Lab Won't Stop Eating Rocks
 

Any words of wisdom? Our one-year old lab loves to eat rocks in the back yard, the entire back of the house is landscaped with rock so removing them isn't an option. Tried the nasty tasting spray stuff, doesn't seem to phase her. I've caught her in the act and scolded her, it doesn't seem to have an impact. We've already had her in the dog hospital once when she got really sick, prognosis was a rock stuck in her intestines. Fortunately she passed it just prior to surgery, but it still cost us over $1000. Obviously that cycle can't repeat itself, because either I will end up broke or the dog will end up dead. Both not good. Suggestions?

One of my Mastiffs used to like to swallow Tennis balls.

Vet said mix hydrogen peroxide and water 50-50. Pour down her throat and make her run around.

She'll puke up the ball.

Dog will probably out grow it. but till then some thoughts here, Does Your Dog Eat Rocks? What You Can Do About It - Yahoo Voices - voices.yahoo.com

My brother's chocolate lab used to do this too. I was always pulling stones and rocks out of her mouth. She would just run outside and grab a mouthful and start crunching them around. She wasn't a year old yet and was teething. My brother used to take an old sock and soak it in water and freeze it to help with the teething issues.

The best advice I could give would be to watch your lab when they are outside, remove or cover easily accessible rocks and give them some other toys to chase and chew on.

Me...I'd start daily "training sessions" with lots of opportunities for her to be tempted, and me holding a spray bottle (water pistol) of water/lemon juice, etc. (something that REALLY gets her attention). She's already "learned" to eat 'em, so unlearning will take a bit of effort, but the second she gets the "urge" and makes a move...squirt, squirt :D. Labs are smart...ya might have to "conceal" yourself or the sprayer...but she'll get the message soon enough. Good luck!

Tabasco sauce

Same Mastiff that ate the Tennis balls used to eat her poop.

Vet suggested Tabasco.

Stupid dog liked it even better.

he's bored...
he needs more exercise..
a good Lab is a tired Lab..
especially during the spawns from hell period..
which takes about 2 years..

Rika

I thought EVERYBODY knows that poop tastes better with Tabasco :D

Our 11 month chocolate, "Daisy" went through the same rock chewing problem. I solved the chewing part by offering her a treat when she gave me the rock. Now she brings a rock (doesn't chew it) and drops it by me for that treat. The rock chewing and retreiving is diminishing as she matures. Enjoy your puppy!


/bs

Thanks guys. Here's a picture of the offender.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...psuhapyz9h.jpg

Our dog won't stop eating sticks and leaves. He'll tear branches right off the bush.

In fact, he eats everything. He's partial to paper towels and toilet paper. Hard to keep them away from him.

At least he wipes his own butt when he poops and it comes out...

Beautiful girl Matt! Reminds me of one of my labs from days gone by....she was light colored (all over) like yours is above the eyes. Lots of good suggestions offered here....plenty of exercize, "better tasting" items to chew...I (or rather my sister) kept mine supplied with oodles of rawhide chews, tennis balls, Kongs, etc. If you've already taught her what "no" means (I use a gutteral sounding "ACK/NACK") you might not even need a "persuader" to stop her undesirable behavior...just training sessions to get the "message" across" might work imo. Let us know how it goes...lots of ways to "skin a dawg" if what we've suggested so far doesn't work...good luck!

Had to go find a pic from the archives....I still miss that old girl...she was simply "the best", but I might be biased ;)http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396284309.jpg

Don't let the dog get into the backyard?

best answer - also praise her for the retrieve then give her that trade of a really nice treat for the rock

how old?

With all due respect Randy, there simply is no "best answer" imo. It's simple behavior modification and different techniques work for different dogs...all depends upon the dog, past training, and finding something that works for each "unique" dog/master. He's dealing with a 1 year old lab...some might think "hyper active", but the one I pictured above was one of the most "laid back labs" at that age (always was actually) that I've ever been around. The breeder told me she was gonna turn out that way...he "knew" HIS dawgs and their offspring ;)

Never saw my old chocolate lab eat rocks but she did eat aluminum cans as a puppy. She grew out of it but the crazy never left.

It's a nice big fenced backyard to play and run off all that lab puppy energy so no, not an option.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396302762.jpg


thankfully SAM and Jack on the R have settled a bit..
Finn on the left..well he's a work in progress..
he's about 10 months old we figure..

having the yard is great, but she needs to be walked and walked again..
mine go 2x a day followed with a romp in the pool..

Rika

I think they're kinda focused on ya Rika....beautiful dawgs!!!