![]() ![]() The video below will show you how to teach it:ĭo not engage with your dog in any play involving stones, rocks, or similar objects. ![]() This will not only help with eating stones but will also get some structure into everyday play sessions.Įstablishing that you are the one deciding when something is supposed to be in your dog’s mouth and when not, will help a lot. “Drop it” can be incorporated into a fun game of tug where your puppy will learn how to take a toy and release it again. “Drop it” is used when objects are already in his mouth. “Leave it” is for situations where you can anticipate that your dog will take something into his mouth. Teaching your dog the commands “leave it” and “drop it” is an amazing way to get control over the stone-eating situation. You may want to look into a mesh muzzle like the Lepark Nylon Mesh Dog Muzzle that will prevent your dog from picking up any stones in the first play.įollow the steps in my muzzle training guide for a proper introduction. Is he just smelling the roses or secretly picking up pebbles?Ī young puppy can give you a hard time when you’re trying to remove the nonfood objects from his mouth. During walks, pay close attention to your puppy. If it’s not possible to remove all rocks (if you have a stone path, for example) then you will have to constantly supervise your dog around these objects.Įspecially puppies will need to be supervised 24/7 and should never be left outside alone. The first thing to help eliminate the problem would be to remove any stones from his environment including the house and yard. It usually gets better as your dog ages but I wouldn’t count on it. Nevertheless, I had to discourage her from picking up things for a couple of months until the behavior slowly faded. My Rottweiler picked up all kinds of nasty stuff (as many puppies do) and that includes stones.įortunately, my dog never swallowed the rocks but carried them instead. To keep your puppy safe until this age and to prevent the behavior from becoming chronic, training and prevention will be necessary. Typical chewing and eating behaviors may stop at around 6 months of age.īut some dogs will never grow out of it, especially if it was reinforced in the past through negative attention. The older your puppy becomes, the less he will be mouth orientated, and the more he will explore his environment by simply smelling. If any of the above symptoms happen after eating stones or your dog doesn’t feel well, take him to emergency care for surgical removal. Your dog could suffocate if he chews on multiple stones at a time. ![]() The results of this would be diarrhea, vomiting, pain, and even internal bleeding. The sharp edges of stones could break teeth and injure the digestive tract. What Happens If a Dog Eats StonesĮating stones can become pretty dangerous for a dog or puppy. Talk to your vet about your dog’s nutrition and which diet would be best suited for him.ĭog food specifically formulated for puppies should provide him with everything he needs.Ĭheck out this raw diet article if you’re interested in transitioning your pup (best decision I ever made with my dog). Your dog will try to get his nutrients from somewhere else, whatever that will be – stones or even feces. An unbalanced diet may have serious consequences. Puppies need lots of calories and proteins for optimal growth. Puppies love to get engaged with a tug-of-war and a few short walks will do the trick. Make sure that your dog has plenty of physical exercises as well as daily mental stimulation. To solve this problem, you can read my guide on 12 boredom busters that will keep your dog entertained in the yard. With nothing to do, your dog will quickly get into digging up the grass or chewing on stones. This mostly happens in dogs that are left outside in the yard alone for an extended period of time. BoredomĪ dog that is bored will get into all kinds of behavior habits like digging, excessive vocalization, or chewing. After a few weeks, your puppy should grow out of that curiosity.īecause pica and curiosity are not easy to differentiate, an appointment with the vet should be able to rule out any underlying medical issues that would need to be treated. My dog used to be very mouth oriented as a puppy, so you had to be very alert during walks. Supervision will be mandatory to quickly intervene in case your dog accidentally swallows something. Young puppies are extremely curious and want to explore their environment all day.Ĭhewing and mouthing things provide a puppy with plenty of information and increases the scent perception. There are several training approaches that I explain further below to prevent any bad habits. This can quickly develop in to a very serious problem when sharp items are swallowed, for example.Įarly intervention is very important to prevent pica from becoming a chronic disease. ![]()
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