Any ideas on how to get my puppy to stop eating dead things.

[Julie and Max]

So last week Max found a duck wing on our walk. I don't know if you've ever seen a duck wing, but they are quite large. He gobbled down the whole thing as fast as he could, and then later that night I ran around after him while he puked up duck wing, cleaning it up before he could eat it for a second time. This is not the first dead thing he's eaten. 

Max is a great puppy, he has learned all the basic commands like sit/stay, drop it, leave it. At home and even on walks he does all these commands beautifully for everything except dead things. I work with him every day on drop it and leave it. I can leave a whole line of chicken on the floor, and he will walk by it, sit near it, walk over it and I can even leave the room and he will not touch it.

I can let him run off leash where we walk and he is awesome with his recall, and he stays very near me (it's a safe place to off leash). In pretty much every way he's a wonderful dog until he finds a dead thing. The problem is his nose obviously is so much better than mine, so he can sniff out dead things from quite far. Tonight he found a dead thing in two feet of snow. He seems to have a fantastic nose. He finds dead things either on the leash or off the leash it doesn't matter. He snaps them up so quickly that a lot of the time I can't stop him. 

He will drop it and leave it anything else, except a dead thing. I know that dogs are scavengers and their stomachs can tolerate a lot, but I am worried about him getting sick obviously or something getting stuck that's not fully chewed. 

So I have considered a muzzle for this reason, but I really don't want to muzzle him. Will he grow out of this? Do I just have to tolerate this? Besides obedience and drop it and leave it is there anything else anyone has heard of to stop the eating of dead things?

[Bob Johnston]

I would be kind of concerned about why all these animals are dead. if animals aren't killing them to eat what is killing them. poison, cold, lack of food. maybe find a new path to walk.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That was my thought, too. There have been cases of people using various kinds of poison outdoors to kill squirrels, rabbits, and other wildlife, and dogs who got very sick from ingesting those animals.

[Kyoko]

Good point....

[Julie and Max]

BG I wish it was live animals as I know he can't catch them at least not yet, but I know skunks are awful, I had a cat that was sprayed it was horrible getting the stink out. I bet Gavin wants to go get that critter though. :(

Bob (not to be too graphic but) the animals have obviously been killed by some other animal, and I know the coyotes can roam through there at night from the other side of the road, they don't come over in the day, I just don't get why they don't eat the whole thing. 

I have thought about poison but they've clearly been harmed by something else, it is very cold here right now, today I think it was -15 or around there, so that may also play a part. I really enjoy walking where I do, because for a lot of the time there is nobody else around, then we can get into a place where there are more people later on so he gets both experiences.

Also I can walk out my back gate and be on the nature path rather than having to drive somewhere. I do not like to walk in the front neighborhood part because at my end of town there are a lot of agressive dogs who are not properly contained. My sister in law's little dog was killed three months ago by another dog that escaped the house, and just last week when I was walking out front I watched some people down the street let their pitpull out the front door. They just opened the door and let him go running off. I do carry bear spray with me no matter where I walk, but I do not want Max to be attacked by one of these dogs that are just let to run wild. 

I am really seriously considering one of those mesh muzzles for the times that I do let him off leash at least until he's older or just better with drop it and leave it in all situations. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, yes, the Outfox Hood! That would work. http://www.outfoxfieldguard.com/

Some members of my IBD Dogs support group use them when they take their dogs out on hiking trails, etc, as it would be deadly for an IBD dog to eat anything he found outside. 

[Julie and Max]

Wow I had never heard of a foxtail before, that looks interesting. Max did have a huge bur stuck to the side of his face the other day, it was a pain to get off him. 

I might see if I can get that one.

I was also looking at this one that says they can still drink and pant etc in it. 

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751398

[Julie and Max]

Okay I got a muzzle for the dead things, but one I feel horrible (this won't make me not use it but I still feel bad).

The other problem I am having right now is that when we go outside and he has it on, he is like a little snowplow. He puts his nose in the snow and just pushes along trying to get the muzzle off, then he gets snow all packed in it and I have to take it off. Anyhow here are some pictures of poor Max. :(

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

He does look pretty miserable. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I commend you for taking this step.....you are looking out for Max, and -15 degree weather is far from ideal for training. 

[Julie and Max]

I know Karen, it makes me feel awful.

Thank you Jane, I know it's for his good, and hopefully after awhile he'll stop wanting to eat the dead stuff and I can take it off him. The weather was pretty horrible today with the wind, so we didn't go out for more than 15 minutes, I don't mind the cold but it was a bit much even for me. I do have a plan that I think will help once it gets a bit better outside.

It feels like the year I decide to get a puppy and commit myself to walking everyday is the worst winter weather wise in more years than I can remember.

[BG and Gavin]

Well yesterday was a killer that's for sure.  But, keep the faith because you are doing an awesome job.  When I spotted you and handsome Max walking the other day both me and my husband were totally impressed with how well he walked on leash right at your side.  Everyone should be so committed!  

Here is my 20 below picture from a few years ago lol.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

We are doing indoor walking right now LOL it has been non stop raining for three days with a cold biting wind. Even with their coats on and me dressed up like Michelin man it's too horrible.