When you’re out and about enjoying the great British countryside with your pups, what you may well notice sooner rather than later is that they seem to have suddenly developed a penchant for grass.
Seeing your dog eating grass can be a little strange, particularly for first-time dog owners who may not know that they do this… but it’s important to remember that it’s entirely normal and natural as a behaviour, so nothing to worry about at all.
There are all sorts of reasons why your dog might start eating grass and it could just be as simple as the fact that they enjoy the taste and texture of it. Dogs are omnivores and they eat both meat and plants, so it could just be an extra delicious treat for them. Who knows?
It could also be a sign of boredom, similar to other behaviours like chewing or digging, which dogs can start doing when they lack mental stimulation. If you’re worried, what about grabbing your pup’s favourite toy and playing a great game to see if this helps distract them from your lawn.
Interestingly, it’s often thought that dogs munch on grass because they want to make themselves sick, but research shows that this could actually be a bit of a myth, with fewer than one in ten pooches showing signs of sickness prior to eating grass and just a quarter being sick regularly afterwards.
Of course, the fact that there’s even a remote possibility that they might throw up after eating it may well be enough incentive for you to stop your pup from mowing the lawn in any case.
Regardless of why they’re doing it, just remember that it’s no cause for concern and that the vast majority of dogs will eat plants on a regular basis.
However, make sure that they don’t get their chops around grass that has been treated with pesticides, fertilisers and so on – and make sure that they don’t accidentally swallow slugs and snails at the same time, as this could cause a lungworm infection.
Looking for a dog trainer in Dulwich? Get in touch with Sean Hyden today to see how he can help.
