tail tucked in, ears back) it’s more than likely they’re not in it for the belly rubs, but more to show you they are submitting to you.
If, however, your dog is on their back, the tail is wagging, and they look generally relaxed and happy, you’ve got a tummy rub fanatic on your hands…
Signs that show your dog wants some belly rubs:
If you’re meeting a dog for the first time, don’t go straight in for a belly rub, even if you think you’re getting the signals from the dog. Start with head rubs and progress from there when you’re sure the pooch has warmed to you. Belly rubs are to dogs what hugs are to humans – a more intimate form of physical contact. You don’t go straight in for a big ol’ bear hug with a complete stranger, do you?
A Scientific Explanation Behind Dogs and Belly Rubs
So, looking from a scientific point of view, why do dogs enjoy belly rubs so much? According to Dr. Peter Brown, a chief medical officer of a veterinarian service provider, explains that belly rubs are a comforting action. He also says that it is a good opportunity for bonding and forming a relationship with your dog. An anthrozoology instructor, Christine Case, says that the origin of belly rubs comes from the way humans have modified canine behavior over the thousands of years from domestication. Rolling on their backs is a sign of submission that they exhibit towards humans. So, it is difficult to say if they truly like it or if they have been trained to do so.
A dog showing their stomach to you does not always mean that they are searching for a belly rub or being playful. Some dogs may be showing submission to another dog nearby, perhaps trying to tell them that by being close to you that they do not want any trouble from the other dog. It is believed that other dogs in the household can get jealous seeing another dog near their owner.
Researchers from the University of South Africa and Alberta investigated the meaning of dogs rolling onto their backs to expose their bellies. They used 34 different dog breeds to complete this study. The researchers concluded that dogs may roll over when playing and that by doing so this position can be used to gain an advantage during play fighting. None of the dogs rolled over onto their backs in a submissive response to aggressive behavior, but they rather used it to playfully bite their component.
It is also thought that social grooming plays a role in the reasoning behind dogs wanting belly rubs from people. Not only that but it is widely believed by many experts that dogs do enjoy having their belly rubbed and it overall feels good for them.