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Post by pollycrystal on May 4, 2013 19:06:12 GMT
My daughter has a bull mastiff cross pup, he is eight months old and has just been neutered. He is a lovely natured big gangly boy, he's good at night, good on walks and off the lead, but has one bad habit , that is he will eat anything in his path. So far this includes numerous socks, childs knickers, a pair of woolly tights and half a pyjama top. She has a stair gate and keeps all the washing behind it, but sometimes the children forget and take their socks off, or an item of washing will get dropped on the way to the machine and it's gone. Not to mention stealing food off plates etc, he has to go in his cage at mealtimes. I could understand him chewing things as he is still a pup, but he just swallows them. So far the items have reappeared from one end or another, but obviously she's worried he will get an obstruction. Any ideas how to stop it, or will he grow out of it? He really is like lightning when he spots something, too quick to get it out of his mouth.
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Post by sometime on May 5, 2013 9:11:54 GMT
Sorry to say he is likely always to be a thief as once they start it is hard to stop Like you say they are lightening You could try getting him to wait with a firm hand on his collar to start with to stop him gobbling down his meals so he has to be polite before he gets anything to eat. I would also teach him either with a command or clicker to leave everything before releasing him by either a command or clicker to have it. I would guess though that would only work while he was able to be commanded and in sight as once left to his own devices he will still be a sneak thief
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Post by gillwales on May 5, 2013 14:08:47 GMT
are you certain he is not part goat???
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Post by pollycrystal on May 5, 2013 17:15:51 GMT
Quite possibly, who knows what he is crossed with haha. Thanks for the advice, she will just have to persevere with being firm and trying to lock everything away. Maybe he will grow out of it, hopefully!
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Post by gillwales on May 5, 2013 19:05:34 GMT
on a serious note my mum had a lab that swallowed a sponge ball and she had to be operated on, it cost a fortune and took 6 month for her to recover. Can your daughter try some aversion training? I'm putting on my tin hat!!! But better that than the consequences.
good luck
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MarleyMoo14x
Full Member
..Dont judge a book by its cover..
Posts: 254
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Post by MarleyMoo14x on May 5, 2013 19:10:08 GMT
Ive come across this problem with a dog, so many people say its cruel, but everytime they are chewing something, muzzle it. it will soon learn not to do it. you can buy muzzles for home use which we was going to have to do with my boyfriends staff if she had to stay at my house. Puppy training classes are also good :-). keeps the dog occupied and by the time theyre finished, the dog will be too tired to do anything!
Good Luck xxx
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Post by pollycrystal on May 6, 2013 18:37:27 GMT
She is willing to try anything, but what is aversion training please? He went to puppy training when he was a little baby, maybe that is something to consider as well. She does worry that he will eat something that will obstruct him, this is why she would like any suggestions.
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