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This article was co-authored by Indigo Will. Indigo Will is a Canine Expert, Trainer, and Founder and Owner of K9-INDIGO® Holistic Dog Training LLC™, a dog training service in Los Angeles, California. Indigo specializes in understanding canine temperament and dispositions to allow canines to reach their full potential. He has studied various methods of training and philosophies to develop a unique, innovative, and result-driven method for canine behavior training.
There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 56,947 times.
Taking your dog on walks or letting it play in the yard may present an interesting but fairly common canine behavior: eating grass. Eating grass can signal many things including nutritional deficiencies, boredom, and intestinal worms.[1] Although generally harmless, certain grass areas may contain pesticides, chemicals, or toxic plants.[2] You can stop your dog from eating grass by adjusting its diet, engaging it in activity, and keeping it away from tempting patches of grass.
Steps
Switch your dog’s food. Some dogs may nibble on grass because of a nutritional deficiency.[3] Give your dog a different type of premium food for a week. This may help alleviate its desire to eat grass.[4]- Get a premium dog food that is high in fiber. This can ensure your dog is getting all of the necessary vitamins and minerals. The additional fiber may help relieve your dog’s desire for grass by aiding digestion and keeping it regular.[5]
- Look for the following types of fiber on dog food labels: rice hulls, corns, corn by-products, soybean hulls, beet pulp, bran, peanut-hulls, pectin.
- Change to your dog’s new food gradually over five days. On the first day, mix 20% of the new food with the old. Increase the amount by 20% each day, until you reach 100% on the fifth day. Follow with one week on the new food.
Treat your dog to steamed veggies. Another way to increase your dog’s fiber intake is giving it steamed vegetables. You can do this as a snack or part of regular meals. Steamed veggies can also be a nice alternative to commercial dog snacks. Consider steaming the following for your dog:- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Peppers
- Green beans
- Spinach
- Celery
- Zucchini
- Squash
- Sweet potatoes[6]
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Give your dog its own plant. If your dog really likes eating grass without any ill health, consider giving it a plant. This can help your dog fulfill its natural instinct to munch on greenery and keep it away from grass. The following plants or greens are safe for your dog to eat:[7]- Burdock herb
- Milk thistle
- Peppermint
- Astragalus herb
- Garlic grass
- Rosemary
Allow your dog occasional chomps of grass.[8] Before humans domesticated them, dogs used to hunt their own food and would get dietary needs—including greens—from their prey. Let your dog have a nibble of grass occasionally if the animal seems to enjoy it and it’s not causing any health issues.[9]- Recognize that you can train a dog to stop eating grass. However, it may be difficult and cause your dog stress because it is following a natural instinct.
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Give the dog a bone—or chew stick. Many dogs eat grass because they are bored and need some form of entertainment. Making sure your dog has plenty of bones and/or chew sticks can provide it entertainment that engages the mouth. This may stop your dog from chewing on grass as an alternative.[10] They also help improve a dog’s dental health and can relieve teething pain.[11]- Choose a bone or chew toy for your dog made from either natural materials or nylon. You can get natural chewing toys by giving your dog beef bones, rawhide bones, and non-rawhide chews made from vegetables and chicken.
- Select nylon chew toys are bone-hard and a great choice if your dog is a power chewer. You may also want to get a dental bone that cleans your dog’s teeth and keeps its mouth occupied.
Schedule daily playtime. Humans originally bred dogs to work. It’s a natural instinct for a dog to want to “work” through play and other stimulating activities. Making sure your dog isn’t a couch potato by scheduling play time every day can also stop it from eating grass.[12] Try and schedule 30-60 minutes of play for the same time every day so your dog knows to anticipate it.[13] The following types of play can stimulate and engage your dog and may prevent nibbling on grass:[14]- Running
- Walking
- Fetching
- Catching a Frisbee or ball
- Visiting a local dog park
- Hunting for dinner
Provide toys during “alone” time. You may need to go to work or school during the day. This may require leaving your dog at home, which can cause boredom and lack of activity. Making sure your dog has plenty of toys at home can help it beat the boredom and may prevent it from eating grass when you are outside.[15] Your dog may enjoy:- Hard rubber toys for chewing and carrying around
- Rope toys
- Tennis balls
- “Busy box” toys with hiding places for snacks
- Soft, stuffed toys
- Dirty laundry that smells like you
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Deter your dog with a home scent. Some scents, such as coffee or spices, repel a dog from approaching and eating grass. Spray or spread readily available scents you have in your home to keep the dog from eating grass.[16]- Sprinkle black or cayenne pepper or chili powder around the edges of your lawn. You can also mix these in a bottle with water and spray it around the yard. Make sure to use only a moderate amount of each as sniffing these scents can cause your dog’s nose to become inflamed.
- Spray a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and vinegar around the yard. These scents will deter your dog from crossing on to the lawn. Avoid spraying directly on the grass, as the vinegar may harm your lawn.
- Avoid spreading coffee grounds on the grass. Some people recommend this method, but caffeine is actually toxic to dogs, so this is a potentially dangerous deterrent.
Plant borders on the grass. Certain plants have a scent that repels dogs. Creating borders around your grass with these plants can keep your dog away from the lawn. The following plants may deter your dog from eating grass:[17]- Coleus canina
- Marigold or calendula
- Lemongrass
- Citrus trees
- Hollies[18]
- Evergreen huckleberry
- Succulents such as aloe
Reprimand your dog. Despite your best efforts, your canine companion may still chew on grass. Some owners physically punish their dogs to stop undesirable behaviors. This does little to deter the behavior and can make your dog fear you.[19] Using a firm, “No!,” can teach your dog to stop eating grass. If your dog is on a leash, you can gently pull on it while saying, “No!”[20]- Stay consistent with your reprimanding. Dogs eventually learn that “No!” means you don’t like the behavior.
