Why Does My Golden Retriever Eat Grass? (Myths Debunked)

Since your dog is not a cow, you may be curious and concerned every time your golden retriever eats grass. We’ve created this research-driven guide to debunk some common myths regarding grass-eating behavior.

Golden retrievers eat grass mainly because of instinctual behaviors inherited by wild ancestors, unsatisfied appetite, the influence of their mother’s grass-eating habits, attention-seeking behavior, boredom, stress/anxiety, or simply liking the texture and taste of grass.

In this article, we’ll clarify common theories pet parents have in their minds and everything else that you must know regarding your golden retriever’s grazing behavior for their overall well-being.

Table of Contents

Let’s look at the most common reasons you may believe are causing your golden retriever to eat grass and what research says.

1. Lack of Fiber in the Diet

Fiber in a dog’s diet improves digestion, regulates bowel movement, and helps them maintain a healthy weight as it keeps them fuller for longer.

Many pet parents believe that the lack of fiber in their dog’s diet is causing them to eat grass.

A 2007 study showed that an 11-year-old, neutered male miniature poodle dog kept eating grass, followed by vomiting for 7 years, and there were no abnormal findings on medical examinations.

As the dog started eating a high-fiber diet, no clinical signs were noticed for 13 months. As per this study, there’s a possibility that a fiber-deficient diet causes plant-eating behavior in dogs.

However, according to this alfalfa study, 11 adult dogs were given a fiber-free diet without or with alfalfa (fiber-rich food) meal. All dogs ate grass whether fiber was added to their meals or not, and adding alfalfa fiber didn’t reduce grass-eating behavior.

Moreover, a 2008 study by Benjamin L Hart conducted surveys of pet parents for their dog’s diet, and there was no indication that dogs eating less fiber ate more grass than dogs on a high-fiber diet.

These studies suggest that fiber intake doesn’t affect the grass-eating behavior of dogs.

Summary: Some believe a fiber-deficient diet leads dogs to eat grass, but studies yield mixed results. While a high-fiber diet reduced grass-eating in one case, other research found no correlation between fiber intake and grass-eating behavior in dogs.

2. Dietary Deficiency

Using the same 2008 study by Benjamin L Hart that we discussed just above, let’s see if dogs tend to eat grass when not fed a complete and well-balanced diet, which is also commonly believed.

The same survey showed no sign that dogs primarily fed table scraps or raw food tended to graze more than those fed a well-balanced, commercial diet.

Hence, according to this study, dietary deficiency doesn’t cause golden retrievers or dogs, in general, to eat grass more.

Summary: The 2008 study by Benjamin L Hart found no evidence that dogs primarily fed table scraps or raw food eat more grass than those on a well-balanced, commercial diet.

3. To Induce Vomiting and Relieve a Gastrointestinal Illness

The link between dog eating grass and vomiting is frequently discussed. You may think your golden retriever is eating grass because they have an upset stomach or are sick, and to relieve themselves, they vomit, which makes them feel better afterward.

Why do dogs eat grass when sick? Let’s discuss this survey-based research to answer your question that involved pet parents of healthy dogs.

68% of dogs ate plants daily or weekly, and grass was eaten by 79% of dogs, making it the most frequently eaten plant. Only 9% seemed ill before eating plants, and only 22% frequently vomited afterward.

25 vet students who had pet dogs were also surveyed. All of them reported that their dogs consumed grass. Only 2 dogs (8%) regularly vomited after eating grass, and none of the dogs showed any signs of illness before eating grass.

The 2008 study by Benjamin L Hart says that subclinical gastric or intestinal distress may sometimes lead to grass-eating in dogs. In fact, dogs already exhibiting signs of illness before eating grass were likelier to vomit after eating grass than healthy dogs.

Another study artificially induced diarrhea in 12 mixed-breed dogs by feeding a standard diet with and without fructooligosaccharide (FOS).

Dogs didn’t eat grass to induce vomiting, as there were only 2 vomiting events. In fact, dogs fed a standard diet without FOS and with normal stools spent more time eating grass than dogs fed the FOS-supplemented diet and with loose stools.

