ergdork

My dogs (Yellow lab and a German shepherd puppy) have a nasty habit of tearing the grass. They take a big bite of the dirt and grass and then shake! The result is a huge divot in the lawn. Anyone else seen this? Any ideas on ways to discourage it?

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newtx

No advice for stopping it. My labs have always eaten grass in the spring. I'm always glad that is all they are destroying is lawn. They are also world class digging machines.

cyrnel

Are they bored? Do they have toys?

All dogs I've known will do that to some extent, especially puppies, but it's much worse if they aren't kept exercised and occupied.

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ergdork

Yup.. we try to take them to the park to run and what not. They both have toys, though the lab (older, 4 years) doesn't seem to care much for them.

__________________
"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."
- Robin Williams

cyrnel

The labs I've known needed lots of interaction. I haven't had a lab in years but ours were much "better" when they did their retrieval thing. The more we played catch the more they calmed down.

The puppy may be imitating. Do they do the grass thing together?

Where have the dog experts gone?

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There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

DaveOrion

I have a chocolate lab I've raised from a pup. He doesn't eat grass, but he ate his dog house, and the steps and pickets that lead down to the yard. He attempted to eat my lawn mower, and my arm on occasion. He also steals my beer, in the bottles, runs down in the yard and drinks what he can and then tries to eat the bottle. He's obviously a chewing demon with an alcohol problem.

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Elphaba

I saw a recommendation to put stones in a can with a plastic lid. When you catch the dog tearing at the grass, toss the can near the dog and the noise will startle the dog. A few experiences of "tearing grass equals a loud unpleasant surprise" is supposed to eliminate the behavior. So Pavlovian.

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ergdork

Interesting idea w/ the stones. I've tried "No" - but then it just becomes a game of keep away the minute I approach. Will have to try the can!

__________________
"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."
- Robin Williams

thingstodo

Perhaps they want to eat some greens. My dogs look for certain plants year round. We started feeding them wheat grass mixed with yogurt, oatmeal, bananas, things like that. It seems to work. In fact, one of my dogs was trained as a puppy to ring a bell at the door when she wants to go out. Now she also rings the bell when she wants her greens!

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newtx

Davematrix hit the nail solidly on the head. If it is within reach a Lab will eat it.