An Investigation of Factors Influencing Scavenging Behavior in Companion Dogs
Keywords:
dogs, behaviour, food picking, diseases, health, behavioural causes, risksAbstract
The article investigates the factors influencing the behaviour of picking up food remains and waste among companion dogs. The study was conducted through an online questionnaire for dog owners in Ukraine. A total of 240 responses were collected. The results showed that food-scavenging behaviour is very common among companion dogs. In particular, 22.2 % of dogs try to pick up food during almost every walk, while another 46.2 % do so occasionally. The most attractive items for dogs were meat and by-products, carbohydrate-rich foods such as bread or cookies, spoiled food remains, and faeces. Most owners considered this behaviour problematic and tried to prevent their dogs from eating found objects. The study also found that 24 % of dogs that pick up food had experienced poisoning related to this behaviour.
Several factors were associated with a higher frequency of food picking. Young dogs, especially those under 18 months of age, were more likely to demonstrate this behaviour. Dogs taken from the street picked up food more often than dogs purchased from breeders. Animals that came to their current owners after the age of two also showed a higher frequency of scavenging, which may be related to previous street experience. Among males, neutered dogs picked up food more often than intact males. The type of feeding was also important: dogs fed only commercial food showed a higher frequency of food picking than dogs receiving mixed diets. Walking duration was another relevant factor, as dogs walked for more than two hours a day were less likely to pick up food than those walked for 30–60 minutes.
The findings suggest that scavenging in companion dogs mainly connected with sensory stimulation, cognitive activity and previous experience. The results may be useful for veterinarians, dog trainers, and owners when developing strategies to prevent poisoning, manage unwanted behaviour, and improve the welfare of companion dogs.
The article investigates the factors influencing the behaviour of picking up food remains and waste among companion dogs. The study was conducted through an online questionnaire for dog owners in Ukraine. A total of 240 responses were collected. The results showed that food-scavenging behaviour is very common among companion dogs. In particular, 22.2 % of dogs try to pick up food during almost every walk, while another 46.2 % do so occasionally. The most attractive items for dogs were meat and by-products, carbohydrate-rich foods such as bread or cookies, spoiled food remains, and faeces. Most owners considered this behaviour problematic and tried to prevent their dogs from eating found objects. The study also found that 24 % of dogs that pick up food had experienced poisoning related to this behaviour.
Several factors were associated with a higher frequency of food picking. Young dogs, especially those under 18 months of age, were more likely to demonstrate this behaviour. Dogs taken from the street picked up food more often than dogs purchased from breeders. Animals that came to their current owners after the age of two also showed a higher frequency of scavenging, which may be related to previous street experience. Among males, neutered dogs picked up food more often than intact males. The type of feeding was also important: dogs fed only commercial food showed a higher frequency of food picking than dogs receiving mixed diets. Walking duration was another relevant factor, as dogs walked for more than two hours a day were less likely to pick up food than those walked for 30–60 minutes.
The findings suggest that scavenging in companion dogs mainly connected with sensory stimulation, cognitive activity and previous experience. The results may be useful for veterinarians, dog trainers, and owners when developing strategies to prevent poisoning, manage unwanted behaviour, and improve the welfare of companion dogs.
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References
Використані літературні джерела
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3. Elia J. B., Erb H. N., Houpt K. A. Motivation for hay: effects of a pelleted diet on behavior and physiology of horses. Physiology & Behavior. 2010. Vol. 101. No. 5. P. 623–627. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.09.010.
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5. Phiriyaphokhai T., Patanasatienkul T., Kittisiam T., Kasemsuwan S., Leelahapongsathon K. Population Estimation and Demographic Characteristics of Free-Roaming Dogs on Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Thailand: Implications for Rabies Control. Biology. 2025. Vol. 14. No. 7. Art. 808. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14070808.
6. Schipper L. L., Vinke C. M., Schilder M. B. H., Spruijt B. M. The effect of feeding enrichment toys on the behaviour of kennelled dogs (Canis familiaris). Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2008. Vol. 114. No. 1–2. P. 182–195. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2008.01.001
7. Tancredi D., Cardinali I. Being a Dog: A Review of the Domestication Process. Genes. 2023. Vol. 14. No. 5. Art. 992. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14050992.
8. Waters A. J., Nicol C. J., French N. P. Factors influencing the development of stereotypic and redirected behaviours in young horses: findings of a four year prospective epidemiological study. Equine Veterinary Journal. 2002. Vol. 34. No. 6. P. 572–579. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2746/042516402776180241.
9. Yamada R., Kuze-Arata S., Kiyokawa Y., Takeuchi Y. Prevalence of 25 canine behavioral problems and relevant factors of each behavior in Japan. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science. 2019. Vol. 81. No. 8. P. 1090–1096. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.18-0705.
References
1. Cimarelli, G., Juskaite, M., Range, F., & Marshall-Pescini, S. (2023). Free-ranging dogs match a human's preference in a foraging task. Current Zoology, 70(3), 343-349. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoad046.
2. Dănilă, G., Simioniuc, V., & Duduman, M. L. (2023). Research on the ethology and diet of the stray dog population in the areas bordering the municipality of Suceava, Romania. Veterinary Sciences, 10(3), Article 188. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10030188.
3. Elia, J. B., Erb, H. N., & Houpt, K. A. (2010). Motivation for hay: Effects of a pelleted diet on behavior and physiology of horses. Physiology & Behavior, 101(5), 623-627. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.09.010.
4. Hart, B. L., Hart, L. A., Thigpen, A. P., Tran, A., & Bain, M. J. (2018). The paradox of canine conspecific coprophagy. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 4(2), 106-114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.92.
5. Phiriyaphokhai, T., Patanasatienkul, T., Kittisiam, T., Kasemsuwan, S., & Leelahapongsathon, K. (2025). Population estimation and demographic characteristics of free-roaming dogs on Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Thailand: Implications for rabies control. Biology, 14(7), Article 808. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14070808.
6. Schipper, L. L., Vinke, C. M., Schilder, M. B. H., & Spruijt, B. M. (2008). The effect of feeding enrichment toys on the behaviour of kennelled dogs (Canis familiaris). Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 114(1-2), 182-195. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2008.01.001.
7. Tancredi, D., & Cardinali, I. (2023). Being a dog: A review of the domestication process. Genes, 14(5), Article 992. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14050992.
8. Waters, A. J., Nicol, C. J., & French, N. P. (2002). Factors influencing the development of stereotypic and redirected behaviours in young horses: Findings of a four year prospective epidemiological study. Equine Veterinary Journal, 34(6), 572-579. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2746/042516402776180241.
9. Yamada, R., Kuze-Arata, S., Kiyokawa, Y., & Takeuchi, Y. (2019). Prevalence of 25 canine behavioral problems and relevant factors of each behavior in Japan. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 81(8), 1090-1096. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.18-0705.