All these studies suggest that it’s less likely that dogs with an upset stomach will eat grass to relieve themselves. Dogs are also not that smart to self-medicate.

However, if your golden retriever excessively eats grass and constantly keeps vomiting, there could be an underlying health issue that must be consulted with your vet.

At times, eating grass can also make your golden retriever sick, and we’ll discuss this in detail below.

Summary: Research indicates that dogs do not typically eat grass to induce vomiting or relieve gastrointestinal distress, as most don’t appear ill before eating grass and only a minority vomit afterward.

Reasons Why Golden Retrievers Eat Grass

Now that we’ve considered different theories let’s look at reasons that seem more reasonable according to research as to why golden retrievers eat grass.

1. Influence of Mother’s Grass-Eating Habits

A study was conducted on six litters divided into two groups – one group was presented with grass in the presence of their mother and the other without their mother.

All puppies ate grass regardless of whether their mother was present or not. However, a group of puppies spent more time eating grass who were with their mother eating more grass.

Hence, this study suggests that this grass-eating behavior is innate, and their mother’s grass-eating behavior further influenced the puppies’ grass-eating behavior.

Summary: A study found that puppies eat grass innately, but those exposed to their mother eating grass spent more time engaging in this behavior, suggesting maternal influence on their grass-eating habits.

2. Instinctual Behaviors

Domestic dogs have descended from gray wolves. There’s no doubt that dogs’ instinctual behaviors are inherited from their wild ancestors.

Canines in the wild used to look for their food on their own and prey on animals that provided a complete nutritional diet instead of surviving on commercial dog food, unlike now.

Wolves eat all the internal organs, including the lungs, kidneys, heart, intestines, and spleen, that provide a complete diet for them.

Research on gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) involved analyzing scats, with 74% of scats showing some type of plant, mainly grass, especially in their diet during summer.

So, when your golden retriever eats grass, it may be nothing but them following their ancestral behaviors.

Summary: Domestic dogs, descended from gray wolves, may eat grass as an instinctual behavior inherited from their ancestors, who often included grass in their diet, as observed in research on wolves in Yellowstone National Park.

3. Unsatisfied Appetite

If your golden retriever eats grass, one of the reasons could be that their hunger isn’t fully satisfied or they are hungry.

Recommended Reading: Why Is My Golden Retriever Always Hungry?

A study was conducted on 12 healthy dogs who were presented grass three times a day for 6 days.

They spent less time eating grass as the day progressed and were more likely to eat grass before having their regular diet.

Therefore, this study suggests that dogs may consider grass as a food source as they were less likely to munch on it when they were full and not hungry.

Summary: A study on dogs showed they were more likely to eat grass before meals and less so as the day progressed, suggesting they may turn to grass as a food source when hungry.

4. Coping With Boredom or Seeking Attention

Not giving enough attention to your golden retriever may lead them to engage in inappropriate behaviors such as growling, jumping, digging your lawn, and even eating grass.

Also Read: Do Golden Retrievers Jump Fences?

When your golden retriever engages in inappropriate behaviors, you will instantly give attention to them. It will leave an impact on your dog that this is the only way to get your attention.

Moreover, if your dog doesn’t get enough physical activity or mental stimulation every day, you may have to deal with a bored canine companion, and they will show unwanted behavior, including eating grass.

Summary: Golden retrievers may eat grass as a result of boredom or seeking attention, especially if they lack sufficient physical activity, mental stimulation, or are not receiving enough attention, leading to engagement in such behaviors.

5. Dealing With Stress or Anxiety

Your golden retriever can be stressed out or anxious for various reasons, such as not seeing you for a long time, moving to a new place, or not getting enough attention.

According to PetMD, one of the signs of stress and anxiety in dogs is becoming destructive.

Of course, this could include anything from excessively licking themselves to eating grass or things they shouldn’t ingest.

It’s essential to identify the underlying cause, as you don’t want your dog’s health to deteriorate.

