Strange diet

[Cookiebaker]

I am at my wit's end, and I am hoping that somebody out there can help me. We have a four month old yellow puppy whom we love most dearly! Unfortunately he has this obsession with ROCKS! Unless you supervise him 110% of the time, he is bound and determined to eat as many as he possibly can. He was in puppy day care last week, and ended up eating about 30 of them,--X-rays show that he has only one left in him. Is this something he will grow out of (SOON!), or is there some way to cure him of this awful habit? I am so afraid that next time it will be much worse and we can't afford many more vet bills like the ones we had this past week. Any advice would be helpful, and thank you so much for taking the time to respond!!

[ChrisAK]

Welcome Cookiebaker;

You can't be at wits end already. He's a lifetime committment and you just started Puppydom. You still have the rambuncious teen years, and the trying adolence stages. We are here for you.

First off need more information:

Do you work in or out of the home?
Is he an indoor or outdoor pup?

Let's get these answered and we will continue.

[Cookiebaker]

I'm not at my wit's end with HIM, I'm at my wit's end with his rock-eating habits that has had us in & out of the vets office for a week.

I work on a temporary basis (maybe one week/mo.) and when I am away he goes to puppy day care. We have crate trained him, so if I am away for a couple of ours he goes in the kennel. He has been indoors 90% of the time so far, but we just barely installed an invisible fence, and when he is trained for that he will be outside more.

Thanks for replying!

[lovemymaltese]

Welcome to Pet Talk! Consider yourself lucky, my roommates puupy's obsession was eating poop. It was gross and we hated it. He grew out of it. He ate it from the time he was 9 weeks to about 4 months of age. Best of luck!

[KYS]

Cookiebaker,

My Rocky was the first puppy I ever owned that
ate poop, rocks and anything on the ground
he could stick in his mouth.

Rocky was fed a good diet so I new it had
nothing to do with lack of minerals etc.

With the rocks you have to be careful because
it can cause problems. I watched him like a hawk
in the back yard and repremanded
him when he started grabing the rocks,
but even than he snuck a
pebble hear and their.
I could not even take him for a walk with-out him
vacumming up the sidewalk.
Yep! you have to learn to be one step ahead
of your puppy, because they are fast.

Rocky did grow out of both Rock playing/eating
and vacuming up the sidewalks.

[Cookiebaker]

We did get the last rock out tonight, which is a big relief since the vet was threatening surgery if he didn't get it out soon!!! Also, I was told by a friend tonight that if we are consistent in deterring him, and trying to get as many away from him, and even being dominant about it, that eventually Malone WILL get the picture that they aren't to be eaten. He (my friend) thinks that it may just be a teething thing (since that is also a big thing right now). So I'm feeling a lot more upbeat about it tonight than I was this morning for sure.

[lovemymaltese]

great news, good dog!