Dietary Indiscretion

[JackJack]

Hi all! I'm new here and have loved all the helpful info I've found browsing around. I thought I'd post about some issues with our 8mo doodle, Jack, and see if anyone has some tips and advice for me. 

Jack eats literally everything. You name it and he's ingested or at least tried to ingest. We've had multiple bouts of cholitis because of it which leads to accidents in the house. I'm a SAHM and homeschool my children so he almost always has someone home with him and he's gated so that he doesn't have access to kids playroom and bedrooms (and all of their tasty toys). Even with supervision, though, he ends up sneaking and eating stuff he shouldn't. And he's figured out how to get the gate open if it's not locked. Darn smart dog. We've tried so many different toys for him hoping to distract with appropriate chewing and literally the only thing he didn't eat was a Kong and he's not real interested in it.... probably because he can't get pieces off of it. I've worked hard on verbal commands for him to "leave it" and have seen some improvement. But I often have to fish things out of his mouth before he can swallow. 

Has anyone else dealt with this? Training tips and advice? Will he outgrow this? 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I have a 3+ and just got a re-home now 9 month old.  he is also a big thief who will eat seemingly anything.  I get him to open up and drop by enticing him with a treat as a trade off.  did this with the older one too, who does not steal anymore (except when we are not home as have left any food item on the counter/table).  So he may outgrow.  We also give him Bully Sticks to get some of his chewing needs satisfied.  be sure to get odor free ones.  also stuff the Kong with peanut butter, cream cheese, plain yogurt or even pure pumpkin puree (good for upset tummies) and freeze it for awhile to make it interesting.  

Good luck!  His picture is adorable!

 

[JackJack]

Thank you! We think he's pretty cute, too, and it saves him from a lot of trouble... haha! He's such a toddler! He LOVES pumpkin puree so freezing it inside the Kong is a good idea. I'll look at Bully Sticks for him. I quit buying him treats because with as much cholitis as he's dealt with I'm pretty strict on what he eats. I make his treats now and he gets them very limited amounts. I'm glad to hear it's possible he'll outgrow it. He did improve drastically once he stopped teething so hard. 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I should caution that the Bully sticks can cause loose stools in my ADL.  We counter act with pumpkin 

[Karen C]

Do you have a particular brand bully sticks you like? I have a hard time finding the odor free ones that are truly odor free. I bought some once and wish I had saved the package because I haven't found any since those. Eli loves bully sticks and would love to find some odor free ones. Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Best Bully Sticks is a great source for odorless bullies that are sourced in North America: http://www.bestbullysticks.com/?gclid=CIi4lLSok8wCFYk9gQodCxwPlw

[Kamela & Beckett]

How much exercise and mental stimulation is he getting? It sounds like maybe he's bored. I would be sure he's getting walked and that he has jobs to do (obedience training, etc.). Our 9.5 month old doodle almost never gets any food for "free". Meals are delivered via food puzzles and treats are only after a command is obeyed. Maybe some of that would help?

[JackJack]

He gets lots of exercise and I work with him on obedience training a few minutes at a time off and on all day long. He's rarely alone and gets lots of play and attention.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Here is a toy we found that lasts a long time.  It can have a treat put in it.  Similar to a kongZogoflex Tux by Westpaw

[JackJack]

Thank you! I was looking at those the other day and wondering about them! :) 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

These are their toughest ones and they easily survived our foster who had shark jaws of steel and went through every other toy we had, including one made of a fire hose!

[Wendy and Myla]

Myla loves this one by West Paw also - we twist the legs together after putting a treat inside and she spends a long time trying to "untwist" the legs.  I believe it's the Tizzi by West Paw.