French Bulldog pup putting everything in his mouth

Higgins · 02-02-2005, 11:08 AM

Greetings:
I have a six month old French bulldog puppy and for the most part his traning is going very well. He's super. However, anything on the floor is fair game to be potentially swallowed. I found him tonguing on a christmas ornament hook, an open safety pin that fell out from a shirt, he hijacks our daughter's toys from off her bed and we find them around the house. He acts more like a ferret than a dog. He doesn't destroy them, but I worry more about his health than anything else.

He is scolded when caught in the act, then given a dog appropriate toy to chew on. I know he knows better because as soon as he sees I see he has something, he runs away and tries to hide it.

Today, he ate my diamond earring.

Anyone have any advice?

Pugdawg1 · 02-02-2005, 11:23 AM

One of my pugs is bad about that. He knows better. If I catch in the act and say "drop" he will drop it. But I wind up vacuuming often, and it's just now a habit to keep things out of reach. I don't leave anything on the floor, aside from furniture LOL I don't feel like having one of mine go through some nasty surgery because of what they ate. Little monsters LOL
I tend to be a neat freak anyways, so it helps limit what's available to steal and eat.

flyndog · 02-02-2005, 11:28 AM

First, depending on the size of that diamond, I might take him to the vet. Under a carat, I'd monitor him to make sure that comes out. Eating inedibles is called "pica" and can be fixed, but not through punishment. In the meantime, you need to "baby-proof" your house. Are there any other behavior problems? I noticed you said his training is going very well "for the most part". Do you mean obedience training?
Kit

Higgins · 02-02-2005, 11:37 AM

His obedience is going well--and he tries to drop things when i ask, though it gets caught in his fat lips.

He is very good about asking to go outside to the bathroom. His sit, stay come commands are going well. He is really a gem. (no pun intended). Very smart and well behaved. I'm really consistent with my training. I should be neater and puppy proof my home. The diamond was not large, under a carat...and I figure I'll be fishing through his stool to find it. Over the holidays, he'd attack the Christmas tree and the entire cast of wizard of oz was destroyed. But he'd wait until he wasn't watched. That's the only destructive thing I've seen him do. He doesn't chew shoes or anything. He seems to just mouth it and if it tastes good he swallows.

***Carrie*** · 02-02-2005, 12:29 PM

I agree with Flyndog. Also, you might actively teach him the "leave it" command. Practice with somethings that he really likes, food, toys, whatever and put him on a leash walking right past those things. When he starts to go for them, keep walking and say, "leave it." When he comes along nicely and diverts his attention away from the things, stop, praise and give him a treat. After a while, give treats randomly....not every time. Then you can try it in "real life" situations. But don't say it, if you can't enforce it with a leash or physically removing him from it. Don't scold because sometimes that is still attention and he may like that all right. Just divert him away with some distraction and then praise him like mad when he minds you. But, nothing can ensure his safety like keeping things out of his reach and watching him, just like you would a 2 yr. old baby.

Higgins · 02-02-2005, 12:55 PM

Thank you all, that's very good advice. And I will work on the "leave it command". I'm glad I find what I needed on such a helpful forum.

Crossfire Bulldogs · 02-02-2005, 02:49 PM

Hello and welcome to the forum

You've already been given wonderful advice and really the only thing I can add is that Frenchies are notorious for being little vacume cleaners when it comes to things on the floor and this is partially something that may not change as the dog ages, little scraps of paper and things of the nature are and more than likely will always be fair game.

As for toys and things of that nature the leave it command works very well.

***Carrie*** · 02-02-2005, 05:22 PM

LOL! I know...Dobes are perpetual, lifelong puppies too.

Oh yeah....and like you already mentioned, after you take something from him or he leaves it, hand him his own chew toy or whatever....something that he IS allowed to have and praise him for chewing that. I don't mean during the specific training exercise....that may be too many things going on in his brain. But when he's just hanging out in the house, that's when I try to remember to give him an alternative.

flyndog · 02-02-2005, 08:59 PM

BTW, is he spoiled much?

ralphie · 02-06-2005, 02:06 PM

My Valley Bull is like that to.I should have called him Hoover instead of Benson

puppylove101 · 03-24-2005, 10:16 PM

lol, my dog doesnt do that but she likes to chew on cords, shoes and bottle caps. My family drinks alot of soft drinks and so dont i. Some times we forget that we have a small puppy and we forget that she loves to chew. i had a hard time today with her because today all she wanted to do was chew i kept having to find the bones she lost in order to divert her to some thing she was allowed to chew. I dont know how long this stage lasts or if it stays with her but i cant wait until it gets a little more bearable so that i dont have to chase her around the house and try to get stuff out of her mouth cause she hates me after that, lol
daisy and freckles

02-02-2005, 11:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Higgins Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 70	French Bulldog pup putting everything in his mouth Greetings: I have a six month old French bulldog puppy and for the most part his traning is going very well. He's super. However, anything on the floor is fair game to be potentially swallowed. I found him tonguing on a christmas ornament hook, an open safety pin that fell out from a shirt, he hijacks our daughter's toys from off her bed and we find them around the house. He acts more like a ferret than a dog. He doesn't destroy them, but I worry more about his health than anything else. He is scolded when caught in the act, then given a dog appropriate toy to chew on. I know he knows better because as soon as he sees I see he has something, he runs away and tries to hide it. Today, he ate my diamond earring. Anyone have any advice?
Higgins Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 70

