Does your dog eat literally anything and everything?
Does your dog think that totally inedible things are… well, edible?
Does your dog actively hunt out things to scavenge?
You have a hoover dog! And trust me, I know how hard that can be too… oh the joys of greedy Labradors!
So, WHY does your dog do this?
The truth is, it could be many reasons!
When a dog is scavenging, they are in low level hunting mode (predatory motor pattern -above)
o It’s a basic genetic instinct
o It feels good: The 'feel-good' hormone (dopamine) rushes to the brain
o Hunger
o Habit
o Boredom
o Overarousal
o Medical condition (pain, heart burn, IBD, parisites, indigestion, pancreatic issues)
o PICA related to physical issues or anxiety or stress
o Stress relief
o Some / most dogs are just bred to scavenge
What not to do
• Never punish them, as they will learn to swallow quicker or run away. Punishing them can also teach dogs to resource guard.
• Don't use rank reduction
• Never act act aggressively to food on the ground (yes this is a fairly common method and it just doesn't work).
• Don't use aversive tools
What to do
In the short term, you can use a muzzle. This will reduce the risk of your dog picking up something that could hurt them.
Your first steps should be ruling out the causes. The most important first step should be a vet check. If pain is the cause, no amount of training will help you, so make sure you have an in-depth chat with your vet about this behaviour.
To rule out hunger, feed something high in carbs such as potatoes or a slice of bread before a walk (or before another time they scavenge). Better quality food can also help.
Another main cause of scavenging is anxiety / stress, so make sure that your dog isn't feeling this way, and if they are, seek help from a behaviourist to reduce this.
Finally, you’ll be wanting to look for a professional force-free dog behaviourist who can help you with training. I use a few methods, including prevention and management, using scavenging games, practising real-life scenarios, and teaching emergency cues.
Good luck!
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