Ryan Whitman, Nutritional Lead at Fish4Dogs, has advised dog owners on how they can use food and treats to deter their dogs’ from scavenging and eating anything they shouldn’t while out on walks.

Spring has finally sprung, with the UK enjoying a bounty of spectacular spring blooms after an ‘ideal’ mix of hot and cold weather patterns caused a burst of new plant life across the nation.

But for pooches prone to scavenging, springtime blooms bring heightened risks. According to the Royal Kennel Club, poisonous spring flowers to watch out for include bluebells, daffodils, tulips and

crocuses.

And if having to be on high alert for these isn’t already enough, dog owners are now being warned to beware of poisoned meat after it was found in two West London parks.

Why do dogs scavenge?

Scavenging is a natural behaviour in dogs, driven by instinct, boredom, stress, anxiety or over-arousal. It can also occur more frequently among certain breeds. 

For example, hound dogs (e.g. Beagles, Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds, Greyhounds), and gun dogs (e.g. Labradors, Retrievers, Spaniels) have keen hunting instincts, lots of energy and are highly motivated by food.

For puppies, curiosity for new smells and teething can often result in them chewing on non-food items.

For many dogs, it also comes down to taste. Often, dogs will favour younger shoots of grass, likely due to their softer texture and sweeter flavour. This makes spring a prime time for mid-walk snacking.

No matter the reason, breaking the habit early is crucial for your dog’s safety, particularly during the spring season.

Here’s how to use your dog’s food to stop springtime scavenging before, during and after walks:

Introduce a pre-walk meal

For some dogs, scavenging comes out of genuine hunger, so feeding your dog before a walk could deter them from actively seeking out food. 

But take care to avoid doing this too close to dinnertime, as it can trigger digestive issues. Giving them a meal one to two hours before walks should give them enough time to digest their food and reduce scavenging. 

However, if this still doesn’t curb your dog’s need to scavenge, it might be time to re-evaluate what they’re eating and if it’s satiating their hunger.

Some grain-based dog foods can cause sudden spikes in glucose, which may be contributing to sensitive stomachs and your dog not feeling satiated. Instead, opt for foods containing easy-to-digest carbohydrates like potato and pea starch for balanced energy release, while a higher protein content will keep your pup feeling fuller for longer.

Another issue may be that they’re not eating enough. If you’re unsure, feeding guides are available online with useful information on the amount of food your pup needs based on their dog’s size and weight.

Meanwhile, not switching up what they are eating can cause boredom, making the urge to scavenge even greater. So, ensure your dog has a wide variety of different flavours and protein sources in their diet.

Use treats as a reward for good behaviour

Training your pup to ‘leave it’ when you tell them to will ensure that you have control over what goes in their mouths before it’s too late.

But words may not be enough to stop them from chowing down on what’s enticing them, so the trick is to reward them with a treat for ignoring it to reinforce good behaviour.

For best results, use enticing high-value treats to make ignoring what’s in front of them more appetising.

Reinforce ‘leave-it’ training with food-dispensing toys

From sniffing it out to finding and tasting, scavenging can be mentally rewarding and enjoyable for your dog. It releases dopamine and feel-good endorphins, leaving them feeling happy, satisfied and more likely to do it again.

To reduce the risk of your dog seeking out unidentifiable food during walks, introduce enrichment food-dispensing toys like Kongs filled with wet dog food, post-walk.

This will enhance mental stimulation, allowing your dog to work for their food and mimic the foraging-like behaviour which they enjoy so much.

For added training, try using the ‘leave it’ command while your dog is enticed by their treat-filled Kong. Successful ‘leave its’ while dogs are stimulated at home will reinforce the command for when it’s time to go outside.