Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => Pets without Feathers => Topic started by: starry on February 02, 2012, 13:58

Title: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: starry on February 02, 2012, 13:58
I have 2 westies (sisters) they both eat rubbish when out for a walk, I live near a park and woods so there are foxes about and cats etc,
 Any discarded food and they are in there including cat "leftovers".  ???   I have had westies before and they were the same, including the male one, the trouble is sometimes I have no idea what they eat and sometimes it causes them stomach upsets.
 They are fed on a good quality dried dog food and have plenty to eat, it drives me around the bend, I have thought of muzzling them but I really don't want to any ideas ? 
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: mumofstig on February 02, 2012, 14:11
I have no advice, but I think all dogs are the same! All of mine over the years have eaten unmentionable things at every opportunity  :tongue2:
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: Kleftiwallah on February 02, 2012, 14:21

It be in their nature Maaaaam,  Tugging a forelock and spoken in a good West country accent.    Cheers,     Tony.
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: starry on February 02, 2012, 15:08
but what gets me they eat some putrid stuff (well it is to me) but I try and give them a beef flavoured worming tablet wrapped in a nice bit of cheese and they spit it out  :wacko:
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: Kleftiwallah on February 02, 2012, 15:39

It be the cheese Maaaaam,    they dinna like it.    OOOOOPs slipped into Scottish then.

A dogs constitution can take stuff that would come straight backl up if it were we.      Cheers,     Tony.
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: compostqueen on February 02, 2012, 16:37
Dogs might have been domesticated but they still retain their wild characteristics, survival in lean times being one of them, so they scavenge. It will always be so  :D  Some breeds seem worse than others  :)  By the way you can't rationalise with a dog  :)
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: starry on February 02, 2012, 16:39
no they lurrrve cheese normally
 and you are as bad as my husband who ALWAYS feels the need to slip into what ever accent is local to where ever we are, even abroad he does it, like his french accent (as in I was pissing by the door)  :tongue2:
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: starry on February 02, 2012, 16:43
yep !!  just been reading this     
The fact that we disapprove is totally irrelevant to a dog, and probably quite incomprehensible. If I were a dog and learning by association I would probably learn that every time I got a tasty, rotten bit of burger my owner would freak out and try to get it for himself? otherwise why would he chase me, grab me, and then have the cheek to try and prise it out of my mouth if he didn’t want it for himself. Of course I would make a run for it and as I have two extra legs, the resulting victory is a forgone conclusion.     
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: arugula on February 02, 2012, 18:11
I think some dogs scavenge, others roll in smelly stuff. ::)
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: arugula on February 02, 2012, 18:15

It be the cheese Maaaaam,    they dinna like it.    OOOOOPs slipped into Scottish then.

A dogs constitution can take stuff that would come straight backl up if it were we.      Cheers,     Tony.

It be in their nature Maaaaam,  Tugging a forelock and spoken in a good West country accent.    Cheers,     Tony.


Does a regional accent give more credence to the reply? :)

Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: tosca100 on February 02, 2012, 18:27
I think some dogs scavenge, others roll in smelly stuff. ::)

And some do both! Two in this house. :ohmy:

They charge out at top speed in the morning to see if the cat has visited in the night. Revolting creatures! :tongue2: Then they want to give you a kiss.....I don't think so!
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: arugula on February 02, 2012, 18:32
My Terrier used to roll in fox "scent" whenever he could find it. Yeuch!
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: plum crumble on February 02, 2012, 19:49
hmm, that's why I have myself a nice clean CAT  ::) :lol:
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: ANHBUC on February 02, 2012, 20:29
hmm, that's why I have myself a nice clean CAT  ::) :lol:

Mine too, it wouldn't roll in or eat dog or any other type of poo!   :tongue2:

She also has 2 litter trays, one she wees in and the other for pooing.   :)
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: arugula on February 03, 2012, 06:25
hmm, that's why I have myself a nice clean CAT  ::) :lol:

Oh I dunno, I've seen the way cats lick....  :D
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: starry on February 03, 2012, 08:29
I think some dogs scavenge, others roll in smelly stuff. ::)

yes my two do both and dig up the garden, have fenced some of it off but they still manage to get in  ??? 
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: Trillium on February 03, 2012, 16:45
Re picking up garbage and stray food. True, it's their nature. But they must be trained not to do so. It shows who is in command (and who has to pay vet bills).

If anyone suggests that animals should be allowed to stay within their nature, then tell them you'll forward all vet bills to them.
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: gobs on February 03, 2012, 17:15
Re picking up garbage and stray food. True, it's their nature. But they must be trained not to do so. It shows who is in command (and who has to pay vet bills).

If anyone suggests that animals should be allowed to stay within their nature, then tell them you'll forward all vet bills to them.

