Why Your Dog is Eating Everything It Sees

Dogs have an excellent sense of smell, and with that sense comes the desire to taste. If you have a dog that loves eating anything around the house, yard, dog park, or wherever, you may wonder how to stop your dog from chewing on things he shouldn’t. Several different situations can result in the reasons why your dog is eating everything he sees. Let’s look at what could be causing your dog’s unusual eating habit and how to resolve it.

7 Reasons Why Your Dog Eats Everything

1. It’s Natural

Dogs hunt in the wild. Therefore, it is natural for your dog to hunt everything, smell it, and maybe taste it. When dogs don’t have fresh food, they tend to scavenge, so finding your dog eating three-day-old trash is typical behavior.

Letting your dog form the habit of hunting things besides dog snacks and food may not be best for your home or canine. Teaching your dog to leave things alone and only eat its food is essential to helping them learn not to eat everything it finds.

2. Anxiety

If your dog is new to your home, has had a recent lifestyle change, or has any other anxious triggers, that could be why your dog is eating everything he sees. Just like people can form the habit of nervous nail-biting, dogs can develop the habit of eating when scared or concerned. The chewing sensation may help calm your dog, but it is important to know how to stop your dog from eating things he shouldn’t during these times. 

Taking your dog to a veterinarian can help identify what is causing your dog’s anxiety and how to help stimulate its positive hormones vs. stress. Relieving stress can help reduce what your dog is eating.

3. Boredom

Dogs love attention and playtime. If your dog stays home alone for long periods frequently, it may show how much it misses you by eating everything in the house while you are gone. Although this is a quick answer to your question of, ‘Why does my dog eat everything he sees,’ it can wreak havoc on your belongings and patience. 

Bored dogs tend to find anything that might make a dull situation entertaining. Ensuring your dog is in a safe place with only dog toys will help reduce what it can get a hold of during calmer times. While you are with your dog, if you notice it is getting bored, train your canine not to eat things other than appropriate dog bones or toys.

4. Diet

Sometimes, the food you provide your dog does not sit well with your puppy's stomach or physical needs. A dog can recognize when it is not getting the minerals it needs to survive. If your dog struggles to get the proper nutrients from the food, it could be why your dog eats everything he sees. Additional foods it could start eating include the foods of other pets in the house, feces, dirt, plants, or bugs. 

When learning how to stop your dog from chewing things he shouldn’t try different dog food brands to help identify if it needs something added to its diet. You can also take inventory of how much food and how often your dog is eating to see if there is a lack of taste in what you are feeding vs. what your dog is eating. Take note that if your dog dumps things out on the floor or picks through its food, it may be another sign that the food isn’t doing its job, and a new flavor might help reduce eating unwanted items.

Another reason why your dog eats everything he sees could be because of a disease called pica. Pica occurs when dogs have problems with certain minerals causing them to eat anything regardless of health outcomes. Vets can help guide you to the right course of treatment for pica.

5. Training Commands

Training your dog to leave things as they are is crucial to counteracting its desire to eat everything that smells good. If your dog has not learned the commands of ‘no,’ ‘leave it,’ or ‘drop it,’ this would be an excellent opportunity to train your dog in a new positive behavior.

6. Illness

Dogs can show signs of illness in their eating habits. If you suddenly notice yourself asking, ‘Why does my dog eat everything he sees,’ your canine may have parasites or another illness that makes it always desire food. If you notice your dog eating everything around the house suddenly, it would be wise to take it to the doctor for further testing to see what is causing the issue. 

7. Exploration

Dogs love exploring. Letting dogs explore is an excellent way to learn about the world around them. Puppies especially love to adventure as they are learning about everything in life. Give them time to sniff and figure out what is happening. Always be watchful and stop your dog from chewing things that shouldn’t be part of his regular diet.

True Canine Can Help Redirect Your Dog’s Eating Habits

If your dog is healthy, then the answer to your question, ‘Why does my dog eat everything it sees,’ comes down to training misguided behaviors. Training is essential to helping your dog recognize its food vs. inappropriate food. True Canine knows that dogs love to smell and taste everything in their world. However, not all those items are good, so helping your dog learn to stop or leave it will help prevent unwanted foods, habits, and illnesses from entering your life. 

True Canine specializes in helping dog owners learn four training principles that are proven to effectively teach dogs commands and redirect behaviors in a positive, humane manner. At-home training or board and train programs are available with our trainers’ hands-on approach to training you and your dog new habits for a healthy and safe life. Stop asking, ‘Why does my dog eat everything he sees,’ and call our trainers to schedule your canine’s training course.