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  1. #1
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    4-1/2 month old puppy ripping up grass & sod (and swallowing it)

    Finley has been tearing up the grass, including the sod with roots. He chews and swallows it in spite of our efforts to stop him and pull it out of his mouth. He's made a game of running away from us before we can stop him. So far there are no ill effects to his stomach/bowels but it worries me to see him do this.

    Have any of you experienced this and have suggestions to stop him? I've tried putting him through his training commands, bribing him to go in the house and even ignoring him. But its clear this is a fun game to him and we are concerned about his swallowing the dirt. Will he stop doing this as an adult? We have a huge fenced in back yard which makes it hard to discourage him.

    Thanks for your advice.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    Be more exiting. play with him, toss toys.

    never chase a puppy or you will ingrain a habit of running away from you that will become a huge problem. If puppy has something he shouldn't use a high pitch happy voice and run in the opposite direction. If you can have a toy to play with or high valu treat (during the training phase you want to have treats ready to go at anytime). reward when he comes to trade/play.

    now if you are out strictly because you need him to potty and not play, then consider doing so on leash (so potty breaks are on leash) and train to go on command.
    Last edited by Tanya; 11-02-2015 at 10:52 AM.

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    Charlotte K. (11-05-2015)

  4. #3
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Put him on a leash or long-line when you go outside. Don't give him the option to fail. When you call him in and he doesn't come, reel him in and praise him and then reward him when he gets to you (toy, food, play, whatever he likes). Create a pattern. You might have to do this for a long time. Consistency is key.

  5. #4
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    Keep some high value treats handy too.

  6. #5
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    These are all helpful ideas. Thank you for making these suggestions. I'm starting this afternoon to put some of them in practice.

  7. #6
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    Long leash for sure, plus high value treats. Start training "leave it" and "drop it" right now. Bruce is my grazer, grass, mud, the whole works. Has never has a negative effect on him, although I have found dirt in his poo. I stopped the digging up and eating muddy clumps with "leave it". I do still let him graze the yard, he likes doing it, and has no ill effects, so I figure what the heck!

  8. #7
    Senior Dog
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    Quote Originally Posted by barry581 View Post
    Long leash for sure, plus high value treats. Start training "leave it" and "drop it" right now. Bruce is my grazer, grass, mud, the whole works. Has never has a negative effect on him, although I have found dirt in his poo. I stopped the digging up and eating muddy clumps with "leave it". I do still let him graze the yard, he likes doing it, and has no ill effects, so I figure what the heck!
    I agree. And for what it’s worth, most of mine have eventually outgrown the grazing ... some sooner than others.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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  9. #8
    Puppy
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    I had been working on "leave it" in the house and spent the last two days with some success outside. "Drop it" is what we are working on now for those times he manages to scoop up a clump. When we go out I have two of his favorite treats to reward him for following the commands. I also bring a favorite outdoor toy for him to chase and distraction seems to be working well too. So far, he is beginning to respond to the "new routine" when he's in the yard. I'm going to pick up a long leash this weekend as it will be a good training tool to have ready as needed.

    Thank you for all your suggestions. You have been a big help in guiding me on how to handle this issue. It's also a relief to know that other pups have done the same thing and lost interest over time. Finn is a really sweet pup and I adore him. The yard has proven to be one of those challenging places for us.

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    Charlotte K. (11-05-2015)

 



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