 Constantly trying to eat everything outside
#376408 - 04/12/2013 07:55 PM |
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Whenever I take Marco (13 month old male rottie) outside to play or potty he is non stop trying to eat sticks leaves or anything else he can get in his mouth. Even when he's pooping or peeing he's still got his nose to the ground trying to eat things. The only time he doesn't do it is when we're training because he's focused on the treats he's receiving.
I have taught him leave it and drop it, which is really solid on, but I swear I would literally have to say both commands non stop while we are outside to keep him from doing it.
I've never had a dog be this obssesive about eating things he's not supposed to. Is this something he will outgrow eventually. Any other ideas to get him to stop? Its really starting to drive me nuts.
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Re: Constantly trying to eat everything outside
[Re: Kory Fox ]
#376409 - 04/12/2013 08:05 PM |
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Kind of a dastardly way to go about things, but how about soaking some leaves and twigs and whatever else he tries to eat in something like bitter apple and then make a big fuss when he gets a mouth full? The stuff is non-toxic so it's not harmful to wildlife if you don't pick it up and dispose of it. You can set it up for the next few times he goes outside when he's not focused on you and see if it works.
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Re: Constantly trying to eat everything outside
[Re: Kory Fox ]
#376416 - 04/12/2013 09:10 PM |
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I could try that, but the way he is, I expect he's going to just move on to the next interesting thing he sees or smells.
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Re: Constantly trying to eat everything outside
[Re: Kory Fox ]
#376420 - 04/12/2013 09:23 PM |
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Maybe he's just trying to see if he can get you to pay attention, hunt around for "cool stuff" with him? Trying to engage you in play? Is that possible? Dogs do that sort of thing with each other, pick up little sticks, act like they are delicious morsels, run around.
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Re: Constantly trying to eat everything outside
[Re: Kory Fox ]
#376426 - 04/13/2013 12:27 AM |
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Its really starting to drive me nuts.
Kory,
Don't go nuts yet. Could he be hungry? Is it habit? Is he attention seeking? Is he bored?
What are you doing with him when he starts eating everything in sight? Is it his free time? If so what behavior do you expect? Sometimes the truth of the matter is you may just have to tell a 13 month old to leave it 867 times a day.
The other option is don't let it start. Engage him and play with him so there is no time for the non stop grazing.
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Re: Constantly trying to eat everything outside
[Re: Kory Fox ]
#376449 - 04/13/2013 08:47 AM |
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Betty, I don't believe it's him trying to get my attention and engage with me. This is the 6th rottie in my family between me, my brother and my step-father. None of the previous dogs have been this obsessive about eating stuff outside like this. It's like it's his mission unless I'm purposely keeping his attention with training or throwing a ball or playing tug.
Sheila, he does this when I walk him just to potty or for just a general walk or if we're just hanging out outside for no particular reason. It's defenitely not hunger. I can feed him then take him out immediately and he'll still do it. Definitely not attention seeking. I would say it has become a habit that I'm having a hard time breaking. It's not boredom either I don't think. I can play ball or tug with him, wear him out and then if I stop engaging him, he's right back at it. I guess I'm just going to have to keep enforcing the leave it. Hopefully he'll grow out of it. My biggest concern is him eating something that I don't catch that could harm him.
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Re: Constantly trying to eat everything outside
[Re: Kory Fox ]
#376450 - 04/13/2013 09:11 AM |
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Two of mine were like this when young-- obsessed with picking up everything they found outdoors--sticks, walnuts, bits of bark mulch, rocks, etc.
I think it's half-attributable to pups just exploring the world with their mouth because that's what puppies do...and the other half my (over)reaction to it. I'd stand outside saying "no, drop it, drop it, put it down, no, uh-uh, drop it, put the stick down, no spit it out blah blah blah..." like a jukebox.
I finally realized I sounded like a nag and was driving myself crazy instead of enjoying my puppy. You can't protect them from everything. All I was doing was making every object seem more "valuable" to the dog by focusing on it.
A solid "drop it" command is a life-saver. But now I save it for when it matters (rocks, dead things, inorganic objects found on the sidewalk). If the dog wants to pick up a stick or eat some bamboo leaves (a favorite around here) I chalk it up to being a dog. A slightly crazy dog, maybe. But a dog.
Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon |
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Re: Constantly trying to eat everything outside
[Re: Kory Fox ]
#376467 - 04/13/2013 02:11 PM |
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Eating sticks and small stones and even cigarette butts or dead birds mostly causes a little vomiting and then we don't eat that anymore.
Sampling non-food items is something that all young critters do. Foals eat their dams manure, calves drink out of filthy puddles and eat dirt. We all made mud pies.
Sounds like he's worse than most about it. Hope he gets over it soon!
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Re: Constantly trying to eat everything outside
[Re: Kory Fox ]
#376468 - 04/13/2013 03:48 PM |
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My biggest concern is him eating something that I don't catch that could harm him.
Maybe a basket muzzle would help push the reset button on the habit by interrupting it and keep him safe?
We had a lab who would pick up anything vaguely ball shaped when he was younger. Several experiences with grapefruit and other nasty citruses curbed it some and then he finally just seemed to grow out of it.
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Re: Constantly trying to eat everything outside
[Re: Kory Fox ]
#376472 - 04/13/2013 04:24 PM |
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Tracy Collins has a good point. The negative reaction still presents a reaction for the dog. I don't know if you nag him about it when you go out but if you have before he could do it out of habit because he wants 'the cool thing my owner won't let me have'.
I've never had a dog compulsively attempt to eat things off the ground, but I have had dogs obsessed with eating seasonal goose poop and it was quickly nipped in the bud by making a terrible scene while calling them a bad dog. For me it works. I've never tried it out on a Rottie!
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