Yes, and also to live with them.
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: starry on February 04, 2012, 16:40
Re picking up garbage and stray food. True, it's their nature. But they must be trained not to do so. It shows who is in command (and who has to pay vet bills).

If anyone suggests that animals should be allowed to stay within their nature, then tell them you'll forward all vet bills to them.
Trouble is I might tell them no when I see them start to sniff stuff and they might obey that time but there are plenty of times when they will do it when I'm not looking and if you haven't had westies for a pet you wont know how stubborn and determined they are   :nowink:
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: sarajane on February 08, 2012, 21:10
We've got a stubborn westie cross and he's the same as 90% of our dogs and will eat anything he finds.  He is currently eating his way through any piles of manure he can get off the site (there are lots of piles of it being delivered at the moment) and will grab a chunk and run and hide with it.

As for fox poo Argyllie, I'm sure they think it smells like Chanel No 5.  (and he looks so proud of himself when he's rolled in it   .   uuuuurgh its  a BAD smell) :tongue2:
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: Raven81 on February 09, 2012, 10:36
Our rottweiler never used to beg or scavenge until he had his stroke in November.  Now he goes crazy for any scraps on the pavement or in bins we walk past and has started begging at home.
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: compostqueen on February 09, 2012, 10:40
My well fed Alsation Lab was a greedy, scavenging so and so. Her fave hobby was to collect up discarded orange peel which she would neatly inter in the rose beds with loving care but dig up and eat quickly if she found she was being watched  :D
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: mustela-furo on February 23, 2012, 09:36
I have an english springer and a lurcher and when out working they will both stop and eat anything including dead rabbits and birds  >:(, it is not as though they were starved they just have this anoying habbit of an idea that if they don't eat it something else will.
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: ANHBUC on February 23, 2012, 09:46
They could be eating as a survival instinct as they don't know when their next meal will be.  They rely on humans to feed them so might enjoy being in control for a change!   ::)
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: Thrift on February 23, 2012, 13:28
I think most dogs scavenge to a certain extent ..... it's in their DNA and presumably goes back to how an animal lives in the wild. Their idea of a gourmet meal is something smelly and disgusting (to us).

As for fox poo ..... that seems to be the preference of the males. I have never had a bitch do that, which is one reason that I would always have a bitch. Another, is that they don't lift their legs against my plants!

The best way to remove nasty smells and fox poo (without resorting to a full shampoo) is a wad of cotton wool and a good application of meths rubbed vigorously through the coat ..... it's usually around the neck.
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: tosca100 on February 23, 2012, 14:04
I think most dogs scavenge to a certain extent ..... it's in their DNA and presumably goes back to how an animal lives in the wild. Their idea of a gourmet meal is something smelly and disgusting (to us).

As for fox poo ..... that seems to be the preference of the males. I have never had a bitch do that, which is one reason that I would always have a bitch. Another, is that they don't lift their legs against my plants!

The best way to remove nasty smells and fox poo (without resorting to a full shampoo) is a wad of cotton wool and a good application of meths rubbed vigorously through the coat ..... it's usually around the neck.

Hmmph....try telling that to my two bitches! They are both bad for fox poo, but Bella pup is obsessed! Revolting hound!!! :ohmy:
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: Thrift on February 23, 2012, 14:29
I must have had nice ladylike girls  ::)
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: tosca100 on February 23, 2012, 18:10
I must have had nice ladylike girls  ::)

 :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: Rats on February 23, 2012, 18:19
probably my first post on this forum so i'll say hi whilst here :tongue2:

my last dog was a stray, a bit of a heinz 57 but as daft as a brush, i reckon she'd been surviving around birmingham for at least 6 months on her own, filthy and heavily matted hair that i had to cut off

once i caught her and took her home, got her all cleaned up and injected/wormed etc', i had to keep her on a lead mostly as where ever we walked and there was something she considered edible (dirty nappies, rotting chicken, greasy chip paper etc') she'd be on it like a shot and i'd have to grab her and fight to get it out of her mouth

then there was the really disgusting habit of rolling in "stuff" (i'm an angler), dead and rotting fish on the bank, any rotting carcass and the worst must be fox dodo

much as she was a lovely dog she had some pretty disgusting habits  :wacko:

no pets now unless you include the gf and three landrovers
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: tosca100 on February 23, 2012, 18:23
Hi Rats and welcome. :)

I think your dog and Bella pup would get on really well, the have similar habits! She had at least two homes by the time we homed her at 8 weeks. :(
Title: Re: why do some dogs scavenge ??
Post by: Thrift on February 23, 2012, 20:07
Welcome Rats.

We have recently adopted a stray who had been roaming for about 6 months but luckily she was in great order with a lovely coat. The difference between town and country I suppose.

There isn't so much disgusting rubbish available so they develop a taste for fresh rabbit, cattle feed and milk. Not too bad a diet.  :D