Mud: Why do dogs love it?

Has anybody ever wondered why dogs love mud?

Is it because it's messy?

Is it because it is wet?

Is it because it's soft and cushy?

Or is it because they like seeing their owner's faces distort into different shapes when they play in the mud?

Or is there some other reason we're missing out on?


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Are you sure dogs love playing in mud? I have not seen any of my dogs doing that. My Bangkeaw loves water but water is not mud. One of my Spitz mixed breed was so finicky about dirt that she wouldn't even step on the earth outside the house if she could help it.

My dogs love mud... and water.

That dog is a retriever. He loves mud so much. And most dog blogs I've read do appreciate their "mud baths". Of course, this may be different for other breeds. But since most labradors and retrievers do love the water, maybe mud is like an extension of water.

I have to admit that I'm a bit curious as to how your Bangkeaw would react to mud.

I think it differs from breed to breed. I used to have a retriever who was just the same as the one in the photo. She absolutely loved mud and it was impossible to keep her out of it. Luckily she loved being hosed down afterwards too. I never did manage to keep the car clean though after she's been wallowing.

The dog I have now, doesn't go near mud, be she loves dirty water. She loves to roll in poo too. Not pleasant!

Most dogs love to play with water. Mud has a lot of water in it so it's quite wet, thus they like mud too.
Some dogs might do it out of boredom and frustration, by playing in mud it might keep them entertained. Think about little kids. Many little kids also like to play in mud, or sand. Dogs are just like really young children.


There is another theory, dogs use mud to help them to cool down. Since mud can stay on them longer than just water, it not only continuously absorb heat from dog's body directly, but the mud can also block sunlight. Think about elephant, and rhinos. They roll in mud all the time, but of course they also use the mud to protect themselves from insect bites!

I would have thought dogs like to mess with or roll in mud because the minerals/chemicals in the dirt helps them fight skin parasites and/or itches which may have been caused by things like allergies to shampoo, carpet or other floor chemicals or food to name a few. That's why some domestic and most wild animals do this, elephants for example. Some dogs eat particular types of grass that they identify by smell - why? because these help them kill intestinal worms. All these behaviors may not have anything to do with breed difference, but life style instead.

Chipper, my little Yorkie-Poo, absolutely hates any kind of mud and doesn't even want to get his little paws wet.
He also does not like having to take a bath; but he tolerates that; I think because it is at least warm water, and not cold.
We have some of those little cement stepping stones out in the front yard. It is just so cute watching Chipper hop from one stepping stone to the next one so that he can keep his feet from having to be in the dirt.
He usually hops on the walking stones even when the ground is dry, since he has seen me walking on them; but for sure when he has to go outside and it has been raining; he always uses them .
I think it really depends on each dog, whether they like water or not; and I have never ever seen any dog playing on the mud like the one in the picture is doing.