[Kevin Eskam]

I have a puppy (10 weeks) that has aquired a taste for rocks, I am looking for some ways to break the habit? Maybe more feed?
He has plenty of chew toys, retrieves morning and evening 3 each time.
I tried making a paste out of white salt then mixed rocks in it and put them on the floor, He picked them up spit them out then shook his head, but didnt solve the problem,,, any ideas would be great,,,

Thanks in advance,,

 

[JustinS]

Is he eating them? or just licking them and spitting them out or what - I wonder if he has a mineral deficiency what are you feeding? Try feeding him to times a day that might help

 

[Tnken]

One of mine went through the same thing. Had to watch him all the time or he would have a rock in his mouth.
I just told him NO and took the rock. He either caught on or out grew it because it stopped.

 

[Kevin Eskam]

He is eating them!

 

[labsx3]

I rescued a dog that was a rock eater. This dog was brought to the veterinary hospital I work at 3 times for eating rocks, the owners did surgery twice, but the third was not this dogs charm, the owners wanted to euthanize her. This was a young dog,about a year and a half and super sweet, so I took her home after the owner relinquished her and the doctors removed the rock. I had her for about 30 days before I rehomed her,I didn't give her a chance to eat anything, I think for her it was a case of boredom in her previous home. I am sure with your pup its that he is an airheaded pup, but the worse thing that can happen is it becomes a habit, a potentially expensive and deadly habit. The dog I rehomed is doing well, but is not given an chance to make a mistake, if they put her out without supervision for any amount of time she is wearing a basket muzzle.having very limited experience with this, I would say keep her busy and under supervision at all times outside .....she is an airhead right now and will do stupid stuff for no good reason (remember being a teenager ). I wouldn't change the food right away, unless you have other problems with it.

 

[frontier]

http://retrievertraining.net/forums/showthread.php?t=38566&highlight=rock+eating

http://retrievertraining.net/forums/showthread.php?t=18127&highlight=rock+eating

 

[captainjack]

Get the pup separated from the rocks. I dug up a pea gravel walk & sided the area. Expensive but no more so than surgery and much less stressful.

 

[riskyriver]

Make sure you have pet health insurance on him!

 

[Kevin Eskam]

Make sure you have pet health insurance on him!

That is a good idea!!!

 

[MarkinMissouri]

I have a Lab that used to eat BIG rocks. She always threw them back up but you just never knew...She was sneaky. Same thing with the "No". She either learned or grew out of it. I think it was curiosity. She is an incredibly smart dog...in a dumb lab kind of way.

Best of Luck!