chewing on sticks, mulch

[Anita]

Lucky, about 16 weeks old, has a habit of chewing on sticks and mulch when he is outdoors. When we try and get the sticks out of his mouth, he plays "keep away". I don't know how much mulch he is actually swallowing but he has started to have slightly looser stools. Any suggestions on how to restrict the mulch eating? Also, is chewing on sticks bad for him?

[Sandy]

Toby chews on sticks, leaves, shrubs....everythings he can get in his mouth. He is almost 16 weeks old. I can only assume it's a puppy thing, because if it isn't, our gardens are going to look HORRIBLE next spring. :) He seems fine - his stools are fine. I don't try to stop him. If he appeared sick, I would, but he's fine. I have heard that the cocoa mulch is very attractive to dogs, and they'll just eat and eat it.

[sbis0oszc95r]

Beware of the cocoa mulch that many people are using! It's very poisonous! We had a neighborhood dog die within an hour of eating it.

[Marianne *OZZY & ZOEY]

Ozzy has this habit as well. I gave up on the back yard and removed the mulch and most of the plants, always next year, I put in silk flowers but of course Ozzy tore them up as well. I just decided to work on the fron of my house..Ozzy does not play there. Good luck and if you find what works POST IT PLEASE!!!!

[Adina P]

The best way to prevent "keep away" is to leave a light but long leash on your puppy while you are supervising (taken off when you're not watching so it doesn't snag on something and hurt puppy). All you have to do is step on the leash when puppy tries to get away... Then reel the puppy back to you and voila!

I would not worried about sticks--everything has some level of danger but all of my dogs chew sticks and swallow some pieces and they are all fine. The worst that ever happened regarding a stick is once our border collie ran to fetch a stick and ended up impaling it into her throat (she was fast and a stick was pointing up) -- there was no permanent injury but there could've been.

So just keep an eye on your dog and give it regular mouth and teeth checks to be sure nothing gets stuck in there. And you should be fine. However, if it worries you, simply keep that leash on your dog and you will get rid of keep away!

[Sine]

Joey chews on barkdust and would also do the whole "keep- away" or "swallow-it-really-fast-before-she-gets-it-out" thing until he finally got used to his leash. I agree with Adina - just take him out on the leash for potty breaks and play times. I am just hoping that it's a puppy thing and won't be an issues for any of us as our doodles get older. Good luck!

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Lucca is doing the same thing. He is trying to eat the tan bark. I am constantly putting my fingers in his mouth to scoop a piece out. He also chews on the shrubs. Now he is trying to eat the Japanese Maple tree trunk!! One thing that works for us is an empty soda can with a few coins in it. I shake it and say "no" when I don't want him near something outside. All I have to do now is put the can near the place he can't go and he won't go near the can. He barks at it!! It works so far until he wise's up.

[Lake Girl, Lizette]

I have one like that. Molly loves to play "keep away" when I go to take the bark or stick out of her mouth. I am working on training and IT DOES NOT WORK...she races away and there is no catching her. When you figure it out...PLEASE let me know. I will say this, we started using an empty coke can that I filled with some pennies and you should have to say NO and shake and off she goes. She ususally releases anything she has her mouth around. So I might try this next time we have a play time in the back yard. It has been raining the past few days. Have a great weekend. Molly and Lizette fr TX

[Suzanne & Pongo]

Pongo eats mulch too!! He LOVES IT!!! He eats sticks, soil, grass, mulch, pegs..... the list goes on!!!!

[Kyoko]

If you can teach Lucky to " Drop it" or " Leave it", that will be helpful. It works anytime he has something you don't want him to have. Mine loves to carry sticks. I let her chew on it for awhile, but when it starts to fall a part, I ask her to show it to me, and she does....

[Yvonne, Riley, Murphy and Luca]

Riley does the same thing. He can find a stick in the yard in 4 seconds flat. I let him have it and chew on it but when we are ready to go in the house I get him to bring it to me and then I give him a treat. It seems to work better then the game of "keep away" that he wants to play with me. Just wish I could get him to bring the dryer sheets to me for a treat.

[Kyoko]

Ah, that's funny!!

[Bev and WILLY]

Willy loves sticks, and brings them in his almost too small doggie door.That's when I can tell he has one, because it makes a lot of noise as he drags it in. His biggest mess is when he grabs the dead Camellia buds and brings them in to destroy on the carpet. I checked the poisonous plant list and thank goodness they aren't on it. I don't think he eats them anyhow. He will give me whatever he has in his mouth without too much of a challenge. He never plays "keep away", so I'm lucky there. His big thing is paper, from my office trash can, the shredder, and toilet paper. He can unroll it in seconds. Don't you just love how much they keep us on our toes?