Dolphy is a 6 month old yellow lab & he keeps eating anything while we go for a walk. And drinking from the puddles too. Is that OK?
Unfortunately, it seems to be a Lab thing. We have two Labs - a 10 year old who for years ate everything - she doesn't now and a 9 month old who last week had both the squits and was sick 3 times because she ate a huge amount of leaves, small twigs, grass and goodness knows what else.
No it is not ok. Puddles on the road can have oil and gas in them from vehicles, antifreeze, all kinds of bad stuff. It is a puppy thing and most grow out of it, develop a greater interest in sniffing where other dogs have been and realize they are going some place to meet and have fun off leash. That is assuming a leashed walk is not all they get for exercise. Simply do not allow it. Work on your leash manners and focus on you and don't let him eat everything. It should end on it's own, actually he's much older than both of mine when they stopped doing that. Train LEAVE IT. If you think he really needs a drink, carry water.
A good strong 'Leave' cue and lots if vigilance - you don't want your dog picking up and eating anything outside. Puddles, for us, depends upon where we are as our puddles are normally just rainwater or it's tge lical stream/lake. If in doubt don't let him drink and carry clean water with you.
