Eat every thing

by Mike
(Dallas)

Hi Mike here with 11 month old Sanka male. I can’t get him to stop eating none food items off the floor ground or anywhere his mouth will reach. I know that rotts will chew but this is excessive.

He will pull chunks of lawn grass out the ground and eat it, plastic bags if I don’t get to him, wood from BBQ area, leaves from the hedges just about anything he can put his mouth on. I don’t leave him outside in the back when I am not home. But back there by himself with things left they will be played with destroyed and some may be digested.

At this moment he is passing watery stool it started yesterday and this morning home from work he had soup in his crate awful smell. I am watching him to see if I need to rush him to the vet. By the way I got rope balls of different sizes for him to play with in the back.

4 cups of blue a day split between morning and evening. Help

Hi Mike, yes Rottweilers do love to chew things – just like all puppies do – but this behavior sounds excessive. Perhaps even obsessive.

You will definitely need to keep a very close eye on your pup because he could do himself some damage quite easily this way.

If his diarrhea doesn’t improve, or you notice other symptoms, definitely have him checked out by your veterinarian to make sure he hasn’t ingested something dangerous or toxic, and that there’s no obstruction in his gut.

Given how inclined he is to eat things, I wouldn’t recommend rope balls, you need something he can’t destroy. Check out my Tough Dog Toys page for some ideas. For the really destructive chewer I’ve found that natural elk antlers and natural, cleaned, bones (in the giant sizes) are the best.

The Jolly Ball (check Amazon, they were originally used for horses) are great. They’re too big to fit in a dog’s mouth, but Rotties often enjoy pushing them and pawing them.

You might also want to discuss this behavior with your veterinarian and see if he feels there are any tests needed to make sure that there’s not an underlying physical condition causing his behavior.

Perhaps other readers will have had a similar experience and can help. Lots of luck with your boy!

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Jun 01, 2014

worked atleast for us NEW
by: Cheryl & Max

I am no dog trainer by any stretch, in all my years of having dogs, Max is the first one I ever worked with, I started him at Petsmart Basic class about 9months old,but I taught him the “leave it” phrase while walking him,when he wanted to sniff thing I would say leave it and make him keep walking,I would also walk him through petsmart pass the dog items and when he seemed interest he was told to leave it and keep walking,as he got to know the phrase better I would place a treat in my fist,he would sniff but again leave it,back up!slowly I would open my hand and only when I used my other hand and gave it to him could he have it,now when he is in the yard and I see him pick up something I say leave it he drops it immediately,also I never let others give my dogs treats,such as visits to petsmart etc..they usually ask if they can give him something but they need to hand it to me and I give it,I don’t give my dog table food but if you give your dog table food never use your own dishes put it in his own bowl,plates left unattended is fair game he will assume your done,I can leave my plate on a TV tray,go outside or whatever and he will never touch it no matter how long it sits there.Best to you both!


Jun 01, 2014

toys NEW
by: Cheryl & Max

I learned early on to never give Max anything with stuffing,strings, or rawhide, he would destroy things in minutes and the rawhide he would chew down then try to swallow, 2x I had to pull the rawhide out of the back of his throat as he was choking, never give them tennis balls that people use they contain toxic materials and the outer skin of the balls come apart and if swallowed can get lodged in their intestine and surgery is required that is if it is caught early, I found a large tennis ball made by Kong the 3 1/2 in that is pretty durable,contains nothing toxic and he has had that since xmas and it is still together, and it squeaks, I also ask the butcher if they have any beef marrow femur bones, they are hard but also need to be watched after a few days they dry out and become brittle,so throw it out, I buy a few they can be kept in the freezer. I also worked daily with him on “drop it” ” leave it” since I hate choke chains I found online a nylon choke collar,very soft material, while working with him I used the words”back it up”he can’t come in the kitchen while I am cooking, near the table when I am eating or when I am trying to answer the door,I just kept blocking him forcing him back to where he needed to be, and it only took a few times and he got it, rotties are stubborn but also easy to work with, but it takes time, best wishes to you both,please keep us up to date on his progress


May 31, 2014

same problem NEW
by: china

My boy used to do that. save your money at the vet. you can do one or both of these two things. when he picks up something bad tell him “drop it”. He will try you again to see if you are serious…trust me. when he does it again, give the same command and put a muzzle on him. or you can put a “prong” collar on his neck. tell him no at the same time tug his collar quick until he gets used to being corrected. whatever you, be firm and consistent. it takes a while for training to stick. but it will. i tell my boy to “drop it” and he spits it out immediately.


May 31, 2014

same problem NEW
by: Anonymous

My boy used to do that. save your money at the vet. you can do one or both of these two things. when he picks up something bad tell him “drop it”. He will try you again to see if you are serious…trust me. when he does it again, give the same command and put a muzzle on him. or you can put a “prong” collar on his neck. tell him no at the same time tug his collar quick until he gets used to being corrected. whatever you, be firm and consistent. it takes a while for training to stick. but it will. i tell my boy to “drop it” and he spits it out immediately.


May 31, 2014

same problem NEW
by: Anonymous

My boy used to do that. save your money at the vet. you can do one or both of these two things. when he picks up something bad tell him “drop it”. He will try you again to see if you are serious…trust me. when he does it again, give the same command and put a muzzle on him. or you can put a “prong” collar on his neck. tell him no at the same time tug his collar quick until he gets used to being corrected. whatever you, be firm and consistent. it takes a while for training to stick. but it will. i tell my boy to “drop it” and he spits it out immediately.


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About The Rotty lover 2159 Articles
My name is Dr. Winnie. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Duke University, a Masters of Science in Biology from St Georges University, and graduated from the University of Pretoria Veterinary School in South Africa. I have been an animal lover and owners all my life having owned a Rottweiler named Duke, a Pekingese named Athena and now a Bull Mastiff named George, also known as big G! I'm also an amateur equestrian and love working with horses. I'm a full-time Veterinarian in South Africa specializing in internal medicine for large breed dogs. I enjoy spending time with my husband, 2 kids and Big G in my free time. Author and Contribturor at SeniorTailWaggers, A Love of Rottweilers, DogsCatsPets and TheDogsBone