If you’ve ever watched your dog devour a bowl of meat and then happily crunch a carrot or pinch a bit of toast, you’ve probably wondered: are dogs carnivores or omnivores?
It’s a surprisingly debated question - and the answer isn’t quite as simple as many people think.
Let’s break it down.
The Short Answer: Dogs Are Omnivores With a Carnivorous Bias
From a scientific perspective, dogs are generally classified as omnivores, meaning they can digest and use nutrients from both animal and plant sources.
However, they are not the same as humans. Most experts describe dogs as:
Facultative carnivores - animals that can eat a range of foods but thrive on a diet rich in animal protein.
In simple terms:
- Dogs can eat plant-based foods
- Dogs should still have a meat-focused diet for optimal health
Why Dogs Are Often Called Carnivores
Dogs evolved from wolves, who are true carnivores.
Because of this ancestry, dogs still retain many carnivorous traits, including:
- Sharp teeth designed for tearing meat
- Strong stomach acid for digesting animal protein
- A relatively short digestive tract suited to meat digestion
These features show that meat plays a central role in their biology. Many nutrition experts therefore describe dogs as scavenging or facultative carnivores rather than pure omnivores.
But Dogs Have Adapted Over Time
Over thousands of years living alongside humans, dogs have evolved.
Unlike wolves, domestic dogs developed the ability to:
- Digest starch and carbohydrates
- Break down plant-based nutrients
- Utilise a wider variety of foods
Genetic changes even gave dogs extra copies of genes responsible for starch digestion, helping them thrive on a more varied diet.
This adaptability is why most scientists now consider dogs omnivorous - they can survive and remain healthy eating both animal and plant foods.
Can Dogs Be Healthy Without Meat?
Technically, some studies suggest dogs can survive on carefully balanced plant-based diets.
However, survival and optimal health are not always the same thing.
Dogs still require essential amino acids, vitamins and nutrients most naturally found in animal products. Their bodies are designed to efficiently process and benefit from meat-based nutrition.
This is why most canine nutrition experts agree that meat should form the foundation of a dog’s diet, even if other ingredients are included.
What Does This Mean for Feeding Your Dog?
So, omnivore or carnivore?
The most accurate answer is:
Dogs are omnivores biologically- but carnivores by preference and design.
They can digest a variety of foods, but their bodies are built to thrive on diets rich in high-quality animal protein.
A balanced, species-appropriate diet should therefore prioritise:
- Quality meat and animal proteins
- Healthy fats
- Natural nutrients from whole foods
- Minimal ultra-processed fillers
Are Dogs Omnivores or Carnivores?
The debate around whether dogs are omnivores or carnivores will likely continue.
But what matters most isn’t the label, it’s understanding what helps dogs truly thrive.
Dogs have evolved alongside humans and can adapt to different foods. Yet their biology still points to one clear truth, that meat remains the most natural and beneficial foundation of a healthy canine diet.
When choosing what to feed your dog, focus less on marketing labels and more on what their bodies are designed to eat - real, nourishing food that supports long-term health, energy and vitality.
