What can I do about my dog eating dirt/stones?

This is very, very common to labs..it seems to be very enjoyable for them and comes from both play and the love of having something in their mouths. Probably a kick back to when they were wild and hunting.

You are right in that you have to be very very careful with this! It can cause all manner of problems including intestinal blockages and preforations, which will need surgery.

The best thing you can do is keep a good eye on him, "labproof" your yard if you can, and if needed, put a muzzle on him when you are out for walks.

Also make sure he has LOTS of good things to chew on and play with - tennis balls are great for this, just watch that you throw them out when they start to tear or get worn. other than that, chew toys, rope toys, and things like this are good to distract him.

When he picks up a rock, immediately take the rock away, and say a strong and firm "NO" and put the rock somewhere where he cannot get it. With dogs, especially young dogs, you need to attack the problem as if you were dealing with a human baby - take the source of the problem away and distract with something else - a toy, some love, anything different.

It could definetly be why he is sick.

The vet told us that the following are signs that your dog may have a blockage (which is when stone eating becomes serious!) can include: eating grass, frantically, to make themselves sick: hesitation or refusal at feeding time (it takes a lot to stop a lab eating); using the 'praying position' to alleviate discomfort. Also if your lab seems unusually down or depressed, or is moulting more than he should, these are signs of stress and can mean he is not well.

If any of these signs happen, please take your baby to a vet immediately. It is very dangerous to let this go, and could lead to him passing away.

Dogs Eating Stones

Well if he is eating them when you are walking him, i would suggest maybe walking a different way where there is no stones or dirt. But you could get a water sprayer which you attach to his collar, and if he tries to eat you can spray him (in the face) and that should stop him. Or you could get a high pitched whistle which is so high pitched the human ear cant hear the whistle, but it will shock the dog and that should stop him. You should be able to buy these in local pet shops or if not have a look online. Also you could get a muzzle for the dog to cover his mouth. He's still quite young so he may just grow out of it, but i would try to avoid him doing it.

I hope this help ;)

Let me start by saying, I have no doubt you have a great dog. It's obvious that you care for your pets, and they have a strong bond with you. However, your dog has a problem, that can not be ignored. It is very important that you take him to the vet for a routine check up, and explain your concerns to the vet, just to make sure he is in good health. When I make an apt. with my vet, they always ask why I'm coming in...that would be a great chance to give your vet a heads up on what's going on. Assuming there in no health concerns, you must contact a doggy behavior specialist. They may be able to advise you further. Please, do not allow your dog to get out of the backyard. I understand that this is the first time he has killed a dog, but realistically, it probably will not be the last time. I have an American Pit Bull Terrier, and he plays in our fenced in back yard. He is the sweetest dog you have ever met, and plays good with children...but I would never consider letting him roam the neighborhood. For the simple reason that I don't want to give anyone the opportunity to try and blame something on him....and besides, it is against the law.

To remove a stone from a dogs mouth, try swooping it for a treat. Show your dog the treat and it will drop the stone. Chewing stones is very dangerous and because you will not always see him pick them up always have treats in your pocket. Do not chastise your dog when he picks stones up, as he will run away and hide and could swallow the stone. Hopefully he will bring the stone to you if he knows that you will give him a treat. If being sick you mean that he is vomiting on a regular basis, take him to the vet as he may have swallowed some stones. If he has this can cause a very serious problem.

Im not sure what to suggest, I have a almost 3 year old Golden Lab/ Retriever X, and ever since she was tiny she has been a stone eater.

I spoke to the vet about it, and he said the risk is them getting a blockage or a build up of undigested stones inside which would probably require an operation.

We used to take them from her, but as soon as it had gone she was back with another, now she is quite sneaky and will lay in the garden eating the odd one rather than proudly bringing them in for us to see like she used too.

Its not because she doesnt have toys as she has lots of toys she plays with, she also has a good diet, as we checked all that with the vets.

Good luck though in stopping it, we are still battling to stop ours doing it.

There's no way you can train a puppy in a couple of days. Sorry. Training any puppy takes a few weeks at least. That's just for basic potty and chewing training - obedience training like "sit", "stay", "heel" etc will take even longer. Read here https://tr.im/OlhCJ

Do not rush your puppy when it comes to training. He won't learn effectively and at the end of the day you'll just have a puppy that's highly confused and will only do what he's supposed to half the time.

Besides, after he's trained, you'll still need to spend time walking him, feeding him, cleaning up after him, grooming him and bringing him for his regular shots at the vet.

If you have a hectic job schedule, it's best to maybe return the puppy politely. Dogs need a lot of attention at a young age, and shouldn't be left alone in the house for long periods of time - not only because they will chew up your things, but also because it can be quite psychologically damaging to a puppy.

This is why people shouldn't be giving away pets as presents.

This might sound funny, but it's actually quite serious as you probably realise because of the real risk he's going to swallow some. I'm afraid you are going to have to remove him, if possible, from said stones (the dirt doesn't matter quite as much). Don't try to get them away from him unless you know you will be successful because the little (cough) *** will swallow them out of spite. You can try saying NO ! when you see him going at them, but by far the only way really is to have him somewhere he can't get at any. I think this craze should pass, but for now .......

If you notice that your dog has ingested rocks or pebbles, here are 5 things you should do:

1. Watch your dog's activity level check their poop to make sure they have eliminated the object.

2. Feel your dog's tummy -- gently but firmly -- for signs of more stones.

3. Watch your dog closely for any sign of lethargy or distress. If so, take your dog to the vet immediately.

4. If you have any question as to whether your dog has any more rocks in his body, take your dog to the veterinarian for an x-ray and exam. It's the only way you will know for sure.

5. If the veterinarian finds more rocks in the dog's body, he will discuss all of the options available to you.

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If you notice that your dog has a bad habit of eating things he shouldn't, you should take extra steps to prevent him from eating rocks and other dangerous items. I like to think of it as dog proofing.

You should dog proof your home and dog-proof your yard in the same way that you would baby proof your home and baby-proof your yard. Get down to their level and explore. If you see anything of danger to the animal, then remove it or take steps to keep your dog out of that area

Eating Rocks Can Be Fatal. When my dog ate stones, the doctor informed us that he had a 50-50 chance of living. He had apparently eaten a few rocks over a course of time without us noticing, and part of his intestine had died. The surgery the vet performed actually removed a length of intestine, as well as the rocks. Fortunately, he recovered without incident. In the worst-case scenario however, a dog that has eaten rocks could die.

Dogs love chewing on things. I often find my dog with a stone biting and chewing it. Or if it is not stones, its sticks or he will chew on an old bone.

Why not buy him a tough bone from a pet shop, something that will last a long time.

That will keep him occupied. It is much better than chewing furnature.