Why Does My Dog Pull Out Grass – 5 Reasons With Solutions!

Dogs will commonly pull up the grass with their feet or mouths. There are multiple reasons why dogs will sometimes do this, and it is usually a normal behavior in dogs. However, this does not mean that it isn’t bothersome for gardeners and people looking to have a nice lawn. So, why do dogs pull out grass?

Dogs pull out grass when playing, bored, or if they enjoy the taste. Dogs also do this to spread their scent throughout your lawn or to be rewarded with treats.

In this article, we will be explaining the most common causes for dogs to pull out grass, along with how you can stop this behavior in dogs and save your lawn or garden. 

5 Reasons Why Dogs Pull Out Grass And How To Stop Them

There are five main reasons why dogs will pull up grass. Sometimes dogs will pull up the grass with their mouths because they are bored, enjoy the taste of grass, or are not feeling well.

Additionally, dogs will often kick up the grass with their feet after using the bathroom to mark their scent, and dogs will also pull up the grass when their owners have rewarded it in the past. Here are the five reasons why dogs pull out grass and how you can stop them from damaging your lawn. 

Your Dog Is Bored 

Boredom is a very common reason why dogs pull up grass. This can include both dogs pulling up the grass with their mouths and dogs pulling up the grass with their feet. You may notice your dog doing this if they haven’t gotten enough exercise that day or act like they want to play with you. Luckily, there are several different ways to stop your dog from pulling up grass when boredom is the cause. 

Solution 

You can do several things to prevent your dog from tearing up grass because they are bored. The first thing you can do is ensure that your dog is well exercised before going out to your yard. This will make them less likely to tear up your lawn because they are less restless. 

The next thing you can do to prevent boredom is to have some toys out for your dog. This will provide them with a positive outlet to entertain themselves while saving your lawn. Chew and mentally stimulating toys will keep your dog occupied for longer periods. 

Grass Tastes Good 

Some dogs will pull up the grass with their mouths simply because it tastes good. Although stopping this behavior in this instance can be a bit more tricky, there are some things that you can do to stop it. 

Solution

The best way to stop this behavior is to make the grass taste bad to the dog. There are many different things that you can use that will taste bad to a dog but are still safe for them to eat. Of course, it is also important that this edible deterrent does not damage your grass either. Using a blend of olive oil and red pepper is a great, natural way to do this, and it is also safe for both your pets and your lawn. 

Your Dog Isn’t Feeling Well

Dogs will often rip out grass and eat it when they are not feeling well. Although this is a natural response to having a stomach ache in dogs, it can be an annoying problem for gardeners. 

Solution 

The best thing that you can do to stop your dog from pulling up and eating grass when they are feeling sick is to prevent them from going into these areas when you know that they are not feeling well. In addition to this, you may also need to take your dog to the vet if gastrointestinal issues are causing grass eating to persist. 

You Have Rewarded Your Dog For Pulling Up Grass In The Past

Whenever you reward behavior that your dog does, it will encourage them to do this behavior more often. Unfortunately, some people may accidentally reward their dog for pulling up grass without realizing it. 

Solution 

The best way to prevent this from happening is not to give your dog attention or something they like directly after pulling up grass. If you have accidentally done this in the past, being conscious about doing this and stopping will eventually cause the problem to stop. 

Your Dog Is Spreading Their Scent 

Dogs will often kick up their feet after using the bathroom to mark their scent. The problem with this is that this kicking often pulls out grass, which can be problematic for gardeners. Unfortunately, finding a solution to this cause of dogs pulling up grass is a bit more complicated than the other causes on our list. 

Solution 

The only way to prevent your lawn from being damaged by this is to not have your dog use the bathroom on your lawn. This is because dogs’ kicking after using the bathroom is instinctual, and there is no effective way to stop it. 

Things To Consider 

You may want to consider some other things when it comes to dogs pulling out grass. These things include whether or not dogs can tear up your lawn while running and if dogs are bad for lawns and gardens. Here are some other things to consider about dogs pulling up grass. 

Can Dogs Tearing Up Grass When Running Damage Your Lawn?

When dogs run and play, they can potentially damage your lawn by unintentionally ripping up grass. This is especially true for larger dogs and dogs that love to run around when they play. The best way to prevent this kind of damage to your lawn is to play with your dog and have them run in other areas like a park or a designated part of your yard. 

Are Dogs Bad For Your Lawns?

Dogs often do things that can damage your yard. However, keeping an eye on your dog and following some of the solutions provided in this article can help you have both a perfect lawn and a dog.