02-02-2005, 11:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
Pugdawg1 Pug Mom Join Date: May 2004 Location: Elko, Nevada Posts: 2,418 Rep Power: 135	One of my pugs is bad about that. He knows better. If I catch in the act and say "drop" he will drop it. But I wind up vacuuming often, and it's just now a habit to keep things out of reach. I don't leave anything on the floor, aside from furniture LOL I don't feel like having one of mine go through some nasty surgery because of what they ate. Little monsters LOL I tend to be a neat freak anyways, so it helps limit what's available to steal and eat.
	__________________ www.PugSavers.com

02-02-2005, 11:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
flyndog Unleash The Possibilities Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Marfa, TX Posts: 3,969 Rep Power: 183	First, depending on the size of that diamond, I might take him to the vet. Under a carat, I'd monitor him to make sure that comes out. Eating inedibles is called "pica" and can be fixed, but not through punishment. In the meantime, you need to "baby-proof" your house. Are there any other behavior problems? I noticed you said his training is going very well "for the most part". Do you mean obedience training? Kit
	__________________ mARFa Dog Training and Behavior

02-02-2005, 11:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
Higgins Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 70	His obedience is going well--and he tries to drop things when i ask, though it gets caught in his fat lips. He is very good about asking to go outside to the bathroom. His sit, stay come commands are going well. He is really a gem. (no pun intended). Very smart and well behaved. I'm really consistent with my training. I should be neater and puppy proof my home. The diamond was not large, under a carat...and I figure I'll be fishing through his stool to find it. Over the holidays, he'd attack the Christmas tree and the entire cast of wizard of oz was destroyed. But he'd wait until he wasn't watched. That's the only destructive thing I've seen him do. He doesn't chew shoes or anything. He seems to just mouth it and if it tastes good he swallows.
Higgins Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 70

02-02-2005, 12:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Higgins Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 70	Thank you all, that's very good advice. And I will work on the "leave it command". I'm glad I find what I needed on such a helpful forum.
Higgins Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 70

02-02-2005, 12:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,415 Rep Power: 285	I agree with Flyndog. Also, you might actively teach him the "leave it" command. Practice with somethings that he really likes, food, toys, whatever and put him on a leash walking right past those things. When he starts to go for them, keep walking and say, "leave it." When he comes along nicely and diverts his attention away from the things, stop, praise and give him a treat. After a while, give treats randomly....not every time. Then you can try it in "real life" situations. But don't say it, if you can't enforce it with a leash or physically removing him from it. Don't scold because sometimes that is still attention and he may like that all right. Just divert him away with some distraction and then praise him like mad when he minds you. But, nothing can ensure his safety like keeping things out of his reach and watching him, just like you would a 2 yr. old baby.

02-02-2005, 02:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Crossfire Bulldogs Sourmug Mom Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Snuggled Between The Snorts & Snores. Posts: 7,844 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 284	Hello and welcome to the forum You've already been given wonderful advice and really the only thing I can add is that Frenchies are notorious for being little vacume cleaners when it comes to things on the floor and this is partially something that may not change as the dog ages, little scraps of paper and things of the nature are and more than likely will always be fair game. As for toys and things of that nature the leave it command works very well.
	__________________ Get more out of Global Paw. Check out these great features. Global Paw Book Club -- Art Classes -- Woof Review I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief. ~ Gerry Spence As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

02-02-2005, 05:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,415 Rep Power: 285	LOL! I know...Dobes are perpetual, lifelong puppies too. Oh yeah....and like you already mentioned, after you take something from him or he leaves it, hand him his own chew toy or whatever....something that he IS allowed to have and praise him for chewing that. I don't mean during the specific training exercise....that may be too many things going on in his brain. But when he's just hanging out in the house, that's when I try to remember to give him an alternative.
	Last edited by Carrie : 02-02-2005 at 05:26 PM.

02-02-2005, 08:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
flyndog Unleash The Possibilities Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Marfa, TX Posts: 3,969 Rep Power: 183	BTW, is he spoiled much?
	__________________ mARFa Dog Training and Behavior

02-06-2005, 02:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
ralphie valley bulldog Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 125 Rep Power: 77	My Valley Bull is like that to.I should have called him Hoover instead of Benson
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03-24-2005, 10:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
puppylove101 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 30 Rep Power: 0	lol, my dog doesnt do that but she likes to chew on cords, shoes and bottle caps. My family drinks alot of soft drinks and so dont i. Some times we forget that we have a small puppy and we forget that she loves to chew. i had a hard time today with her because today all she wanted to do was chew i kept having to find the bones she lost in order to divert her to some thing she was allowed to chew. I dont know how long this stage lasts or if it stays with her but i cant wait until it gets a little more bearable so that i dont have to chase her around the house and try to get stuff out of her mouth cause she hates me after that, lol daisy and freckles

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