Summary: Stress or anxiety in golden retrievers can manifest in destructive behaviors, including excessive licking or eating grass, often triggered by factors like prolonged separation, moving to a new place, or insufficient attention.

6. They Simply Like Grass

Another simple explanation for your golden retriever eating grass could be because they just like the texture and taste of grass.

Especially when grass freshly grows (in spring), they may like its crunchiness, smell, and taste.

Dogs like eating many things that we humans may not find flavorful.

Recommended Reading: What Human Foods Can Golden Retrievers Eat?

Should I Stop My Dog from Eating Grass? Is It Bad for Them?

While occasional grazing isn’t harmful to dogs, your golden retriever can get sick from eating it, depending on if it contains any chemicals or parasites.

Grass is usually treated with chemical-based fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that can be toxic to dogs upon ingestion.

Furthermore, fecal residues of animals may contain intestinal parasites like roundworm and hookworm, which can cause intestinal infection in your golden retriever and symptoms like diarrhea.

One more thing to keep in mind is that there are also several plants toxic to dogs. If they are grazing, they must not ingest those toxic plants intentionally or unintentionally, as they can harm their health.

Here’s a complete list of plants toxic to dogs by ASPCA. You can find out through this link which plants your dog must stay away from for their well-being.

If the grass isn’t treated with chemicals and is free of parasites, your dog eating grass from time to time shouldn’t really cause a problem.

However, there are a few instances where vet attention is a must, which we will discuss below.

Summary: Occasional grass eating isn’t harmful to dogs, but risks arise if the grass is treated with chemicals or contaminated with parasites. Ingesting toxic plants while grazing also poses health risks. Vet attention may be necessary in certain cases.

When Should I Call The Vet?

You may ask, “What should I do if my dog eats grass treated with chemicals or a toxic plant?” If this is the case, you must instantly take them to your vet or an emergency vet hospital to ensure they get treated at the right time.

The same goes for dogs that show bacterial infection symptoms like fever, vomiting, and loss of appetite, as they may have eaten infected grass and require immediate treatment.

Is your dog suddenly eating grass like crazy, and has this become their habit? If yes, you must contact your vet, as they will help identify the root cause.

Is your dog eating grass and throwing up foam? It could be anything from indigestion to bloat. The foamy texture is usually due to vomit coming in contact with air before it occurs.

If your dog’s digestive system doesn’t agree with grass, it can cause indigestion and lead to white, foamy vomit. It’s essential that you call your vet right away to rule out anything serious.

Is your dog eating grass but not food? Eating inedible items like grass is a condition called pica. Also, pica was one of the most frequent behavioral problems dog owners reported.

The exact reason isn’t known but could be due to a bad habit. You must get in touch with your vet, so they can determine the cause.

If your dog has been sick and still keeps eating grass, you must watch out for any unusual behavior or symptoms like decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, bloody stool, and lethargy.

Inform your vet about these symptoms or unusual behavior, so they can properly diagnose and treat your golden retriever.

Summary: Contact a vet if your dog eats grass treated with chemicals or a toxic plant, exhibits symptoms like fever or vomiting, habitually eats grass, vomits foam, eats grass but not food, or shows unusual behavior or symptoms.

How Do I Stop My Dog From Eating Grass?

If you want to ensure your dog eats “safe” grass occasionally without getting sick or you want to deal effectively with the underlying reasons causing this behavior, here are practical tips.

1. Ensure They Aren’t Hungry

Since dogs tend to eat grass when hungry, you should ensure your golden retriever isn’t left hungry.

You can also talk to your vet about how many times a day you should feed your dog and whether it should be divided into smaller meals and fed several times a day to keep them full.

Moreover, ensure you’re feeding your golden retriever the right amount of well-balanced meals according to age, weight, health condition, and activity level. Again, consult your vet for this.

2. Create a Safe, Designated Area for Grazing

If your healthy golden retriever loves to munch on some grass from time to time, you can create a safe, designated area for grazing.

This way, you can ensure that there are no toxic plants they may consume and the grass isn’t treated by chemicals or has been infected by other animals’ droppings.

