That the dog eats in the street is a serious problem if we live in a city, either due to dirt, possible food poisoning, etc. We must be very cautious and careful, especially if our pet tends to eat everything it finds.
You are not the first concerned owner to search the Internet for answers to avoid this behavior, which is common in breeds such as the Labrador Retriever. Studying the causes that make your dog behave this way is a good way to start.
From our site we want to help you with some tips to prevent your dog from eating in the street.
Causes that can make your dog eat outside
If your dog eats feces it is a clear indicator that something is wrong, and it can be for many reasons, some of which are shared with the dog that eats street food:
- He wants to get your attention: Even if you scold him later, the dog will prefer to eat something simply so that we pay attention to him. Ask yourself if during the walk we interact with him and congratulate him for his behavior
- He's hungry: Even if you give him the right food for his size or age, ask yourself if the feed is of quality. If not, your pet may be suffering from nutritional deficiencies that lead him to eat what he finds
- Instinct: In the wild, dogs spend the day sleeping, looking for food and eating. For this reason and as part of its natural behavior, the relaxed and mentally he althy dog can spend part of its time looking for food, just as it would in nature, simply by instinct.
- Curiosidad: If you have a puppy it can happen that they eat even non-edible items out of curiosity. Obviously you should pay close attention when walking with a puppy.
- Other problems: If you can't identify the causes, they can stem from an illness and even from a past problem with the dog, a disorder of any type. To solve the problem properly we advise you to work with a professional
Meeting your dog's needs
It is understandable that the dog is curious about human food since it gives off a very appetizing smell for him. There are some foods such as onions, grapes or s alt that are totally harmful to your he alth, prohibited foods, although the most worrying thing is the existence of poisoned food
The responsibility of an owner does not end in the administration of the feed or the daily walks, the dog needs a master who assumes the physical and mental well-being of him, and none of this can happen if the dog does not he is well educated. It is very important that the dog understands the basic behavior commands and applies them, including "No". It is essential both for their social relationship and for their interaction with the environment.
To solve this problem, the first thing is to keep the dog's 5 freedoms covered, we are talking about well-being, that also implies that if your dog eat food for any of the reasons that we have mentioned before, remedy it as soon as possible.
Tricks to prevent your dog from eating on the street
Here are some tips to prevent your dog from eating in the street, for this the participation of all family members is essential, as well as firmness and positive reinforcement:
- Allow him to eat only the food when it is placed in his bowl In this way we will get him used to eating only at home, in a controlled place for him. Reinforce what he does by simply congratulating him with your voice every time he finishes eating
- Never use negative punishment: It is preferable that you say " No " when eating in the street before rejecting him, much less using physical force. Patience will be your tool throughout this process.
- Divide their food portions into at least two servings. In this way you will make him feel full throughout the day and reduce eating on the street.
In principle it seems that our dog obeys us without problems at home, but outside of it, with constant distractions he will feel less inclined to pay attention to you. If you use a clicker system, don't hesitate to use it every time it behaves correctly.
The key to this whole process is Always remain firm and constantNever allow the dog to eat if it is not in the bowl the. It doesn't matter if it's a young or old dog, use these tips and you'll avoid more than one disappointment, thus enjoying an educated and faithful companion.
