My chocolate lab is such a scavenger when we walk. All he does is search the gutter for food scraps of any kind. Should we be varying his diet more? We only feed him dry food. Will switching it up cause him to seek out scraps on the street less? I’m also worried that changing his food will upset his stomach.
Labs are renowned for their inquisitive, adventurous and scavenging ways (think “Marley & Me.”) I have a yellow Lab named Sunny who has NEVER passed up an opportunity to sniff, inhale or ingest any substance remotely resembling food. She is on a seemingly never-ending quest to find comfort, adventure and joy in food and loves ripping apart and chewing bags, boxes or packages that have ever contained ANY kind of food or food-related substance whatsoever.
Through positive reinforcement and use of a short leash, teach your dog not to pick up foreign objects that could be potentially hazardous to his health. And, yes, I actually would vary your pet’s diet. An all-kibble diet can be very boring. How would you like to be on one? Just consult with your vet to ascertain a healthy and appropriate food and exercise regimen for his size, age, breed, etc. and provide your dog with some healthy nutritional alternatives to dry food. Fresh food like chicken, turkey, beef, fish or venison can be extremely healthy as well as enjoyable for your pet. So can fresh yogurt, eggs and cottage cheese. Your pet should gradually be introduced to any changes – they needn’t be sudden or dramatic and they shouldn’t upset his digestive system. I guarantee you he will appreciate the variety of his diet. I cannot guarantee, however, that he will change his scavenging ways…
Dr. Pomerance is an animal behavior specialist and an expert on topics such as deciding which puppy is best for your family, how to pick out a rescue, and on healing from the loss of a pet.
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