Dogs, these little gods of cuteness, wandering around at full speed at their master’s feet in search of attention, are sometimes strange. Very curious, they love to explore, smell and eat everything they find: mud, flies, grass and… droppings.
Do you remain thoughtful about your companion’s behavior, as adorable as it may be, and you wonder what’s wrong with his little face? Then, logically, how to fix it?
Don’t worry, several hypotheses exist to explain these strange ways. There BBC Science Focus presents several of them, as well as the solutions that go with them. Here they are.
When it comes to weed, a lot of research has led to several answers. First, delighting in a good lawn could be a sign of anxiety, as if dogs are suppressing a problem by doing something else. For Emily Blackwell, lecturer in pet behavior and welfare at the University of Bristol (UK), “It’s like when we are in the dentist’s waiting room. We may want to run away, but we do other things, like biting our nails, to relieve our anxiety.”
They are not choosy
Another explanation would be linked to affection, as Emily Blackwell details: “If the owner reacts quickly when their dog eats grass, the dog learns that it is a good way to attract attention.” But the professor specifies that this is not a very common behavior when it comes to seeking cuddles. According to her, if the dog does not get a response from its owner, it may simply graze for pleasure.
If he really seems to enjoy tucking in tufts of grass, it may be linked to the third hypothesis: increasing his fiber consumption. It is also possible that he swallows weed to heal his stomach ailments. It’s a little worrying, but it seems that wolves also consume grass to purge their intestines of parasites. If you call your dog “little wolf”, there is surely a link… And more seriously, if this behavior intensifies, take him to the vet.
Don’t panic, however, your dog has little risk of getting sick if he eats grass. A study carried out in 2008 shows that although 68% of dogs regularly consume grass, only 22% of them become ill afterwards. So rest assured, no vomit in sight! On the other hand, you may vomit at the sight of your dog eating poop. That’s a lot less cute.
According to Emily Blackwell, this is unlikely to harm your dog’s health unless the feces came from an animal carrying a disease. In any case, if your dog is attracted to droppings, it may be because of you. “When a master rushes over a piece of poop to prevent a nasty feast during a walk, the dog understands that the excrement is something important in the eyes of its master. He could then be determined to reach it before him, explains Professor Blackwell. So if you see a poop while walking in a park, don’t rush towards it. Especially if you don’t have a dog.
Source: www.slate.fr
