Hi all, we have a gorgeous 10 week lab puppy called Jura who is absolutely adorable, and has been a complete dream so far with the exception of one area......the garden. She loves to be outside snuffling around the garden but will pick up absolutely everything, including stones. Up to now we've managed it by trading her a piece of kibble from her daily allowance for whatever it is she has picked up and this was working well until the last 48 hours when it suddenly turned into a game of look what I've got.....catch me if you can! I've been working on her recall and at certain times of the day she's really good, especially considering she is only a baby at 10 weeks, but if she has just been fed then it is not working as well, and I am terrified that she is going to swallow something that is going to result in her being seriously ill. Any advice would be really appreciated, I'd hate to have to put her on a lead in the garden. Thanks Jo
Have you tried teaching her the off command? We taught this to Murphy - so when he is in the sit I let him nibble at a piece of kibble between my fingers - but not letting him get it - when he stops trying to get it and pulls his head away - click and reward. We have built this up so that now when I offer him a treat and say "off" he will pull his head right back, and even shuffle backwards! He has basically learnt that moving away from an object is more rewarding - similarly when he has a toy in his mouth, I hold the other end, still, and say off - he gives it up and is either rewarded with chasing the toy or a treat and of course lots of praise. now outside if he picks up something unsavoury (favourites include clumps of moss and bark pieces) I say "off" and he will spit out awaiting a better treat! hope that helps.
As she is still such a baby , I would try trading her goodies for something of very high value , maybe tiny bits of cheese or cooked sausage and as she drops her treasure, give her your chosen word, Leave or Drop . My Sam, now four, was a demon for the gravel on our patio , I just did my best to supervise at all times outdoors until he got a little more sense
I can't help with this as Cupar grew out of it. It was a good job as I had accidentally taught him to bring me the stones. It really is a case of supervising all the time.
Chepi learnt that if she picks things up: hairbrush, nail file, glasses, important letters, she will get a treat as a swap. I have learnt not to leave things handy! She also still brings in twigs and sticks and stones. You just have to watch'em like toddlers - don't use the lead unless you are using it to train (just my opinion).
This is a risk of course, that the clever little monkeys will pick up for a treat, its a tough call but they do grow out of it, eventually
They all do it - she is exploring the world with her mouth. You are right to discourage her, as of course there is some risk, but don't worry about it too much. Most puppies do it, and most come to no harm.
Thanks for all the great advice, really appreciate it and it's good to know I'm not alone! Will start to gradually introduce the leave it command but will also try and relax a bit more and not worry so much about it. I have noticed that she is much better with my husband who doesn't worry so much about it than me so I guess she is picking up on my anxiety. We are really lucky with her, she is such a wee star but I am ever so slightly biased
Just popping by to say hi and welcome to the Forum.My yellow boy is nearly 3 and he was a monkey for picking up ornamental pebbles in the garden ( we had a redesign in the end) we dealt with it by swapping it for a treat ...he grew out of it and somehow I managed not to teach him to bring me a stone for a treat....
