If you have a dog as a pet, you have probably found yourself at home with a large amount of waste on the floor. And it is that, sometimes, dogs develop the bad habit of rummaging through the garbage, eating what they should not, and spreading its content around our home. Let’s see how to prevent my dog from opening the garbage can.
My dog eats garbage: why does he do it?
Before explaining how to prevent my dog from opening the garbage can, it is essential to understand why he has this type of behavior.
Animal instinct
The main reason is that the canine instinct calls your dog and makes him look in the bucket for everything that attracts him by his smell.
You have to understand that for us it is a garbage can, something with a negative connotation. However, for them, it is a set of millions of new smells that are attractive to a greater or lesser extent. Therefore, they follow his trail until they find the cube and open it to find out what it is.
Hunger
Perhaps we are not feeding our pet the amount of food that corresponds to his needs. Or your food may not provide you with the necessary nutrients and are short of them.
If the dog has food needs, he will try to get food from where it is needed. Yes, even if that place is garbage.
Wants to eat something different
It can also happen that although they eat correctly in terms of quantities, the dog wants to try new flavors. That is why they look for something more attractive in the trash.
If his diet is always made up of feed and you don’t give him something different and appetizing from time to time, the smell of something you have thrown away may catch his attention.
Boredom
When the dog does not have enough stimuli at home to entertain himself, he can start to have a little strange attitude to find fun.
Separation anxiety
When a dog suffers from separation anxiety nervousness will take hold of him and while he is alone he will do everything to get your attention when you return.
How to stop my dog from opening the garbage can
Let’s now see some tricks to prevent my dog from opening the garbage can.
1. Don’t leave garbage at home
The first step is the most logical prevention. If the garbage can is very full and, therefore, it will be very easy for your dog to get to the waste, avoid it by throwing that garbage when you go to leave the house.
2. Do not leave the bucket in sight of the dog
It is also important, to prevent my dog from opening the garbage can, not leaving it in his sight.
The can is very intelligent and you can learn to open it with your head (if it has a removable lid) or by stepping on the pedal.
Therefore, we should place it inside a kitchen cupboard, put it on the terrace, on the patio, or anywhere where it does not disturb and the dog cannot access.
3. Positive stimuli
If the dog is going through the garbage out of boredom or because he suffers from separation anxiety, then it is essential to provide him with the necessary stimuli so that he does not have a bad time and that he does not have this type of behavior.
It is important that the animal walks every day and plays with its guardian. For when he is alone, make toys that challenge him available.
For example, kong is ideal in this regard. Inside you can introduce a treat for dogs that the dog will have to make an effort to get out.
This will keep you entertained, and when you do, you will be rewarded with a hearty reward.
4. Ground pepper on the lid
Placing some ground pepper on the lid of the bucket can be a repellent for your dog , as it will cause him to sneeze every time he approaches.
5. A good education
The mentioned tricks serve to prevent the dog from opening the bucket. However, there is a very relevant issue that cannot be forgotten: education.
The dog must learn from us, as guardians, that his attitude is not appropriate.
For this reason, every time at home we detect that the dog tries to open the garbage or we catch it with it open, we must say a “NO” in a resounding way, close the bin and put the dog away.
This should also be done when we take the dog for a walk and it tries to rummage through the bins and bins. Expressing that “NO” firmly and giving a little tug on the leash (be careful, without overdoing it) will tell the animal that it should not do that.
Why It Is Important To Prevent My Dog From Opening The Trash Can
We are not talking about an issue to be treated lightly. Preventing my dog from opening the garbage can is essential for many reasons:
- First, for your health. The animal could ingest toxic or spoiled food that would seriously harm it. In addition, they could eat other types of products or objects that we have discarded and put their life at risk.
- The dog could be injured by cutting itself with broken glass, metal, it can be punctured … there are many damages that our pet can suffer when rummaging through the garbage.
- On the other hand, there is the risk of choking, another danger that can cost our pet’s life.
- In addition, when putting the head in the garbage, the dog will get dirty and his hair will be impregnated with bad odors.
- And let’s not forget that if the dog takes the food out of the bucket and spreads it on the floor, it will be up to us to clean up.
If you have found yourself in the situation of finding your dog with his head in the garbage can or we know that he has done it even if you did not catch him at the time, think about whether he has been able to ingest something dangerous for him.
Whether the answer is yes, if you have doubts or if you notice strange symptoms, you should go immediately to a veterinary center.
