Eating everything during walks...

[Sabrina and Bentley]

Bentley is 4 months old and eats everything on our walks.  some days he's really good and other days he can't help but eat leaves, dirt, goose poo, wood chips, even stains on the cement he tries to lick up. lol!  I keep a close eye on the ground to try to walk around these areas, but I would like him to get accustomed to walking in these areas without wanting to eat everything.  I understand the "he's a puppy" response.  But is this something they grow out of, or something you train them on to stop doing?  He hasn't picked up on the "drop it" command yet; we're still working on that.  I give him a light tug and tell him a firm "no" when he's going to grab something and I have no problem with pulling stuff out of his mouth.

 

Any suggestions?  Thanks!

 

Sabrina

[Linda Karell]

"Watch me" works really well, too.  Teach it with a high value treat  in your hands, raised to your forehead.  Treat for brief eye contact. (Don't make him stare--it gets weird.) Repeat, repeat, repeat.  Then, during walks, when the nose/mouth goes to the ground, you can do a "watch me" and treat  when his attention shifts back to you.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

You need to teach him LEAVE IT and LET'S GO.  Once you go thru basic obedience after puppy k they should show you these if they haven't already depending on your trainer.