Member

Posts: 31
From:New York, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-10-2003 07:14 PM         

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Hello! I have been reading these forums for awhile now and have found them quite useful. I now have a question that I haven't seen answered here and I was hoping for some advice... My new Lab Mix puppy eats everything! From rocks to mulch. We watch his every move outside but sometimes he's sly and gets stuff when we don't see him or chews it up before we can get it out of his mouth! I read someone was concerned about their dog eating a toothpick and thought wow, he/she should see what my puppy eats. If he isn't near the rocks and mulch he is certainly chewing on a leaf or the grass.

I guess the question is how do I get my puppy to stop eating these things short of pulling up all the rocks and mulch around my yard? (not to mention the grass!) Although so far there doesn't seem to be any issues I'm assuming this isn't a good thing for him to be doing. A simple NO! is not working.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[This message has been edited by NewLabOwnr (edited 08-10-2003).]

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Member

Posts: 41
From:Nellis AFB, Nevada
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 08-10-2003 10:17 PM            

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How old is your puppy now? I have a Husky that used to do the same thing! Oh my gosh I was pulling my hair out trying to keep her from eating rocks, sticks and Poop (yuck!) and trash too! I used to dread taking her for walks and out to the park because she would try to eat everything she came in contact with! BUT she outgrew it. Her brother who I got a few months later was so laid back and not at all like that! I think it was her personality combined with the puppy thing. She is now over a year old and so calmed down. I think she will outgrow it. But I read in a dog book about a condition called pica where it is medical thing to deal with (I heard it is rare). Like I said before I think it is a puppy thing and I think she will outgrow it! Be patient with her and it will get better. Chances are it isn't a medical condition and it will go away.

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Member

Posts: 31
From:New York, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-11-2003 05:19 AM         

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Thanks for the response! I was hoping that this was normal puppy behavoir. Max is my first puppy, the other dog I owned was 2yrs old when we rescued him. I read up a little on Pica. They say to exercise, exercise, exercise. That seems to be the solution for a lot of puppy problems. Max is now 14 weeks old. I was wondering what is a good amount of exercise for him? I am typically with him in the morning for about 45 mins. We go outside to do his business, come in and play and then I take him for about a 15 - 20 min walk. My husband is home at lunch and probably spends a good 30 mins playing with him and exercising him. When I get home from work I usually spend another 30 - 45 mins giving him attn. Is that enough exercise/personal time with us for a puppy his age? He usually is awake from the time we get home till about 7:30 - 8 and then he's down for the count for the night. When we aren't playing with him he is usually following us up and down the stairs and around the house and yard. I just want to make sure we are giving the little one enough exercise.

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Member

Posts: 309
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 08-11-2003 11:10 AM            

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I am the toothpick lady..LOL. Witt is fine, he doesn't usually eat just anything, but on that day he did and I was freaked.
I have a friend who had a lab mix puppy and she ate EVERYTHING, she was also a theif, she would take our tack from the barn and hide it under the deck near the house and eat it at her leisure. She got really sick one day and they took her to the vet, it cost them $2300 in surgery and medical bills trying to save her, they pulled all kinds of things out of her stomach, rocks, metal findings off of halters, part of a tin can, wood, nails you name it she had eaten it. She was a little over a year old, and she didn't make it.
I think most dogs outgrow it and you just have to treat them like toddlers until they get past puppyhood. Thats not an easy task, I know, I am sporting a whole new array of gray hairs since I got my puppy!

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New Member

Posts: 2
From:england
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-11-2003 12:47 PM            

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hi i have a staffordshire bull terrier who untill she was 2 years she ate everythin including 2 sofas a dinning room table and 6 chairs the carpet all round the edge and she ate holes in my walls! she is 3 now and she has calmed down alot but she still eats as much of everythin as possible. the only thing i foyund to help her was i got a huge log and put in my back garden which she is alowed to chew and told her no to everythin else and took her to the log and told her she was good. this helped me alot, lucy x

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