Why your dog eats things they shouldn't (and how to stop them)
Has your dog ever eaten strange objects at home, perhaps even requiring veterinary intervention to remove the item from their digestive tract? Some dogs have a tendency to chew and bite on various objects, which can lead to serious conditions and costly vet care. This guide will outline how you can safely satisfy your dog's need to chew, tear, and eat objects.
Your dog's natural need to chew
It's easy to think dogs should just be calm and sleep indoors, but depending on their age, breed, and natural energy levels, many dogs can't just switch off all day. It’s important to meet their needs as a whole, which includes more than just toilet breaks and meals – it’s about letting them be a dog. If their behavioural needs aren't met, we can see all sorts of issues arise, including chewing on household items.
The behavioural needs linked to eating household items often relate to a dog's natural foraging and eating behaviours. This includes tearing things apart, working for their food, prolonged chewing, and selecting preferred food items. We can cater to all these behaviours in various ways, and often the simplest solution is to move away from the traditional food bowl.
Safe ways to meet your dog's needs
Ditch the food bowl sometimes and give your dog the chance to work for their daily meals in different ways, every day. This could mean using a puzzle toy on some days, scattering food in the garden on others, or mixing their food with vegetables to give them an element of choice. Below are some ideas to explore, helping you meet your dog's natural eating behaviours.
Mix your dog's food with vegetables in a slow feeder
This gives your dog the chance to pick out the pieces they prefer. Observe your dog to see what they go for first, but don’t always just offer their favourite. It’s okay if they leave the lettuce or carrot – it’s all part of giving them the opportunity to choose. A slow feeder is a bowl designed to make eating take longer.
Hide treats in a box for your dog to tear
Cardboard boxes offer a great way for your dog to tear something apart to get to their food. Place part of your dog's daily ration in cardboard boxes or toilet paper rolls and let them figure out how to get the contents.
Puzzle toys
Pet shops offer a vast array of puzzle toys suitable for both dry and wet food. These are a simple way to feed your dog while enriching their behavioural needs. Options include problem-solving puzzles, lick mats, various balls, and other shapes. Feel free to mix and match these options.
Freeze food and vegetables in a Kong
Kong toys are available at pet shops. You can easily fill a Kong with a mixture of food (dry or wet), vegetables, or other ingredients, then freeze it. Your dog will then need to work to get the contents out. This is a great activity to help calm your dog, and it usually takes them a little longer to empty a frozen Kong.
Provide part of the daily ration through chewing
Chewing bones are excellent to provide your dog with. They satisfy their natural need to chew and can help prevent them from eating other household items. Remember that these should form part of your dog's daily ration to avoid excess weight. Choose different types of chews that stimulate your dog's eating behaviour in various ways.
Scatter food in the garden or park
An easy way to satisfy your dog's natural eating instincts is to simply scatter their breakfast in the garden or park during your walk. This allows your dog to forage and find their own food, fulfilling their natural searching behaviours.
Hide parts of the food in the garden
To build on the previous idea, you can hide food around the garden, encouraging your dog to dig and work for it. Depending on your dog’s individual needs, this can be a great way to satisfy multiple needs at once, and you can even designate specific digging spots on your property.
