I thought dogs were carnivores. How can they eat a meatless diet?Updated 6 months ago

This is a common misconception, partially due to the confusing similarity of language used to describe species classification terminology (taxonomy) and descriptors of an animal’s nutritional requirements.

The dog species (Canis familiaris) is classified as part of the taxonomic order Carnivora, which includes 280 species (all called carnivorans vs. carnivores) that have a broad range of dietary preferences. The carnivorans include animals with diets described as obligate carnivores like wolves and domestic cats, omnivores like raccoons, and even herbivores like the Giant Panda. The Giant Panda is a carnivoran with an herbivorous diet.

Dogs’ nutritional requirements are omnivorous, meaning they can eat and derive nutrients from both plants and animals, and their nutritional requirements can be met without the need for animal-derived products. 

The feeding behavior of free-ranging dogs is classified as omnivorous opportunistic scavenging as they spend more time scavenging for scraps of plant, animal, and insect foods in trash piles than hunting down prey (i.e. more like a raccoon than a wolf). This is also supported by dogs’ physiology, including their genetic adaptation to produce enzymes that digest carbohydrates more efficiently and the development of molar teeth that have a flat surface for grinding.

Curious to learn more? Check out this blog post: When Did Dogs Become Omnivores?