Pet care: Why dogs can鈥檛 resist stealing food
First in a series.
Dogs are known to pilfer and eat some unusual food and often junk that鈥檚 not even food. They鈥檝e consumed beer, cannabis, chocolate and roast beast because, well, it鈥檚 there. They鈥檙e not adventurers or petty shoplifters out for a cheap thrill. They gorge because they are sure that whatever they find may be their last meal. There is no rehab for this. It鈥檚 who they are.
Dogs devour indiscriminately for somewhat different reasons than humans. There is no guarantee of survival in the wild. Genetically wired to live by their wits, they sniff out their meals. Our pupsters share that programming. The great famine may be only minutes away. Well-nourished house dogs may steal and even fight for any tidbit, constantly scanning for that next snack.
Remember Daffy Duck? I can hear him now. 鈥淲hy, that鈥檚 ridiculous.鈥� Food is abundant at your house. Meals are delivered on time 鈥� with a flourish. Surely your dog knows she鈥檒l never go hungry. No, she doesn鈥檛. She鈥檚 an inveterate counter-surfer.
Dogs have been our best friends for only about 27,000-40,000 years. Only? In the span of evolution that鈥檚 the blink of an eye. The gray wolves of yesteryear, who showed less fear of cave people who tossed them scraps, were purposely bred for their human-trusting character and, voil脿, the new species of Canis familiaris (domestic dogs) branched off. All in the space of several generations.
A lot of canine garbage guts can ingest astonishing amounts of rotting refuse with impunity. It鈥檚 not all fun and games. Tearing into sacks of pet food or raiding the trash risks intestinal blockage or perforation and, if not treated quickly, even death. I鈥檝e retrieved enough bones in my career to assemble a couple of skeletons. They never learn. It鈥檚 the pet parent鈥檚 job to dog-proof.
Willie Sutton, the famed robber of the 1920s and 鈥�30s, stole from banks because, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where the money is.鈥� Any self-respecting canine thief will pillage unguarded dinner tables and kitchen counters without compunction. Never help a good dog go bad. Don鈥檛 leave out food, don鈥檛 feed from the table, and don鈥檛 punish an innate behavior.
Next week: If you don鈥檛 yell or swat, what can you do?
鈥� For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference at drjeffnichol.com.
Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist in Albuquerque. He provides consultations by Zoom group and individually/in-person. Sign up for his weekly blog or post questions (drjeffnichol.com) or mail 4000 Montgomery NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109.
