Eating EVERYTHING off the ground

[Breanna]

I'm sure this has been posted but I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed. Every time I take Crush out front she is running around trying to eat things. I try to play fetch with her and engage with her. She does for a moment and then goes back to finding pieces of bark, clumps of dirt, and grass to eat. I've taught her the "leave it" and "drop it" command. I've gone around the yard and deliberately walked by things I know she'd eat so I could pull her, tell her "leave it" and give her a treat. Today we were in the front and she found something that looked like a big hunk of bark with a spiky edge. I commanded her to drop it over and over and she just ran from me all over the yard. She accidentally dropped it a couple of times so I said "leave it" and she still put it back in her mouth. She ultimately swallowed it (unless she dropped it somewhere and I didn't see). It really upsets me because I've had a dog swallow tin foil before and had to have it surgically removed. Not only was it emotionally upsetting, it cost $1800. The backyard is even worse than the front because it's all gravel with cat poop buried right beneath the surface. The cat poop is annoying, but swallowing a piece of gravel could be deadly. I'm feeling like I'll never take her outside without her being on the leash! I want her to be able to run around the yard freely. Any other advice other than the "leave it" and "drop it" commands?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Breanna, do you have Crush enrolled in an obedience training program?

[Breanna]

No, I've been spending about 30 minutes a day training her at home and she trains really easily. I was going to see how it goes and if the problem continues to seek obedience training. She has sit, stay, come here, lay down, and roll over down pretty well. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I strongly recommend a formal training class. It will help a lot. 

One question: If she is on a leash when you take her out front, how is she able to "run around" looking for things to eat, or running from you when you told her to drop the bark? If you have her on a fixed 6 foot leash, she wouldn't be able to do those things, and you would be able to give her a correction when she attempted to pick something up. I'm hoping you aren't using a retractable leash, if so, you need to get rid of it NOW. 

These are things you will learn in a training class. 

[Breanna]

We have a gate around the front yard so I've been taking her off the leash when we get into the gated area. I'll just start leaving her leash on. I have three leashes-a vinyl, a chain leash (I don't wrap it around her neck, I clip it on her collar), and I do have a retractable. Why not a retractable leash? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There are several reasons, the most important one being that they are dangerous, both to humans and to dogs. You will not find one trainer anywhere who recommends them. If you do a google search, you'll find hundreds of articles on this. 

[Breanna]

I just read some things, good to know. I keep it locked at the length I want so that she can't pull it out, but I guess I won't use that anymore. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There are times that you have to grab a leash close to collar in emergency situations, and you can't do that with a retractable, locked or not. And when a dog starts across a street, or even a driveway, and a car suddenly turns in out of nowhere, most of us can't react quickly enough to get the dog out of the way fast enough. You must always have the ability to get the dog right up next to your side in a split second, and you just can't do that with a retractable. Not to mention having little control, not being able to give a collar correction, and possible getting your finger amputated, lol.  

[Breanna]

Oh, yeah. I was sitting outside with her on it and my finger was resting by the cord. She ran toward my friend who was visiting and the rope burned my finger. I guess that's when I should have realized it's not the best doggy gear! 

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

In the meantime, I have two thoughts for you. 1. She will need to be on leash until you have a good solid Leave it or Drop it and even then you will need to be very close by and ready to give the order when she picks something up. 2. Get pet insurance.
I have one that still eats everything and I'm convinced she has a tummy made of steel because nothing horribly wrong has happened, YET! I still think its a matter of "when, not if" she will need surgery.
I am a little less diligent than I was her first two years as she has settled down and she would drop a steak mid bite if I commanded her to Leave it, so I feel somewhat confident in her training to give her a little freedom. But it took a lot of training, lots of staring at her as she sniffed around the yard, lots of "leave it's" to get to this point. It will come, so be patient and diligent! But in the meantime...did I mention....get insurance.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

keep her on a long lead so you have some control while she is learning yet she can have some freedom to move 

[Sally S Miles]

Puppies taste the world and it is a lot of work to teach them that it's not one great big buffet.   What does it take? Practice, patience, and promises. 

My 11month old still thinks the world is a snack bar - responsisve to her leave it, drop it, but she's gotta taste stuff.  Apparently so does Mr Big but he can spit a piece of bark nicely when told to do so. 

The tin foil incident is a good reminder to keep as why you need to teach her to 'leave it' or 'drop it'.

Tether or keep on lead, definitely.  Teach her that your hands go in her mouth - upon hearing 'drop it' if not complying, I'm going in after it....  eventually they click with uh oh - drop it or she's coming in... yes it means sore hands and fingers, then it get to where your dog will allow you all but residence in their mouth. It's necessary for several reasons.  You are teaching her, and that's good - but puppies take time and this may go on a while - normal.  Get a good lead - they are not expensive and work much better.

They are fast, things go down in a blink. They chew everything.    Do you have toys in the yard for her?  Redirect, correct, keep it upbeat, and I will end with a query of confusion about the "cat poop under the gravel"?  major temptations there

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

I invested in a gentle leader collar. Best thing i ever bought. Seemed mean at first but now when i walk her she no longer tugs and i can keep her head up high. She also picks up everything. I never leave her alone in the yard for this reason. Just as bad in the house but she does respond to leave it and she gets rewarded. Not sure if thats the best though because im sfraid it will teach her to take things just for the treat. She loves socks. Clean or dirty. I think its truly a trait of theirs. Good luck.