Author: Nancy Dreschel, Associate Teaching Professor of Small Animal Science, Penn State

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Why do dogs love to play with trash? – Sarah G٫ age 11٫ Seguin٫ Texas When I think about why dogs do something, I try to imagine what motivates them. What does a dog get out of playing with trash? As a veterinarian and a professor who teaches college students about companion animals, I believe there’s an easy answer: Garbage smells delicious and tastes good to dogs. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell. They…