Don't Make This Mistake: Watch the Dogs' Tricks on Video

In the footage, you can see a dachshund instantly taking advantage of its owner’s moment of inattention. But what it’s doing is quite risky!

As a pet owner, it’s your top responsibility to ensure your beloved pet’s safety. Since our four-legged friends often put themselves in danger, you need to keep an eye on them constantly, as well as their surroundings. A typical, though unintentional, mistake by owners is to trust a dog’s decisions completely. For example, near the table: it’s a misconception that a dog only eats things that are safe for it. Just watch this clever dachshund!

It's a Mistake to Trust Your Dog's Decision about What it Wants to Eat

This old belief still lingers, and many people think that animals instinctively know what’s harmful to them. Just think of dogs that go after severely toxic chocolate—it’s clear this logic doesn’t hold! Besides poisoning, there’s also the risk that a dog might overeat, gobble down stolen food so quickly that it could choke or cause a twisted stomach. Additionally, it may swallow other unsafe items, like bones, fishbones, or even a toothpick.

Along with sneaking food, allowing your dog to eat with you can harm both its health and training. First, it teaches your pet that even your plate isn’t off-limits. Secondly, snacking can eventually lead to obesity, which can have serious health consequences.

Two spaniels begging with puppy eyes

If you’re not well-informed, you might give your dog food that’s harmful. For example, chocolate and other cocoa-containing sweets (due to the theobromine), onions, grapes, raisins, birch sugar (xylitol), foods with caffeine or alcohol, green tomatoes, spicy or salty foods are all off-limits. Depending on the dog’s individual sensitivities and health, this list may grow. These factors also determine the animal’s reactions.

Generally speaking, a smaller dog can be put in life-threatening danger by even a tiny amount of these foods or ingredients. But there’s no guarantee that a larger dog won’t end up in a critical condition from just a small taste.