Eating Grass

Let's talk about eating grass. First, see your vet, because sudden grass-eating in an older dog can signal gastrointestinal upset or a dietary deficiency you do not yet know about. Once the vet clears the dog, the truth is this: most dogs eat grass, and most grass-eating is harmless.

Dogs are omnivores, not strict carnivores, and a little roughage is normal canine behavior. Step one: make sure your lawn is free of pesticides and chemicals. That part is on you, not the dog.

Step two: if the dog is eating grass and vomiting every single day, that is a vet conversation, not a training conversation. Step three: stop worrying. The dog is not sick.

The dog is being a dog. Patricia McConnell says grass-eating is one of the most common and least understood dog behaviors, and the most over-corrected. Now, the deeper fix: most grass-eating is not a behavior problem at all.

Stop worrying, watch the vomit pattern, and let your vet do the rest. Now here's Steve's notes.