Over the festive season, while our tables are heaving with delicious food, you might notice those pleading canine eyes. Is your dog obsessed with food?

6 Reasons why your Dog might seem Obsessed with Food

  1. Dogs descend from wolves! They are hardwired to hunt and scavenge.
  2. Dogs are clever – in the wild they didn’t know when or where their next meal was coming from. Their survival instinct has developed to grab food where they can!
  3. Is it your fault? Are you affirming incorrect behaviour? If your dog begs while you are eating, do you reward them? This will make your dog overly focused on food.
  4. A medical condition might be causing your dog to eat more than necessary. Anything from anxiety through to parasites could affect their eating habits. You’d need to check with your vet if you’re concerned.
  5. Just like humans, dogs have been known to eat out of boredom. They might even find food a source of entertainment! Dogs need physical activities and mental stimulation to not over focus on food.
  6. It could be in their character! Dogs are individuals and some of them have temperaments that lead them to become food obsessed. Often rescue dogs who’ve experienced food scarcity in their early life never know when they’re full. You’ll just have to shower them with love and attempt portion control.

5 Tips to Manage a Food-Obsessed Dog

  1. Keep their food on a schedule!
  2. Regular exercise and mental stimulation.
  3. Don’t give in to those pleading eyes!
  4. Give them a balanced diet.
  5. Be calm around food and give them loads of positive reinforcement.

But we understand. It takes courage to resist those pleading eyes… shower them with love!