Game of chase

[KLN]

I spend half my day chasing Finley in the backyard. He is constantly picking things up outside that he can't have (sticks, bark, leaves) and when I go to get it from him he runs from me and we spend the next ten minutes playing chase (unwillingly on my part). I think he thinks its a game and I don't know how to not make it one. I'm worried he's going to chew the stick or mulch so I try to get it out of his mouth as quickly as I can. Does anyone have a better solution? I've started taking treats outside with me because most of the time he will drop what he has in his mouth for a treat but I don't want this to be ongoing behavior. Has anyone else death with the same thing?

We start puppy class in a week and a half so I'm hiking that will help too.

[Sarah Bennett]

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question (really, I am)...but is it bad to let them chew on sticks?  Salvador chews on sticks all the time.  He seems to prefer it over a lot of chew toys...  Just a question.  Thanks :)

[KLN]

My breeder made a point to specifically tell me not to let him chew on sticks so I just figured she knew what she was talking about and didn't question it. ;0). But Finley chews on them so much (sometimes he gets them and I can't get them from him fast enough) that I was going to ask my vet his opinion the next time I go in. The breeder says when they chew the sticks that they splinter and can get into their tummies/intestines and cause major damage but I'm thinking that's probably worst case scenario. He's so little right now that I'm just trying to do my best to keep everything but food and toys out of his mouth, ha! I also think it probably depends on what they do with the sticks...if they are just mouthing them then it's probably fine, if they are eating them maybe not?

[Kyoko]

I think taking the treat outside with you is a great idea!

When Charlie was a little puppy, I read some kind of puppy book ( I forgot the title ) and it talked about the very thing. So I followed what it said to do, and had treat ( I just used the kibbles ) available in few places in the house in a small ziplock containers,  like in the living room, my bedroom, etc... And every time she picked up something she should not have, I said cheerfully " Show me!! :)" and gave her the treat. I think you can do the same outside. Eventually, "Show me" became the command, and she began willingly bring me the item without me chasing her to get it. My other one is another story and he is forever getting in trouble!! LOL I should listen to my own self and do this "Show me" thing with him!! LOL!

[KLN]

I love this, great idea! I didn't think about turning it into a command, that is brilliant! And lucky us, he gives us a "training opportunity" to learn his new word at least once an hour. Lol. Thanks so much!

[KLN]

I've been using this command and Finley already has it mastered!!!!   It is working like a charm, thank you so much!  I've been keeping kibble in my pocket and any time he has something in his mouth he shouldn't I say "show me" and he spits it right out!  Of course he looks for his treat immediately, ha, but I think eventually we will get to a point that he won't need a treat.  Besides "potty" this is the first word I've taught him and I can't believe how fast he picked it up!  I think I might have a small little genius on my hands, ha.  :)  Thank you again!

[Kyoko]

Wow! What a smart pup!! I am so glad it worked out!!

Eventually, ( Take your time )you can fade out the treat as you only give him a treat at randomly chosen times. ( Show me --> bring the item --> treat, Show me --> bring the item ---> No treat, Show me ---> bring the item ---> no treat, Show me ---> Bring the item ---> treat, etc... ) So that he wont know when he is getting the treat or not. and eventually expend the interval. 

[Suzanne Newman]

Two things:

1.  Puppy class will help a LOT.  It will teach you that dogs are very treat and approval oriented.

2.  Ignoring them is the best way to get them to stop behaviors.

I have been through the game thing with Whidbey, and she still taunts me at times.  I have learned however, to use distractions and replace her attention using treats and my approval when she does well.  

When she starts the game, I ALWAYS turn my back and walk away.  I don't engage and even though she may be left alone, she always comes after me.  It was really scary at first, thinking if I turned my back on her and walked away that something would happen.  I also learned too, that they will chew sticks, moss, plastic, cat poop.. haha    All we can do is do our best to keep them from them, but I also know that even though they chew sticks.. they still survive!  LOL

Remember also- their need to be with Mama is far more than the game is.  They will follow you if you walk away and ignore the game.

Hope that helps!!  It keeps getting better!  We just are approaching 6 months now, and Whidbey has graduated from Puppy 101 classes.  We will enroll her in 201 in the Fall.  

[Bob Johnston]

Sophie ate (chewed on) everything but the fence and the siding on the house outside. she brought rocks, grass, sticks, shingles( I still to this day have no idea where she found shingles) , a few dog toys that I had not seen in almost 6 years which must have been buried by our previous dogs and a dead frozen squirrel. I think the longest I played the chase game was 45 mins one morning we really put on a great show for our neighbor. I made sure she knew eating rocks, shingles and dead animals was not a good idea but left the rest alone. She eventually grew out of everything must go in my mouth.

[Judith and Griffin]

I don't think I've known many dogs who don't eat leaves, sticks, and bark.  Griffin, at 4 months, is finally over leaves and mulch - whew! Sticks - still loves them but I've compromised with him. I let him chew a while and then get him excited about going in - he knows the rule is No Sticks in the House.  Later I go outside and throw the stick in the woods ;-)
Dogs eat a LOT of yuck (especially as puppies) and almost all of the time it is just fine - sometimes it is really scary.  I'd talk to the vet to help balance your fears.

[Doug, Micki, Dawson & Mya]

The best way to stop from having to chase your dog around to get a stick from them is to get another puppy. That way you can sit on the porch and watch them run around the yard fighting for that same stick. ;-)

Both our doodles are scavengers, sticks, rocks, stones, bricks, chunks of concrete,..... doesn't matter, if they can find it, by golly, it's theirs. Has it led to an occasional upset tummy?..... sure, but then, unless you want to put them in a bubble, it's going to happen.

The funniest thing that has happened involving this lately is..... We got a new fence, and the fence company had to trim some trees for installation, and they left a pile of branches in the back yard, many of them 6' long. Needless to say, Dawson and Mya were going to take them out of that pile, and drag them around the back yard. Mya selected a prize, drug it out of the pile, and proceeded to gnaw on one end. Just so Mya knew that it belonged to Dawson, he lifted his leg on the other end!

[KLN]

Hahahaha, this made me laugh out loud!  And you're right, two would probably do the trick but I don't know if I could do two doodle puppies at the same time!  Finley has taken up about all the energy I think I have, lol!  I have an eight year old cocker spaniel and they play ALL THE TIME!  I am surprised how quickly she took to him...she just loves having him around and it has been nice to have her to play with him and wear him out! 

[Sarah Bennett]

Slightly off topic, but I was talking to my friend about Salvador's energy level and the work it takes to get him to be worn out.  She suggested to get a second dog...  I told her she was crazy!  I couldn't imagine two pups!!