Skip to main content

Why do dogs eat garbage? What you should know about this dangerous habit

Here's why your dog likes to eat trash — and how to stop it

Just like people, every dog has their own unique approach when it comes to food. Some of our canine companions are chowhounds, but others are picky eaters. In addition to making mealtime a chore, dainty eaters aren’t actually doing themselves any favors. As long as they aren’t obese, having a dog with a hearty appetite is a good thing. Because dogs gain essential nutrients from their food, those who eat a balanced diet have healthier immune systems than underweight dogs.

But what happens when your pooch is a little too food motivated? In some cases, dogs will chew on your furniture and gnaw on your shoes. Some pups might even scarf down the contents of your garbage can. Can dogs eat garbage safely? Here’s what you should know.

A dog wearing a brown leather collar eats from a bag of garbage
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Why does my dog eat from the garbage?

You’re not alone if the thought of eating garbage makes you cringe. But for dogs, our trash might as well be an all-you-can-eat buffet. From leftover food to plastic wrappers, our trash cans hold a veritable smorgasbord as far as our pups are concerned. Still, this behavior often leaves us scratching our heads. After all, why would a dog eat from the garbage when they have a fresh serving of food and water at their disposal? According to the experts, there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation: Trash smells appetizing to dogs

Recommended Videos

Even if nothing in your garbage is edible, small traces of food remain on wrappers. Even the smallest of crumbs can produce enough of a scent for your dog’s keen nose to detect. Additionally, our dogs’ ancestors, gray wolves, frequently scavenge for food, an instinctive behavior that’s genetically hardwired in our canine companions. This is especially true of former strays that may still associate your trash can with their only access to food. 

A dog licks a person's finger with yogurt on their nose
Chris Slupski / Unsplash

What dangers does it pose when my dog eats garbage?

You wouldn’t eat expired or rancid food, and neither should your dog. While some dogs merely retrieve pieces of cardboard or plastic from the trash to chew on, others ingest their stolen trash treasures. Unfortunately, this can lead to an illness called garbage toxicosis, sometimes known as garbage gut. Symptoms range from mild nausea and flatulence to severe vomiting, diarrhea, and even seizures. 

Not only is your dog at risk of ingesting bacteria from spoiled food, but lingering residue found on empty bottles of household cleaning items can make your dog violently ill. Empty Styrofoam or plastic takeout containers smell delicious to your pup, and while they aren’t toxic on their own, eating foreign items is one of the leading causes of gastrointestinal obstructions in dogs. 

A red and white dog licking his lips while eating trash
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to get your dog to stop eating garbage

Have you ever wondered, “Can dogs eat garbage?” The answer to that question is a resolute, “No way.” But preventing your pooch from raiding the trash can while you’re away from home often presents a challenge for pet parents. Here are a few helpful tips to keep your dog out of the garbage. 

Provide your pup with distractions

Some dogs are prone to chewing everything in sight, such as furniture, shoes, and even your trash can. Make sure your dog stays occupied while you’re at work by providing him with more attractive alternatives like puzzle toys or vet-approved dog chew toys

Keep your trash can out of reach

Even if you give your dog a healthy alternative to trash can treats, habits can be hard to break. Try storing your garbage can under the sink or inside a cabinet, or relocate the can to your garage when you’re not at home to monitor your fur baby’s mischievous garbage chewing. (Pro tip: If your dog is especially crafty, he may figure out how to open up cabinet doors. Try installing a childproof lock to make sure your precocious pooch doesn’t nudge the cabinet open while you’re away.)

Lock your dog out of the kitchen

Don’t have anywhere to store your trash can? Not to worry: strategically placed baby gates will prevent your pup from leaving a mess of garbage all over your kitchen floor — and potentially making himself seriously ill in the process. “But wait,” you say, “My house has an open floor plan.” Try crate training your dog instead. Contrary to popular belief, crate training isn’t cruel. In fact, it can actually help dogs feel safer. 

Make sure your pup is well trained

Because training your dog is also a bonding experience, spending the time and effort to train your pup is always a worthwhile experience. Even old dogs can learn new tricks as long as you’re diligent and consistent. And if all else fails, seeking the help of a professional trainer is always an option. 

A reddish dog eats trash on the street
cunaplus / Shutterstock

No matter how attractive your garbage can is to your pup, you should keep him away from trash at all costs. Pesticides, household cleaners, expired food, and known toxins like sugar-free gum and chocolate can make your dog seriously ill — or worse. Take your trash out frequently, keep your garbage can locked up if possible, and if nothing else works, try crating your dog when you leave your home. Your house will stay cleaner, and your dog will be much safer. 

Topics
Mary Johnson
Contributor
Mary Johnson is a writer and photographer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her work has been published in PawTracks and…
Do dogs have periods? What’s normal and what’s not
Everything you need to know about your dog's period
A female Jack Russell terrier lies on her side

Human beings share more commonalities than differences with one another, no matter where they're from, how old they are, or what gender they are. Even so, there are a few life experiences that only females get to live through. Women around the world can commiserate about menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause — to name a few — but human females aren't the only ones who experience these stages of life.
Do dogs have periods? Are the canine heat cycle stages similar to a woman's menstrual cycle? Let's dive into this important health topic so you can learn about canine health and how to support your female dog during heat. Remember, reproductive health is just as essential as any other facet of well-being, so don't shy away from this important topic.

Do dogs have periods?

Read more
What you need to know about dogs with blue eyes
Blue eyes are a rarity that may come with some health risks
Upside down brown dog with blue eyes

Blue-eyed dogs are striking, both because of their vivid irises and because of how rare they are. After all, even though most puppies are born with blue eyes (their irises haven't developed melanin yet), most of them experience eye color changes around 1 month old. And while there’s almost nothing sweeter than staring into the brown eyes of an adoring pet, those dog breeds with blue eyes are, well, a sight to behold.

Whether you're lucky enough to have a blue-eyed dog or are just curious about these gorgeous dogs, read on to discover what causes this beautiful abnormality. We’ll share which dog breeds naturally have blue eyes, why that occurs, and if blue-eyed dogs are at risk for health problems as a result.
What dog breeds have blue eyes?

Read more
This is where dogs like to be pet: The spots they can’t resist
These are the top places to pet your dog (and the ones to avoid)
A woman pets her dog in a field

One of the best parts of owning a dog is providing pats, scritches, and belly rubs. Our buds seem to love this as much as we do, and research says that petting a pooch gives a mood boost to both humans and animals. Even though we know that pups love pats, we should still respect their boundaries and only touch them in the areas they like. While every fur baby has personal preferences, we'll cover the common areas where dogs like to be pet.
Why dogs like to be pet

About 20,000 years ago, dogs decided they preferred hanging out with humans for nourishment rather than hunting their own food. Along the way, we became more than just a meal ticket to them, and now most dogs are solely companions (of course, many still work demanding jobs as service animals or alongside police officers).

Read more