Eating stones

[Mike & Laura]

Josie has found a spot in the garden where something or someone has been before. There's no evidence to the naked eye but she can obviously smell something. We live next to the park and it's quite normal for us to see evidence of foxes in the garden or dare I say it, a rat or two.

When she goes out for a toilet break she streaks to the spot and starts sniffing but has now taken to eating something, we think stones. This means that we can't leave her alone for a minute which is a shame as she likes her freedom in the garden as she's not off lead in public.

I am worried, however, that she might eat the stones and not pass them and then need surgery or eat something that would really disagree with her or worse.

I understand that dogs do like to eat things like this to help with digestion but is there something we can do to stop her doing this?

Maybe a spray or something to cover the area or is it a case of persevering with the behavioural side and simply saying"no"?

Any advice greatly appreciated.
Mike

[sueb]

Hi Mike

I've just consulted my "bibles," ( 2 greyhound books) but can't seem to find anything to help or about natural repellents.

Are you sure it's stones? Is it only from that one area? Dogs can have disgusting habits sometimes (eg quite common to eat cat poo, as it's apparently still got quite a lot of nutrients in!!), though we've not had this with our hounds so much as with previous dogs ....Apologies if anyone reading this has just eaten!

We do have a lot of foxes, living near woods, and as a previous dog caught the mange
from them we use Advocate for their flea deterrent. A bit expensive, but we use every other month and it keep a lots of other nasties at bay, too (like lung worm).

You can use something like " get off" a spray to neutralise urine smells, to stop a dog (and presumably other animals) going back to a spot where they have urinated- there are probably other proprietry repellents in pet shops, but obviously they will wash away with the monsoon we seem to have currently!
We had a real problem earlier in the year when a very viscous cat frequented our garden and snarled & hissed at me and the dogs and our 2 went mad sniffing every time they went out in the garden-especially one spot, thankfully it has moved with its owners. But I did research natural cat repellents (such a citrus, citronella and lavender oils and painted it on the top of the fence- with some success). Some suggested chillies, but I thought that would be cruel and possibly burn their paws.
Are you able to cover or "fence off" the patch? Or perhaps use a spray with a water pistol/sprayer for plants when Josie does it. Or maybe a kind of home made scarecrow ( eg stick with say those foil dishes from cakes/pies tied with string, or similar so that they create a bit of a din in the wind to repell both Josie and "other visitors?" I suppose there's a slight danger in that might freak her a bit, if she is very nervous!

Maybe a word with your vet, to see if they can advise about a repellent ( for both Josie , foxes & others?)

Sorry cant advise further, no doubt others can!
Good luck, keep us posted.

[Ian]

There's some stuff about eating stones here if that's definitely what's going on:

www.ehow.co.uk/how_4812108_stop-dog-eating-stones.html

[yvonned]

Dogs don't like citronella so you could try cut up lemons or our local 99p shop sells 2 large bottles of lemon juice for 99p. I buy them and squirt it in and around the dustbin bag when I put it out overnight, it deters the foxes. Sueb said it's also a natural cat repellant, but I don't know about it deterring rats and squirrels.

[Mike & Laura]

Very kind of you all to take the time to reply. I will read and 'digest' and try some of the suggested solutions. I'll report back in due course. First up is the jiff lemon left over from last pancake day!

Thanks
Mike