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My Rottie eats grass, leaves, pine cones, rocks and sticks

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    • #471541
      Sharon Tootie Evans
      Participant

      I have owned several large dogs in my life, all of whom I had for 12 or more years. My 13 week old Rottie keeps eating grass, picking up rocks and trying to chew on them, then spits them out, eats dirt, leaves and pine comes and I swear to God I give him enough food. Can somebody tell me what is going on? He is not sick, Vet says he is healthy and going to be huge with his big feet, but I don’t understand the “”eat-everything-outside-on-the-ground”” thing.I am constantly reaching in his mouth and removing grass, sticks, rocks and anything else. Help! Is this normal? The vet says he is okay, just experimenting…huh? lol

    • #477117
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      Welcome to the world of Rotties! They put anything and everything in their mouths. We are on our second Rottie and she is the same way- as was our first one. When we first looked into getting ours we were told by everyone who had a Rottie to pay attention to what is within their reach because nothing is safe. No truer words/advice was given to us. My first Rottie completely dismantled a garden rock wall and spread it throughout our backyard! You have to be diligent in making sure that there is nothing laying around that they can choke on, injure themselves with or destroy. They are just so inquisitive and have to see how everything tastes & feels that they end up getting into things that make no sense at all. Try to get as many toys that will keep your Rottie occupied, and when you catch them eating things they shouldn’t – give them an alternative to chew on. Good luck!!

    • #484830
      Sharon Tootie Evans
      Participant

      Thanks Diane Mccasey-Long, I will keep my eyes open and I do buy him plenty of toys, chewy things, chew bones…you name it..lol

    • #495509
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      He’s a puppy, maybe he’s teething? Try getting him chew toys or bones. My husband just said that be lucky it’s not your shoes, LOL! I hope it works out for you and your puppy! XOXO

    • #495934
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      Hello Ms. Sharon.
      I realize you have heard he is just a puppy and take precaution because they “eat everything”, which is very true, but there is much more you should know about it than that.
      My husband and I are raising our second Rotti baby (T J Chewbacca), who is now 2 years old. Yes, he does chew everything in sight, which is why his middle name is Chewbacca ;). My concern is your fur baby consuming grass, rocks and sticks. T J had to have emergency surgery because his intestines were so filled with grass, sticks and rocks. Without the surgery, he would have died. That was just over 6 months ago and we are now trading kibbles (treats) for his rocks and sticks as he still brings them inside to us!
      As advised by Ms. Diane, it is crucial that we take every precaution necessary to keep them from getting the “chewies” they shouldn’t get, but it is not 100% possible. Training/replacing the ‘forbidden fruit’ with a healthy kibble will help instill acceptable behavior…eventually.
      As stated earlier, T J is 2 and he continues to chew on anything within his reach. Part of it is, as our vet explained, curiosity, but she went on to suggest the trade off training and it really has helped.
      I wish years of love and happiness with your fur baby. You will find no other breed to be any more loving, playful or devoted.

      Julia O.

    • #495938
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      This photo is of my first rotti baby, Thor, who is no longer with us. The next picture is of T J when he was just a (little) baby.

    • #496156
      Susie Knouff
      Participant

      I have had Rotts for over 30 years. They need a job and lots of exercise. This is a working breed so anything you can do to keep him occupied mentally & physically & with you helping you work, will help the situation. They like to be involved, so keep that in mind. And exercise, plenty of exercise. Fast walks, running, biking. They need lots of discipline, too. And of course, love, which I am sure you already know how to give.

    • #1284999
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      Don’t stress yourself about the grass to much you’ll find dogs eat grass to help their digestive system. The sticks, rocks and other random items on the other hand could be a sign of boredom. I found my my 1 year old he needs to have a very big run or walk or he’ll be very jumpy throughout the day. Last couple of months he’s been fantastic barely chewed anything until he got neutered two weeks ago. This has been his most destructive time due to the fact he can’t exercise. This drove everyone insane but had to keep him semi occupied with peanut butter in his chew bone was the only thing that kept him quiet for a couple of hours. Hope this helps a bit goodluck!

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