How to Stop Fido from Scavenging on Walks

Walks are great. We all know that, but they get tricky when your curious companion gets distracted by food that other passers have dropped. Scavenging in dogs is incredibly common, so much so that it’s considered instinct when you evaluate it with different habits. Thus, there’s no real way to stop them completely. However, allowing your dog to scavenge uncontrollably exposes them to potential danger, especially if they ingest something toxic that could cause intestinal blockage. Luckily some preventative measures could help you stay two steps ahead of their instinct.

Training

Whether you train at home or purchase one of our training programs, teaching your dog some new tricks could help them stay safe in the long run. This is a great place to start. We recommend learning the “leave it” command. It teaches to listen to you so that you can evaluate what they’re eating if you evaluate it at all. Make sure to reward them for following the command, too. This reinforces the idea that it’s good for them to wait for you instead of eating their “treasure.”

Change of Pace

If you notice that they only scavenge on a particular trail, then just change your route. It’s as simple as that. Choose pathways with the lowest level of risk. If your standard path has a trashcan every 30 feet, walk the trail that doesn’t. You’ll essentially be steering clear of any temptation at all. 

At-home Scavenging

Since scavenging is a primal urge, try soothing it at home. This allows you to monitor what they find and control what those treats offer. Take their scavenging energy and redirect it somewhere safer! You could do this by throwing their kibble around and letting them find every last piece. You could also hide piles of food around the house in different safe spots. Alternatively, you could invest in a snuffle mat or a slow-eating bowl.

Muzzling

If you find yourself fighting with your dog on walks, try using a muzzle as a physical barrier between them and the garbage on the ground. This should always be your last-ditch effort. Make sure you use a mesh or cage muzzle instead of a cloth one. This way, you avoid heat exhaustion, as cloth muzzles block dogs’ panting, which is a cool-down method for them. 

Make sure that you watch what your dog ingest, no matter where you are. Doing so keeps them safe and in your arms forever.