Dog Raiding the Trash After Holiday Meals

Dogs eat first and think later. After a holiday meal, the bin can contain several different hazards at once, and it is not always possible to know exactly what was eaten.

• Cooked bones: can splinter and cause injury or a blockage.
• Fatty trimmings, skin, and gravy: can trigger vomiting and pancreatitis.
• Corn cobs: a frequent cause of intestinal blockage.
• String, netting, foil, and plastic wrap: can cause obstruction or injury.
• Onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, and chocolate: toxic to dogs.
• Spoiled or moldy food: some molds produce toxins that can cause tremors and seizures.
• Sugar-free products with xylitol, which are dangerous.

Holiday meals produce more waste, and richer waste, than usual. Bins are often overfull, lids do not close, and bags are left in the kitchen overnight or by the back door. Guests put plates in the bin without thinking, and nobody notices a dog quietly slipping away with a carcass.

It also happens when routines change. Dogs who never touch the trash on an ordinary day can try it when the smell is unusually strong and everyone is distracted.

The most effective measures are physical. Training adds a margin of safety, but a determined dog with a full bin and an empty house will often win.

1. Use a bin with a tight, locking lid, or one inside a latched cabinet.
2. Take bags out to an outside bin with a secure lid straight after the meal.
3. Scrape plates into a sealed bag, not an open bin.
4. Keep bags of rubbish out of the car and off the porch until collection.
5. Shut the kitchen door, or use a gate, when you are out of the room.
6. Do not leave food scraps on counters or in sink strainers.

Practice leave-it with items that smell strongly of food. Start with a treat under a cup, then a plate placed on the floor, then a bin with the lid open slightly. Reward each time your dog turns away. Always reward from your hand, never from the item.

Add a mat command so your dog has a place to settle while you clean up. Reward calm behavior generously while the kitchen is busy.

Take away what is left, then try to work out what was eaten. Check the bin and the floor for missing items, and look for signs such as vomiting or lethargy. Call your veterinarian or an animal poison helpline, describe what your dog may have eaten, and follow their advice.

Note: Signs such as repeated vomiting, a painful belly, tremors, or weakness need urgent attention. Do not try to make your dog vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to.

Not every bin is dog-proof. Flip-top and swing bins are easy to open, and a determined dog can tip over a light bin. A tall bin with a locking lid, a bin inside a latched cabinet, or a heavy bin with a foot pedal and a weighted lid works much better. For holiday meals, when the volume of waste is high, consider placing the full bag directly in an outdoor bin with a secure lid, or in a garage the dog cannot enter.

• Locking lid bins, with a clip or latch.
• Under-sink cabinets fitted with child-safety latches.
• Bins kept in a pantry or utility room with a closed door.
• Heavy-duty outdoor bins with a locking lid.
• A baby gate across the kitchen when you are out of the room.

Holiday dinners are chaotic, and it is easy to forget the bin. Make a plan before the day.

1. Assign one person to take bags out as they fill.
2. Scrape plates into a covered container, not an open bin.
3. Keep the dog out of the kitchen during clearing up.
4. Check low tables and counters for plates and leftovers.
5. Give your dog a chew and a settle on a mat while the cleanup happens.
6. Do a last walk-through before bedtime to check the floor and bins.

If your dog has been in the bin, assume they have eaten more than you can see. Keep a close watch for the next 24 to 72 hours. Contact your vet if you see repeated vomiting, a painful or swollen belly, loss of appetite, diarrhea that does not settle, tremors, or unusual tiredness. Fatty food can trigger pancreatitis a day or two later, and moldy food can cause tremors and seizures within hours. Tell your vet what you think was in the bin, and take a sample of the packaging if you can.