Dog eating rocks (stones) ???

[MountainMeadows]

My one and a half year old mastiff keeps chewing on rocks and pebbles he finds in the yard! The land out here is pretty rocky so there's no way I can get rid of all the rocks, I just have to babysit him every time I let him out. Has anyone else ever had this problem??? Any ideas or speculations as to why he does this? I'm at a loss!

 

[Peaches Lee]

Maybe it's a Mastiff thing because that's what my dog did. She doesn't do it anymore. I know they love to chew! Perhaps consult a veterinarian.

 

[dainerra]

it's just something that dogs sometimes do. If I had a penny for every "my GSD puppy is eating rocks" post I've read, I'd be rich

Give him something appropriate to chew on and keep an eye on him until he grows out of it.

 

[MountainMeadows]

Thanks for responding guys!

@ Peaches Lee - I'm glad to hear that your mastiff grew out of it!
@dainerra - I searched the forums before posting but didn't find another post about dogs eating rocks, but I might have missed one. He has plenty of stuff to chew on, even out in his dog pen! I hope he grows out of it though....

 

[BrendaJ]

watch for vomiting - hate for him to need surgery for an gastrointestinal foreign body You should talk to your veterinarian.

 

[MountainMeadows]

watch for vomiting - hate for him to need surgery for an gastrointestinal foreign body You should talk to your veterinarian.

I think I will give them a call tomorrow, upon closer inspection it doesn't seem like he's actually swallowing them; just chewing on them. But I don't want him to break his teeth! I wonder if he's missing minerals in his diet? I'll see what the vet has to say tomorrow.

 

[dainerra]

Sorry Meadows. The posts weren't here, just in all of the GSD forums that I'm on

It's not likely that he needs any minerals in his diet. I'd find him a good quality chew, such as antlers. Cut off his access to the rocks, keep him leashed until the habit is broken. When he is outside offleash keep him occupied so that he doesn't have a chance to snack on rocks.

 

[MountainMeadows]

Thanks he seems to be entering his teenager phase and is liking to push his limits recently. I guess I'll just have to stand out there with him while he does his business till he gets over it. I'll have to check into antlers, that's a great idea! There are TONS of deer out here, so I'd imagine they'd be pretty easy to come by!

 

[nok13]

it seems to be a 'active working dog' type thing: my male boxer ate huge rocks, but its a bad habit, should be stopped, it ruins their teeth and they get addicted to the 'carry rocks and chew' activity. mine also did the 'giant logs stuck in the ground must be brought home' and the 'giant branch must be pulled sideways up the stairs to the house and get stuck' routine.
so, best is either use a muzzle when out in rockky ground until u can train him not to pick up rocks (and remember, even when traiined, once they are allowed to do it once, its like car chasing, they 'fall off the wagon' and revert to bad habits again.)

you should walk with him, and carry lots of interesting alternative toys, tiny tiny treats (crumbs work really well, dogs dont know amounts in a treat), and try to divert him from even pointing his big furry nose in the direction of a rock. pine cones are ok (for us, some people dont like that either, causes dogs to vomit etc), or tennis balls, or kongs (giant rubber toys)...

my suggestions for what its worth.

 

[MountainMeadows]

it seems to be a 'active working dog' type thing: my male boxer ate huge rocks, but its a bad habit, should be stopped, it ruins their teeth and they get addicted to the 'carry rocks and chew' activity. mine also did the 'giant logs stuck in the ground must be brought home' and the 'giant branch must be pulled sideways up the stairs to the house and get stuck' routine.
so, best is either use a muzzle when out in rockky ground until u can train him not to pick up rocks (and remember, even when traiined, once they are allowed to do it once, its like car chasing, they 'fall off the wagon' and revert to bad habits again.)

you should walk with him, and carry lots of interesting alternative toys, tiny tiny treats (crumbs work really well, dogs dont know amounts in a treat), and try to divert him from even pointing his big furry nose in the direction of a rock. pine cones are ok (for us, some people dont like that either, causes dogs to vomit etc), or tennis balls, or kongs (giant rubber toys)...

my suggestions for what its worth.

Haha I had to laugh at the logs and branches comment. I think I am going to have to muzzle him when he goes out in his pen because I'm not going to go out and stand with him every time he needs to go do his doggy doo (especially since it's still snowing in these parts)! When we go on walks he doesn't do that, just when we let him out by himself. Thanks for your ideas! I did throw one of his kong toys and a bone out there for him and that seems to have helped some.