We love that you\u2019re here reading our article, but if you\u2019re looking for advice in real-time, having a puppy trainer \u2018on-call\u2019 to answer your questions might be something you\u2019re interested in. Download the Zigzag app<\/a> and talk to one of our fully qualified puppy training coaches<\/a>; they\u2019ll be happy to help you at all times with all your puppy related woes. No question is too silly, we promise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, but also no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the act of eating regular yard grass, in moderation, isn\u2019t bad for your puppy\u2019s digestion. In fact, in our reasons why puppies eat grass section below, you\u2019ll see that increasing fibre and roughage is often a good thing for puppies and dogs. However, it’s not just the grass that they\u2019re eating, is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pesticides and herbicides<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yep, grass and plants are regularly sprayed with pesticides or herbicides or contain runoff from treating other areas of people\u2019s yards with weed killers. Local councils and land management companies may also use strong weed killers to try and kill plants such as the invasive Japanese knotweed. As you can imagine, these products are not going to be healthy for your puppy to ingest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Internal Parasites – fleas and worms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Animal faeces deposited on grass is often chock full of worm and flea eggs<\/a>. Your puppy, perhaps unwittingly or because it might even attract them, eats another dog’s poop and ingests these parasites, which then hatch inside of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s gross. You don\u2019t want to be anywhere near that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potentially poisonous plants<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You only have to look at the other things dogs eat (hello, toxic chocolate and poo!) to realize that they certainly don\u2019t consult a poisonous plants handbook before ingesting whatever they damn well, please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if you\u2019re interested in reading something out to them that might point them in the right direction, you may want to take a look at our puppy nutrition guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just as a side note, if your puppy suddenly starts to eat grass or other non-edible items, then it\u2019s worth contacting your vet and ruling out Pica. Pica is generally behaviorally based, but reach out to your Vet in the first instance. They can then rule out anything medical and refer you to a qualified behaviorist to help you with this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppies eat grass for all kinds of reasons. Some are more clever than others!<\/p>\n\n\n\n When thinking about why your puppy might be eating grass, have a look through this list and see if you can find anything that sounds familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grasses, and plants such as Galium aparine, commonly called Sticky Weed or Goosegrass, seem to call on your puppy\u2019s taste buds. It tastes freshest between June and September, and all the dogs I have cared for seem to be obsessed with eating this plant. It\u2019s not harmful and actually does have health benefits if well chewed. It\u2019s like they can smell the healthiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suppose your puppy eats a diet that doesn\u2019t feature much fruit or vegetables. In that case, they could lack fibre and need the extra roughage that grass and plants provide to have a complete diet. Again, it\u2019s almost like they can smell the benefits of plants from far away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many dogs will eat grass to induce vomiting when they\u2019re not feeling well. Maybe we should try doing the same after a big night out at the pub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boredom can feature highly among dogs compulsively eating grass or who have Pica. If they have nothing else to exercise their brain with, they can eat grass as just something to stimulate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suppose you are happily cruising along, being boring because you\u2019re staring at your phone and not paying your puppy any attention. In that case, they can learn that they get you to notice them as soon as they do something like eating grass. Then guess what they\u2019re going to do? Yes, obviously, eat more grass!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fun Fact: It\u2019s not just domesticated dogs and puppies that eat grass. Wild dogs and wolves enjoy eating a grassy snack as well as other plants every once in a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so if you\u2019re keen on knowing how to stop your puppy from eating grass, here are some of our top tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We hope we\u2019ve answered all your questions about why puppies eat grass and taught you some more things here and there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t forget our Zigzag puppy coaches<\/a> are here to help you with any concerns you have, no matter if they\u2019re big or small. In the Zigzag puppy training app<\/a>, we also have a ton of training games, articles and more related content you\u2019ll find interesting as you\u2019re starting your journey with your puppy. Our guiding principles<\/a> will tell you a little bit more about what we stand for; bet you\u2019ll feel good about them too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of eating strange things, is your puppy chewing everything in sight, maybe even including you? While you\u2019re here, why not check out our puppy chewing<\/a> article, and save those hands and skirting boards!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"puppy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mateusz-grabowski-vRxRgiIZP4g-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a>Can puppies eat grass?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Why do puppies eat grass?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Certain grasses seem to taste delicious.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Lack of fibre – your puppy might need more roughage.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Puppies eat grass to make them sick if they are feeling unwell.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Eating grass is just \u2018Something to do\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Eating grass gets your attention.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>How to stop your puppy eating grass<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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