Wood chip munching!!

Hey guys! I need some advice on something. Piper has been doing great, and has started to go potty outside. I'm really happy that she's starting to get it, but there's a minor issue. The spot that we decided to use outside has wood chips, because she was trained to go on wood shavings at the breeder. Therefore, we thought it would be a relatively "easy" transition. It's been going well, but for whatever reason Piper has really taken to eating the wood chips. I'm trying to stay calm, but ive found myself jerking her away from the chips (we got her a harness, so I'm not yanking on her neck). I'm concerned that its not good for her.

I guess the overall question is how do you help your pup to concentrate on the task at hand and not become a wood mulcher??

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Permalink Reply by Natalie, Lance &Tucker on March 9, 2012 at 11:40pm

I would take the wood chips from her mouth and tell Piper No in a calm way, in the mean time work on teaching the leave it command.

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Permalink Reply by Jane on March 10, 2012 at 12:23am

I agree with what Natalie said. Of course it's easier said than done. :) Luke has quite a taste for wood chips too, to the point that I filled in the landscaping with rock instead lol.

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Permalink Reply by Mike and Vicki Baylus on March 10, 2012 at 8:55am

I "trade" with my dogs when they have something they shouldn't. It's a " drop it/here you go" command.

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Permalink Reply by Sandy Stickney on March 10, 2012 at 10:12am

The "drop it" and "leave it" commands have been very helpful in many situations for us.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on March 10, 2012 at 10:43am

My first thought is that your pup was eating some wood shavings at the breeder's... so the two habits may be linked. You cannot scold for eating the surface where you want to praise her for going potty. That's very confusing. Wood chips can contain coconut hulls, which are poisonous to dogs, so make sure that's not the case with yours. I would take the pup to a grassy surface. The trick is to teach a word ( go potty, hurry up, or whatever ) and then use that word and expose the pup gradually to the different surfaces where you may want it to eliminate.

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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on March 10, 2012 at 12:09pm

Wood chips can splinter and cause major stomach problems. I would clear the area of wood chips or pick another spot until she is older. Puppies want to taste everything and it can become a habit.

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Permalink Reply by Beth on March 10, 2012 at 12:27pm

Both mine eat bark, and neither started til last year when they both simultaneously discovered that one particular type of bark (I personally can't tell the difference, but they can) is delicious. *sigh* If anyone knows how to stop this, I am anxious to hear....

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Permalink Reply by Jane on March 10, 2012 at 7:04pm

Haha, that's what our landscaping was too, some kind of bark. I swear Luke would ask to go outside just so he could eat it. So naughty!

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Permalink Reply by Annaglen + Piper!! on March 10, 2012 at 4:22pm

Well, I attempted the old bait and switch between the wood chips and a fun toy/treat stuffed toy and that didn't work. So, I decided to change her potty spot to a grassy patch behind the apartment complex. I scouted the place out and I don't think many dogs go there. That seemed to do the trick - she's doing her business much faster at the new spot and is fairly consistent!! When I see her sniffing, I tell her "go potty" and when she does, I treat and praise like crazy. Yay for grass!! Though I'm also working on the "leave it" command ;)