Your dog is picking up trash, eating things off the ground, digging through garbage, or constantly searching for something to eat. You keep correcting the behavior, but have you stopped to ask yourself WHY your dog is doing it?
Hunger can be one reason dogs scavenge. But boredom, curiosity, anxiety, and learned habits can also play a role.
Before you correct the behavior, make sure your dog is getting enough food!
HERE’S A GENERAL GUIDE TO DAILY DRY FOOD PORTIONS:
Toy dogs (3–6 lbs): ½–1¼ cups daily
Small dogs (10–20 lbs): ¾–1½ cups daily
Medium dogs (30–50 lbs): 1¾–2⅔ cups daily
Large dogs (60–100 lbs): 3–4½ cups daily
Giant dogs (100+ lbs): 4½+ cups daily
These are rough starting estimates, NOT one-size-fits-all rules. Your dog’s age, activity level, health, ideal weight, and the calories in their food all matter. Always check your food bag’s feeding chart.
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF YOUR DOG IS GETTING ENOUGH?
You can feel their ribs without pressing hard, but they aren’t visibly protruding.
They have a visible waist when viewed from above.
Their belly tucks upward when viewed from the side.
Their weight and muscle condition remain healthy.
DON’T IGNORE SCAVENGING! Dogs that swallow garbage, bones, spoiled food, or other foreign objects can end up with serious health problems.
And remember: feeding more food won’t automatically stop scavenging. Your dog may also need structured walks, mental enrichment, impulse-control training, and supervision.
YOUR DOG’S BEHAVIOR IS TELLING YOU SOMETHING. LEARN TO UNDERSTAND IT, NOT JUST CORRECT IT.
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