Train your dog to not eat grass. Although sometimes difficult, you can train your dog to not eat grass.[21] The safest and kindest way to do this is using a spray bottle. Whenever you go outside with your dog, carry a spray bottle filled with cool and clean water. If your dog puts its mouth near the grass, reprimand it with a firm "No!" followed by a spray in the face with the water. [22]- Avoid filling the spray bottle with hot water or other liquids. These could get sting your dog’s eyes or hurt it.
Visit your vet. If your dog continues to eat grass despite your best attempts, schedule an appointment with your vet. The vet can examine your dog for underlying physical and mental conditions. The doctor may also suggest an animal behavioral specialist or dog trainer who can help stop your dog from eating grass.
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Expert Q&A
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- QuestionShould I stop my dog from eating grass?
Indigo WillIndigo Will is a Canine Expert, Trainer, and Founder and Owner of K9-INDIGO® Holistic Dog Training LLC™, a dog training service in Los Angeles, California. Indigo specializes in understanding canine temperament and dispositions to allow canines to reach their full potential. He has studied various methods of training and philosophies to develop a unique, innovative, and result-driven method for canine behavior training.
Professional Canine ExpertA little bit of grass is fine and can even calm your dog's upset stomach. However, you should always make sure you know what's in the grass before you let your dog nibble. For example, grass areas might contain pesticides, chemicals, or poisonous insects.
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Tips
- Take your dog to the vet if it continues to eat grass despite attempts to stop the behavior. This can help rule out an underlying problem such as worms or anxiety.[23]Thanks
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Warnings
- Watch for the signs of pesticide or plant poisoning in your dog. These include: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, seizures, muscle tremors, hypersalivation, constricted pupils, increased heart rate, lack of coordination, and trouble breathing.[24] Seek prompt veterinary care if your dog shows any of these signs.Thanks
- Recognize the signs of worms in dogs, which include: diarrhea, weight loss, dry hair, general poor appearance, vomiting.[25]Thanks
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References
- ↑ http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/why-do-dogs-eat-grass
- ↑ Indigo Will. Professional Canine Expert. Expert Interview. 8 September 2020.
- ↑ http://pets.thenest.com/dog-stop-eating-grass-leaves-8732.html
- ↑ http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/why-do-dogs-eat-grass?page=2
- ↑ http://pets.thenest.com/dog-stop-eating-grass-leaves-8732.html
- ↑ http://pets.thenest.com/steamed-vegetables-dogs-9359.html
- ↑ http://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/evr_multi_herb_n_living#
- ↑ Indigo Will. Professional Canine Expert. Expert Interview. 8 September 2020.
- ↑ Indigo Will. Professional Canine Expert. Expert Interview. 8 September 2020.
- ↑ http://pets.thenest.com/dog-stop-eating-grass-leaves-8732.html
- ↑ http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=241
- ↑ http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/exercise-dogs
- ↑ http://dogtime.com/dog-health/fitness/49-exercise-needs
- ↑ http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/exercise-dogs
- ↑ http://www.caninejournal.com/why-dogs-eat-grass/
- ↑ http://pets.thenest.com/home-remedies-keep-dog-off-lawn-4213.html
- ↑ http://pets.thenest.com/home-remedies-keep-dog-off-lawn-4213.html
- ↑ http://www.gardenguides.com/129261-mulch-plants-keep-dogs-out-garden.html
- ↑ http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/preventing-and-punishing-undesirable-behavior-in-cats/5496
- ↑ http://pets.thenest.com/dog-stop-eating-grass-leaves-8732.html
- ↑ Indigo Will. Professional Canine Expert. Expert Interview. 8 September 2020.
- ↑ http://dogscience.org/workshop/spritz.shtml
- ↑ http://www.caninejournal.com/why-dogs-eat-grass/
- ↑ http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_multi_organophosphate_carbamate_toxicity
- ↑ http://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/evr_dg_intestinal_worms_in_dogs
About This Article
Professional Canine Expert
This article was co-authored by Indigo Will. Indigo Will is a Canine Expert, Trainer, and Founder and Owner of K9-INDIGO® Holistic Dog Training LLC™, a dog training service in Los Angeles, California. Indigo specializes in understanding canine temperament and dispositions to allow canines to reach their full potential. He has studied various methods of training and philosophies to develop a unique, innovative, and result-driven method for canine behavior training. This article has been viewed 56,947 times.
Co-authors: 10
Updated: September 10, 2023
Views: 56,947
Categories: Dog Behavioral Problems
Article SummaryX
To stop your dog from eating grass, try switching it to a premium, high-fiber dog food, since it might be eating grass because of a nutritional deficiency. You can also increase your dog’s fiber by giving it steamed vegetables, like broccoli, carrots, spinach, or squash. If your dog simply likes munching grass, give it a rosemary, peppermint, or burdock herb plant to chew on, which is healthier and better for your lawn. While some dogs eat grass due to dietary needs, others chew grass out of boredom, so try giving your dog something else to focus on, like an all natural chew stick or a nylon chew toy. Additionally, spend more time walking, running, or playing fetch with your dog to keep it engaged and healthy. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to train your dog to not eat grass, keep reading!
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 56,947 times.
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