If your dog has been eating treats and food on the carpet, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my dog eat treats on the carpet? Likely reasons why your dog eats treats or food on the carpet are that your dog naturally wants to move food away from where they found it, your dog wants to eat alone or that your dog does not like its bowl.
There are a number of possible reasons why your dog eats treats or food on the carpet and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my dog eat treats or food on the carpet?
Below are likely causes and what would make each of them more likely.
Nature
So, have you noticed your dog taking kibbles and hiding them elsewhere? Or, putting kibbles on the floor, out of the bowl, before eating? This is all manifestations of pack mentality, and how dogs will take food when it is available and then retreat to eat in peace without fear of losing it to another animal. Some may eat near their dish, while others may go and hide as far away as they can muster, often behind furniture.
Some dogs have this urge more than others, depending on the breed, history, and training that the dog has experienced. Consider how animals in the wild often feast together, competing with one-another for a bite; this is similar to the pack mentality that many dogs experience- even though they may not be hunting and rivaling each other for food.
Your dog wants to eat alone
This behavior is more likely to manifest if you have more than one pet in the home, especially if it is another dog. Even dogs that are the only pet in the house may struggle with this, due to instinct rather than rivalry.
In the case of dogs competing for food or taking food to isolate and eat, you can easily resolve this by feeding animals apart from each other. This way they might feel less pressure to protect their food from others.
Your dog does not like the bowl
It could also be the case that your dog simply does not like their food bowl. Reasons why your dog might not like their food bowl could include eating something that caused an allergic reaction or illness or because the bowl is too high.
Loneliness
There is another reason why dogs may take food from their dish to come and eat near you- or another human, which is loneliness. If your dog seems to follow you around and is trying to eat near you, they could simply be trying to spend time with you and garner your attention. They might be lonely. Dogs are companion pets; they typically want to be around their humans, including when they eat.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your dog has always taken treats to the carpet
If your dog has not always taken its food and treats to the carpet, it would help to consider what else happened when the behavior first started. If it started suddenly, it could be due to things such as getting a new pet causing your dog to want to hide its food from them.
If your dog has always done it, the cause would be more likely to be that your dog naturally wants to take food away from where it was found.
If your dog always takes treats or food to the carpet
If your dog does not always take treats or food to the carpet, it would also help to consider what is different when your dog does it. For example, if your dog does it only when there are other animals nearby, your dog might be trying to keep the food away from them.
How to get my dog to stop taking treats or food to the carpet?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
First option – do nothing
It is not uncommon for dogs to take food to the carpet because they naturally want to take food away from where they found it. If you do not mind your dog doing it, the easiest option would be to simply do nothing.
Reward your dog for eating where you want them to
It would also help to encourage your dog to eat where you want them to by rewarding the behavior with attention and a special treat that they like.
Prevent your dog from eating where you do not want them to
Another option would be to simply prevent your dog from taking its treats and food to the carpet by shutting the door to the area that you don’t want them to go.