Dogs are considered facultative carnivores, meaning they are primarily meat eaters. They can survive on a diet that includes some plant-based foods, but they do not have the same dietary needs as obligate carnivores like cats. While they can survive on a non-meat diet, they will not thrive on one. 

What this means for a dog's diet:

Survival versus thriving: Dogs can survive on a meatless diet, but it's not ideal. It won't allow them to "thrive" or be as healthy as they could be.

Primary diet: A dog's ancestral diet consists of about 85-90% meat, and they continue to thrive best on a diet high in animal protein.

Genetics: Studies show that, although domesticated dogs have more copies of the amylase gene than wild wolves, enabling them to process a small amount of plant matter, this is not sufficient for efficiently digesting a high-carbohydrate diet.

Nutritional needs: Dogs have higher protein requirements and need specific nutrients such as taurine and arachidonic acid, which are readily available in animal protein and fat sources.

Plant matter: While they can obtain some nutrients from plant matter, and some dogs enjoy some fruits and vegetables, they have a less efficient digestive system for processing high amounts of carbohydrates compared to true omnivores.