People Answer If Dogs That Go For Scraps Of Food Are Actually Still Hungry or If They Just Eat Because It Is There
When it comes to dogs, one thing that many have in common is that dog owners often have similar experiences. It's true that most dogs behave alike and possess many personality traits that are common across breeds.
With this in mind, we have heard numerous questions from dog owners, and one question we are addressing today is whether dogs that eat scraps are actually still hungry. If you have a dog, you know they have a bad habit of begging for food.
It seems that even if you feed them the appropriate amount, provide treats, and offer extras, they still sit at your feet while you eat. In this post, we will examine responses to a question regarding whether dogs that beg for food or eat scraps off the floor are truly still hungry.
Dogs will be dogs, but understanding this might help some dog owners who are dealing with this issue. So, with that said, let's dive in and check out the full question as well as what people had to say in the comments.
Here is the original question that was posted on Quora. This sounds like something many dog owners have experienced before.
We'd be worried if they weren't eating everything too because that's just what dogs do.
As per Joanne’s good answer - I would be more worried if the dogs did NOT naturally try to grab any scraps that fall; that is perfectly normal behavior, probably stemming from hunting/pack instinct. It really never made a difference with mine whether they had just been fed or not, so all is well.
The only time there was a ‘hiccup’ was when my Lab grabbed what I accidentally dropped while prepping food - it was a piece of hot chili. Ever see a Lab trying to ‘plow’ along wet grass with his face for a while? Well, I did!
The next ‘windfall’ was carefully sniffed first!
It is also true that if dogs have been allowed to do it before, they will most likely continue doing it.
They do it because they have never been trained not to. Hungry or not, the dog should not touch anything that falls on the floor. What if it's one of your medications that could harm a dog if ingested?
My dog will ignore anything that falls unless I tell him to get it because he has been trained that way.
He will also ignore food found on the ground anywhere due to that training; I like my dog alive and well.
Dogs are definitely binge eaters - we have to agree.
Dogs are binge eaters. In the wild, this is a beneficial adaptation that prevents wasted food.
In a domestic setting, this only leads to overweight dogs.
Your pups will *always* act hungry around any food; it is your parental responsibility to limit their intake.
This comment answered it pretty well in our opinion!
All dogs and wild canids are “opportunistic” predators and will take advantage of a food source whenever one presents itself, quickly gorging themselves to the bursting point to ensure they can carry some back to regurgitate for the older dogs and pups left behind at the den while the younger, fitter pack members hunt…
Domesticated dogs retain those instincts, and humans who allow their dogs to “free feed” are the largest contributors to the greatest health problem across all breeds… obesity…
So… your dogs dive for those food scraps for two reasons…
They are hard-wired by 37 million years of evolution and 30,000 years of scavenging meals from human garbage dumps to do so…
You have failed to train them to keep a respectful distance from the human kitchen and dinner table…
Dogs are definitely heavy eaters, and they are not always hungry, but they won't pass up food if it's in front of them. Most dogs aren't actually hungry, but they do have the instincts to continue eating, and it's the owner's responsibility to keep their intake at a reasonable amount.
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