Create a confined area with the help of a fence. Grow chemical-free grass where your golden retriever can enjoy themself occasionally.

3. Provide Physical Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Dogs tend to engage in aggressive behavior when they are bored. You need to ensure they are sufficiently exercised and provided mental stimulation to help release pent-up energy.

Although your vet will recommend how much physical activity your golden retriever needs according to their age and health, a healthy adult golden retriever can engage in physical activity for at least an hour per day and go up to 2 hours, which should be spread out throughout the day.

If your golden retriever is senior, you must consult your vet for the amount of physical activity they can safely engage in daily.

Make sure you’re also providing mental stimulation along with physical activity.

As for physical activity, you can take your golden retriever for a walk or hike or play fetch or frisbee with them. Training is ideal for both mental and physical activity.

For mental stimulation, you can give them a chew toy that also satisfies their craving to chew on something other than grass.

Playing hide and seek with them and giving them interactive dog toys and even food puzzles are great ideas to mentally stimulate your dog.

4. Give Your Dog Attention

Make sure your golden retriever gets enough attention from you every day. Otherwise, they can feel lonely and start displaying destructive behaviors to get your attention.

According to AKC, your dog should get at least 2 hours of dedicated social time with humans or other dogs spread throughout the day.

Make sure you play with your dog, pet them, give lots of praise to them, or simply cuddle with them.

To help your dog socialize with other dogs, you can take them to dog-friendly parks.

If you’re too busy, you can enroll them in a professional and reputable doggy daycare for canine socialization.

5. Treat Stress & Anxiety

Just like humans bite nails when they get stressed or anxious, dogs can also exhibit inappropriate behaviors like crazily munching on grass.

You should talk to your vet and discuss if their excessive grass-eating behavior is caused by stress or anxiety.

They will help you diagnose the root cause of their stress or anxiety and share helpful tips to help your golden retriever feel relaxed, along with other treatment methods.

6. Train Them

You should train your golden retriever not to eat anything that is not good for them, either at home or outside.

Teaching them the “drop it” or “leave” command in exchange for lots of praise, their favorite treats or toys, and pets will make it a positive experience for them as they learn not eating grass will make them get so much better in return.

Stick to one command, and don’t mix them to not confuse them. Always be patient, kind, encouraging, and polite with your dog during training.

It may take some time for your dog to learn the command. Meanwhile, you can put a leash on your dog when taking them outdoors for a walk and ensure they don’t eat poisonous plants or infected or chemically-treated grass.

7. Take Them to a “Safe” Area for Walks

If you know an area where other animals also keep walking daily, and you also see their feces lying on the grass, it’s better to stay away from such areas.

The same goes for areas with toxic plants, and you suspect your golden retriever can consume them, or you want to keep them away from eating grass.

Instead, take a different route in the neighborhood where there isn’t any grass in reach or no other animals walking every day.

8. Provide an Alternative to Grass

Is there a substitute for dog eating grass? Well, if your dog really loves the texture, smell, and taste of grass, you can try giving them an alternative.

For instance, celery and lettuce of romaine, arugula, and iceberg are safe for dogs to munch on and can be a healthy alternative to grass.

However, ensure you chop them and wash them properly before feeding to avoid bacterial infections and difficulty eating.

Raw carrots cut into small chunks can also be fed as a healthy treat. Remember, any human food you feed your dog should be fed in moderation and occasionally after asking your vet.

Summary: To stop a dog from eating grass, ensure they’re well-fed, create a safe grazing area, provide sufficient exercise and mental stimulation, give attention, address stress, train them, choose safe walking areas, and offer alternatives like celery or carrots.

Conclusion

Golden retrievers may eat grass because of an unsatisfied appetite, the influence of their mother’s grass-eating habits, instinctual behaviors, or they simply like grass. Other reasons can also include coping with stress or anxiety and dealing with boredom or lack of attention.

Speaking of your golden retriever’s diet, it’s crucial for you to not feed them toxic fruits. We recommend reading this article next – What Fruits Can Golden Retrievers Not Eat?

Considering Different Theories Related to Grass-Eating Behavior in Dogs