Cannabis, Dogs, and What You Need to Know to Keep Them Safe

Let’s face it: the legalization of marijuana in 2021 brought an influx of cannabis to New York City. The industry is thriving, and access to the most commonly used drug is easier than ever. We see evidence of this on the Upper West Side. There are smoke shops on every block, clouds of smoke wafting up Central Park West, and edibles scattered across the street––literally. 

Getting into the weeds: how poisonous is marijuana to dogs?

The lethal dosage of THC for dogs works out to approximately 3 grams (or 3,000 milligrams) per kilogram of body weight. For context, name-brand edibles from any given Upper West Side smoke shop contain 100 milligrams of THC per package, which works out to about 10 milligrams of THC per serving. 

This is good news in the sense that it means if your dog accidentally consumes a gummy from the street on your evening walk, the dose is likely not fatal. But it is still dangerous.

Marijuana, no matter what form it’s ingested or how it’s processed, is not safe for dogs. 

Signs of THC poisoning in dogs occur between 30-90 minutes after consumption. The signs and treatment vary depending on the method of consumption, but generally include vomiting, incontinence, stumbling, pupil dilation, extreme drowsiness, irregular heartbeat, and staring off into space. 

In rare cases, THC poisoning in dogs can also lead to seizures and coma. Long term damage and death are even rarer, but marijuana is still completely unsafe for a dog to consume, no matter how the plant is processed or the manner in which it enters their body.

How can I keep my dog safe from edibles on the street? 

The first form of defense is paying attention. You may remember from your AGDT classes that a walk should be an enjoyable bonding experience between you and your dog. It’s a casual––but not passive––ritual. 

Your dog is curious and they don’t know the gummy on the ground is dangerous, so no matter how great a student they were in their Ground Gazers Workshop, it’s best to be aware of your surroundings and  prepared to use all the tools in your proverbial training arsenal.

Keep your dog’s leave it cue strong

Leave-it is a cue we teach in most of our AGDT courses because it has tons of real-life applications. If you’ve taken a class with us before, You’ll recall the exercises where you held a treat in your hand and rewarded your dog for backing off before increasing the challenge for more difficult scenarios. This game is a fast and efficient way to teach your dog impulse control and it can be used for all cannabis edibles. Just make sure it works before you try it on the real thing!

Naturally, after graduation, we all go through phases of practicing more or less depending on what’s going on in our lives. Anytime you see something suspicious on the ground, take the opportunity to refresh your leave it cue, and make it stronger. Make a game out of it, like we do in class, and you’ll see results! 

If you work on leave it games and exercises  in varying contexts (i.e. at home, in your hallway, in Central Park) while increasing the value of the treat on the ground, you will notice a difference in your dog’s impulse control overall––but especially on leash in the presence of dangerous consumables, including chicken bones, rat poison, and THC edibles.

Are there other ways to make sure my dog doesn’t ingest THC or anything else hazardous? 

If you’ve worked your dog’s auto leave-it but it’s not a hundred percent, or you’re just wondering what to do in an emergency, there are a few more things you can do. 

If you see the danger before your dog

The concept of distance from distractions will come up many times when your dog is in training. You should always be looking ahead of your dog and scouting for potential hazards. 

If you’re on a walk and you see something potentially hazardous ahead that you know will be super enticing to your dog, turn the opposite direction and say “let’s go!” If your dog doesn’t want to go that direction, make it more fun to go your way by raising the pitch of your voice, singing a little song, letting them go from a walk to a trot, or giving them all the kissy noises in the world. 

Will you look silly? Maybe. (or maybe everyone around you will think, “wow, that guy loves his dog!”) But will you have successfully navigated your dog away from something that could hurt them? Yes.

If your dog sees the danger before you do

Sometimes edibles or other off-limits items are under trash, or in flower beds, or out of plain sight. You can’t see them, but your dog can smell them. If you find yourself in a situation where your dog is too close to the distraction for them to listen to you––but not yet within reach––freeze in place and wait them out. Once your dog is less focused on the unknown object, call them toward you and lead them farther away from it or lead them in a different direction. 

If they are in reach or have it in their mouth, you can attempt to use your drop it cue––with a more urgent tone––if you catch it early enough. But, if you suspect what they’re trying to eat could hurt them, it’s completely appropriate to use your body to prevent them from doing so by stepping on the item or placing yourself between the dog and the hazard. 

In an emergency scenario where your dog already has the item in their mouth, you can take it from them if it doesn’t put you in danger of getting bitten. This is why we practice those mouth sweeps in Puppy Kindergarten. Remember those? Use it here.

Should I throw away my edibles?

Certainly not. But you should take active precautions to ensure your dog can’t get to them. Remember, though: out of reach is sometimes in reach. Recently, a client told us that her six inch-tall dog was able to get into a bag of raisin bread (which is also poisonous to dogs) she kept on a shelf eight feet in the air. She was out at dinner at the time and has no clue how he did it. The dog made a full recovery, but he had to spend the weekend in the hospital during which he threw up approximately 80 raisins. 

We recommend locking away your edibles––and other hazardous food items––in a drawer or a lockbox, but never in plain sight. Dogs are mischievous and way smarter than you think they are, so in that spirit, AGDT recommends you lock away anything that could harm them.  

I think my dog may have ingested THC. What should I do? 

No matter how much they may have ingested, or how “kind-of-a-little-bit-normal” they’re acting, seek veterinary attention immediately. The dose was likely not lethal, but contacting your vet will help make the experience better for you and your dog, and medical intervention reduces the risk of both major and minor complications. 

Does AGDT offer any services to help me learn to protect my dog? 

Yes! 

The next round of our famous Ground Grazer’s Workshop begins 7/25 at 7PM with senior trainer Sam Gedymin. 

Our trainers also habitually practice and proof “leave it” during our Day School Program in the form of a game we call “The Leave It-Lympics”. Our current champion is Lola, the mini bernedoodle. She is undefeated in the face of high value treats such as cheese, chicken, and peanut butter, and is eagerly awaiting her next challenger.