My labrador puppy is eating everything he can find. He's eating sticks, leaves (whole leaves), pine cones...any and everything. I took him to a local nature trail and he wouldn't even walk he was so occupied with eating dirt and grass. What scares me is his vomiting after he eats this stuff. He vomited up his whole breakfast in a few large chunks and continued to vomit up smaller chunks. In between vomiting he still was trying to eat everything he could find. It got so bad that I had to pick him up and carrying him out of the trail.

When we got home he threw up again in his crate. What should I do?

How is he at carrying a toy in his mouth? How about "drop it"? If he is on his leash, then you can walk him away from stuff he wants to eat.

Is he young? I mean, is it puppy-exploring/eating rather than pica?

 Quote: connie sutherland

How is he at carrying a toy in his mouth? How about "drop it"? If he is on his leash, then you can walk him away from stuff he wants to eat.

Is he young? I mean, is it puppy-exploring/eating rather than pica?

What is the term "pica"? He is a puppy about 12 weeks today.

Pica = eating dirt and other non-edibles

I believe that it is pica. He constantly has all kinds of plant material in his mouth. I distract him with toys, but he always goes back to grass, dirt, pine needles...

 Quote: Russell Baker

I believe that it is pica. He constantly has all kinds of plant material in his mouth. I distract him with toys, but he always goes back to grass, dirt, pine needles...

What is his diet? (It's not always a factor, but it's the first and simplest thing to adjust.)

I am in the process of switching him from puppy chow to innova.
He's mostly eating innova in a ratio of 2:1. He's been on this diet since friday with no problems except for today.

 Quote: russell baker

I am in the process of switching him from puppy chow to innova.
He's mostly eating innova in a ratio of 2:1. He's been on this diet since friday with no problems except for today.

And today was the grass-and-dirt-eating followed by vomiting?

If by puppy chow you mean Purina, then you might well see an improvement in the pica after the complete switch. Some dogs apparently eat dirt and grass when they are getting a diet that's either grain-heavy or lacking in micronutrients.

But again, with some there is no clear reason.

I would not let it become a habit. I'd have him always on leash outside, and I'd probably see how he likes walking around with a toy in his mouth. Not everyone will agree with that, I am sure , but a member of this forum had good success with that for another challenge (barking at everyone they passed on a walk), and I thought Hmmmm...... maybe this is a good short-term idea.....

At least for a puppy forming habits and in the chewy (so I hear) stage.

I would also distract, redirect, and walk away from the stuff the puppy wants to eat. If he eats stuff inside too, I'd have him on a little drag leash in the house when he's out of his crate (or better, tethered to you).

It seems that you could start "give," even at such an early age, by swapping a low-value item for a high-value treat, but I don't know for sure whether that's good puppy protocol. Maybe the puppy experts will see this and advise.

And finally, I'd make a vet appointment soon just for a checkup and a fecal, because there are dogs in whom pica indicates a worm problem.

 Quote: connie sutherland

I would not let it become a habit. I'd have him always on leash outside, and I'd probably see how he likes walking around with a toy in his mouth. Not everyone will agree with that, I am sure ,

I would also distract, redirect, and walk away from the stuff the puppy wants to eat. If he eats stuff inside too, I'd have him on a little drag leash in the house when he's out of his crate (or better, tethered to you).

Be sure to follow, "distract, redirect, and walk away from the stuff the puppy wants to eat.", just like Connie describes.

I don't think you would want to just jump into giving corrections for a "habit" like this. Just correcting something like this *could* lead to a closet stuff eater. Waiting for you to not be around to eat stuff.

 Quote: michael_wise

I don't think you would want to just jump into giving corrections for a "habit" like this. Just correcting something like this *could* lead to a closet stuff eater. Waiting for you to not be around to eat stuff.

Oh, no..... absolutely right, Michael (IMO).

I admit that I made the mistake years ago of correcting (verbally) a dog who was scratching herself bloody, and what resulted was a dog who did it in private.

With something that could be physiological rather than just behavioral (if those are the right terms), I would redirect and distract.