Question · Puppy
How do I stop my puppy eating everything on walks?
The short answer
Puppies explore with their mouths, so plan for it. Use a shorter lead where litter collects, steer past bins and picnic spots, carry treats tastier than anything on the ground, and teach Leave it and swapping at home before you need them outside. Never chase your puppy or prise its mouth open; offer a trade. If it swallows something toxic or sharp, call your vet straight away. Kroki, a reward-based training app for puppies and dogs, teaches Leave it, swapping and Drop step by step.
How to do it, step by step
Manage the route before you train
For now, keep your puppy on a shorter lead near bins, bus stops, picnic areas and hedges where food gets dropped. Walk in the middle of the path and keep moving past the worst spots. What your puppy never reaches, it can’t swallow.
Go out with a full tummy and better treats
A hungry puppy hoovers more. Plan walks for after a meal, and take small, soft treats your puppy loves, such as bits of chicken or cheese, so you can always outbid a crust of bread.
Teach Leave it at home first
Hold a treat in your closed hand. Ignore the licking and wait; the moment your puppy moves its nose away, say “Top!” and reward from your other hand. Over a few days, move to a treat on the floor under your foot, then to a dull item placed in the garden.
Practise friendly trades
Offer a treat at your puppy’s nose when it is holding a toy, say “Drop” as it lets go, then give the toy back. A puppy that knows swapping pays off will open its mouth for you outside too, instead of swallowing in a hurry.
Pay for looking up
On walks, reward every moment your puppy lifts its head from the ground to look at you. Those little check-ins are the opposite of hoovering, and they grow when they are paid well.
Give the nose a legal job
Scatter a few treats in clean grass and say “Find it!” so your puppy can search with permission. A puppy whose nose has had work to do is often less frantic about every crumb.
Does your grown dog still hoover up everything?
In a grown dog, scavenging is often an old habit with a big payoff, and sudden changes can point to hunger or health problems. Some dogs also guard what they find. The page for grown dogs covers health checks, poo eating, guarding and a fresh start with Leave it.
Why puppies swallow things, and why speed matters if they do
For a puppy, the mouth is a hand and a magnifying glass at once. It tests what is food, what is a toy and what is just interesting, and teething gums make chewing feel good. That is why picking things up is normal puppy behaviour and why training works best alongside management, not instead of it.
Swallowed objects are a real risk. A study of 208 cases of objects stuck in the gut of dogs and cats seen in first-opinion practices found that 91 in 100 animals recovered. The risk of dying was higher when signs had gone on for longer, when the object was long and thin, such as string or fabric, and when more than one operation on the gut was needed (Hayes 2009). For you, that means acting quickly when your puppy shows signs after eating something.
Waiting is the wrong choice with poisons too. The PDSA advises contacting your vet immediately if your dog has eaten something harmful and never waiting to see whether a problem develops, because a dog can become very ill or even die without treatment. It also warns never to try to make a dog vomit unless the vet tells you to (PDSA).
Common hazards on puppy walks
- Dropped food: chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, chicken bones, corn cobs and chewing gum, which can contain xylitol.
- Rubbish: cigarette ends, food wrappers, plastic, string and fabric.
- Garden and park: slug pellets, rat bait, mushrooms, fallen fruit, conkers and acorns, and sticks that splinter.
- Medicines and other pets’ droppings: anything that has been lying around can carry poisons or parasites.
Common mistakes
- Chasing your puppy when it grabs something. It learns that grabbing starts a great game, or it swallows quickly before you arrive.
- Shouting “No!” every few metres. The word stops meaning anything, and your puppy may start to grab faster.
- Training Leave it outside first. Start where it is easy, at home, and make the outdoor version a small step up.
- Long walks in littered areas while your puppy is still learning. Shorter walks in cleaner places protect the progress.
When to see a professional
Most puppies grow less frantic about picking things up. Act straight away if:
your puppy has swallowed something poisonous, sharp or long like string, or medicine: call your vet or an emergency practice now, and don’t try to make it sick yourself
Emergency: get help nowafter eating something, your puppy vomits more than once, has a painful tummy, stops eating, has no poo or seems flat and tired
Have a vet take a lookyour puppy stiffens, growls or snaps when you come close while it has something
Get support from professionals
The help pages list services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland only. Elsewhere, ask your vet practice who they recommend near you.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my puppy eat everything it finds outside?
Because the mouth is how puppies explore, and teething makes chewing feel good. It is normal, but it needs supervision and training, because many things on the ground are harmful.
Is it dangerous if my puppy swallows a small stone or a stick?
It can be. Stones can get stuck and sticks can splinter. Call your vet for advice, and go at once if your puppy vomits, seems in pain or stops eating.
Will my puppy grow out of eating things on walks?
Many puppies pick up less as they get older and teething ends, but some stay keen scavengers. Training Leave it and swapping now makes a big difference either way.
What do I do if my puppy grabs something and runs off?
Don’t chase. Stop, crouch, make a happy sound or rustle your treat bag, and offer a trade when it comes. Chasing turns grabbing into a game and can make your puppy swallow quickly.
My puppy eats poo on walks: is that normal?
Many puppies try it, and it is common in dogs. Keep your puppy away from droppings on a shorter lead, reward looking away, and talk to your vet about worming and diet.
Why does my puppy eat soil in the garden?
Often it is curiosity, boredom or teething. Give chews and games instead, and ask your vet if your puppy eats soil a lot or also seems unwell.
Should I make my puppy sick if it swallowed something bad?
No, never try to make your puppy vomit unless your vet tells you to. It can make things worse. Call your vet straight away and tell them what was eaten and when.