My Rottweiler likes to roll on my feet!

by Steve
(Vancouver,Wa.)

When I’m sitting in my chair, she will walk up, put her shoulder down and roll upside down right on my feet and legs. Sometimes she goes down so hard it almost knocks the wind out of her. This is not for a belly rub.

When she rolls she tries make her entire body land on me usually ending up on her side she is about ten years old, we have had her about seven years from a rescue.

Hi Steve
I know the kind of behavior you’re describing, but in each individual dog it could have slightly different meanings.

One of the original Rottweiler’s ‘jobs’ was to herd cattle, and when doing this they would tend to lean against the cows, you can still see this tendency to lean against people’s legs etc. in most Rotties today.

It’s often a gentle type of dominant/assertive behavior, and can also be interpreted as being possessive. If a dog lies on your feet or leans against you in a way that impedes your movement or they object to you getting up/moving away etc. then it’s something you need to deal with and discourage right away.

But, if she simply likes to lean on you and roll over at your feet and then is quite happy, it’s not something I’d worry about too much. My older Rottie female does this often, but usually it’s because she DOES want a belly rub and she’ll lie there forever if you let her. Only you can really tell why your dog is doing this and whether it’s something you need to deal with or can let be.

I’m sorry I can’t help more, but if there are any other Rottweiler owners out there who have input/tips/suggestions or stories they’d like to share please feel free to jump in by using the ‘Comment’ feature below.

Best of luck with your Rottie 🙂

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Jan 24, 2012

Rottie folling on feet NEW
by: Christopher Bayhi

Please don???t take this comment as negative. I???m not trying to say you have poor hygiene, but she might just like the way your feet smell. It could also be that your girl is being possessive of you if she doesn???t do this to anyone else. She could be looking for attention even thought you say she???s not doing it for a belly rub. She may also have a strong attachment to you and it???s her way of saying ???I???m glad you???re here with me???

Have you ever noticed that the first thing almost any dog does after getting a bath is roll around on the floor? If they???re outside they will inevitability find a pile, find somewhere another dog has urinated, or find something dead, and will roll in/on it. Why?

Megan Parker, a research biologist at the Wolf Education and Research Center in Seattle, may have an answer. Parker reported that wolves (the ancestors of dogs) regularly roll in carrion (dead animals). According to Parker “It could be that they’re marking the carrion with their scent, to tell anyone else who comes along ‘this is mine.'” Your girl might be doing the same thing with your feet.

There’s always the possibility that your dog just might enjoy rolling around on your feet the way people enjoy a scented bubble bath. Rotties have their quirks. Unless it???s intolerable to you, enjoy the funny side of your girl.


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About The Rotty lover 2159 Articles
My name is Dr. Winnie. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Duke University, a Masters of Science in Biology from St Georges University, and graduated from the University of Pretoria Veterinary School in South Africa. I have been an animal lover and owners all my life having owned a Rottweiler named Duke, a Pekingese named Athena and now a Bull Mastiff named George, also known as big G! I'm also an amateur equestrian and love working with horses. I'm a full-time Veterinarian in South Africa specializing in internal medicine for large breed dogs. I enjoy spending time with my husband, 2 kids and Big G in my free time. Author and Contribturor at SeniorTailWaggers, A Love of Rottweilers, DogsCatsPets and TheDogsBone