Eating rocks, need advice!

[Jayme K]

My 13 wk goldendoodle is eating rocks. At first I thought he was just chewing on them and dropping them but turns out he is swallowing some and has pooped out a few. If I tell him to 'leave it' he will for a second but then will go right back to them. If I tell him to drop it and try and exchange for a treat, it works sometimes but other times it seems to make him more determined . If I take it out of his mouth, it's like he becomes obsessed and tries to eat twice as many!! He's a bit sluggish today, hasn't thrown up, but has passed a few rocks. Soooo I have a few questions....

Do I need to take him to the vet?

Any advice on stopping him from doing this? I live in the city and the landscaping in my back 'yard' area is our neighborhood is full of rocks and not easily avoided.

[Julie Kudron]

Ugh. maxwell did this too. We tried so many things, but finally, what helped was (I'm probably going to take a lot of slack for this...) a shock collar. After a week of a very light (just enough to get his attention/ a little bit of discomfort) he stopped. He hasn't eaten rocks since. I felt awful going this route, but honestly, it was so much better for him than swallowing rocks and breaking his teeth that I would probably do it again. He does still chew sticks, which I hate, I just haven't used the collar for the stick chewing though.

[Linda And Loo]

Eating rocks is NOT good. If he doesn't perk up, you need to get him to the vet! He could develop some serious health problems while he is on a rock diet! Good luck breaking that habit!

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

Eating rocks is double-plus ungood!  I wish I had a good answer for you on how to stop it - I've seriously considered the shock collar myself if my little rock-eaters don't grow out of it soon. I stay on top of my guys constantly - if they're not in their crates they're within eye-sight (and grabbing distance) of me. (They don't just eat rocks - if it can fit in their mouths they'll pick it up. It's worse than a pack of toddlers, I swear!)

You might want to consider sorting out health insurance for Henry ASAP, too. I wish I had done that before having to pay nearly $2000 to have one removed from Lachlan's intestine on a Saturday night.

And yes, if he's not perky soon get his little rock-eating self to the vet. They can get stuck in there (just ask Lachlan).

[Kelly]

My Labradoodle Josie is obsessed with rocks right now, too.  Not just rocks...sticks...pretty much anything.  But rocks, especially.  She brings them in as gifts...gets a treat for a pretty rock.  I know, bad!  It started off so cute, but now she does it all the time and I know it's not good for her. She will drop them, though.  She seems like she chews a little on them I suppose, but drops them and plays with them with her paws. We have not seen her eat the rocks. But sticks are a different story.  She brings those in, lays down and starts chewing.  And we immediately take them away.  She eats leaves, worms, grass, (ivy roots?)....anything she finds.  Luckily, she does bring a lot of things to us first that we can take away.  The last couple of days she has thrown up a couple of times and is not eating now.  Just snacks.  She is not lethargic or anything and is happy and playing.  But I am thinking she has eaten something that hasn't agreed with her. She has the backyard that she roams and comes in the house through the doggie door, so we don't see everything she is doing.  But 95% of the time she is where I am.  Our landscaping does have rocks and bark.  We don't want to re-do the yard but would also appreciate any advice on training.

If she is not eating right by tomorrow, we will be going to the vet.

[Puppy Love]

I just read an article about that. The dog had several stones removed from his stomach.

[Jayme K]

Thanks for all the help info/advice. Luckily I do have pet insurance and will take him to the vet tomorrow if he doesn't seem his normal self. He is eating and drinking though so that's good. 

So from a new doodle owner's perspective, I find it interesting that he would do something that could be so detrimental to his health. I grew up with a great dane and a rescue spring mix and they ran all over our huge yard and house with very little problems. I get extreme puppy proofing indoors with all sorts of unnatural things about, but sticks and rocks... 

I also read that it could be they're lacking certain minerals in their diet and kelp can be a good supplement to help with that. I think I'll give it a try along with really working on his leave. 

[Kelly]

I think that definitely has something to do with it.  Josie is teething, as well.  

[Bob Johnston]

are we talking about smooth pea gravel type rocks or the white sharp marble chips. Either is not good but the sharp stuff would be the worst. The vet is  good idea if he is still sluggish tomorrow but for the long term go and get some bitter apple spray or a few lemons and limes and spray a section of rocks down and take him out there let him sniff around and pick up or lick the rocks. That should deter him for a few days and after a week of bad tasting rocks he shouldnt really be interested in them any more.

[Judith and Griffin]

Ugh good luck!  I'm glad our main non-food issue is mulch :-/  He does like rocks but hasn't eaten one yet - mostly mulch, grass and pavement here...
I think the shock collar idea isn't bad if it is the only way to prevent an emergency health situation!