Here's why:
* Their digestive system: Golden retrievers have a digestive system designed to process both meat and plant matter.
* Their natural instincts: In the wild, their ancestors (retrievers were bred for hunting) would have eaten a variety of foods, including small animals and plants.
* Their diet: Golden retrievers need a diet rich in protein, fats, and other nutrients that are found in both meat and plant-based foods.
While they might enjoy nibbling on grass or leaves sometimes, it's not a primary food source and they wouldn't thrive on a purely vegetarian diet.