How to Stop a Dog From Eating Things on the Ground

Some dogs can't resist eating things they see on the ground. Whether it's some carefully placed kibble or a pile of poop, they go for it just the same, giving owners horrible visions of vomit in the house and emergency surgery. To train your dog not to eat everything it sees on the ground, you'll need to set some boundaries and help it practice self-control. The command "leave it" is the most essential thing you'll need to teach it.

Things You'll Need

  • Leash
  • Dog treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Train your dog to focus on you. It's okay if your dog sniffs and investigates things when you're on a walk, but the dog needs to know that when you call its name it needs to drop everything and pay attention to you. To train it to stop eating things on the ground, start by practicing commands that aren't specifically related to eating, such as "no" and "sit." Practice in diverse environments so your dog will learn to ignore distractions.

    • 2

      Teach it the command "Leave it." Put the dog in a sit, then put something edible on the ground. If the dog attempts to eat it, say "leave it" forcefully. If it refrains from eating, offer it a treat from your own hand. This will teach it to turn its attention on you when it hears the word "leave it." You can also say "out," "drop it" or anything else that makes sense to you. Whatever command you use, remain consistent. Make sure every human in the dog's family knows this command.

    • 3

      Once your dog understands "leave it," move the training outside. Create an "obstacle course" by leaving treats in conspicuous places in your yard. Walk the dog around them on a short leash. If it attempts to eat the treats, say "leave it." Then offer it a treat from your own hand -- preferably a better treat than what's on the ground. This will teach the dog that the most reliable source of food is you, not the ground. If the dog continues to go after a treat, put it in a sit and keep it there until its attention has refocused on you.

    • 4

      Teach your dog to keep its attention on you during walks by bringing a lot of treats with you. As you walk, periodically say your dog's name. When it looks up at you, reward it with a treat. Never reward it by dropping the treat on the ground -- this will just reinforce the behavior you want to stop.

    • 5

      If your dog does eat something on the ground despite your commands, don't snatch it away immediately. This will teach it to eat things faster to keep you from taking them. Instead, remain calm and say "leave it" with a treat outstretched in your hand. This will encourage it to drop whatever it found and eat the treat. If the object it wanted to eat isn't unhealthy, you can let it continue eating it once the dog has focused its attention on you. This will reassure the dog that you're not out to take its food.