STICKS AND STONES- any ideas how to stop!!!!

[gypsyd]

My GSD loves sticks and stones - grrrr he loves sticks in the field and we cant get him off them cos he jsut goes looking for more if we try and hide it he goes after it ie in a ditch with brambles.

We try and hide them in trees hes trying to raise his paws up to reach- i want to get him off sticks

he loves his tennis ball but in the garden only!!!!

field = sticks and nothing else matters!!!!

At home
he likes to find stones and bits of cement that may be loose between slabs to bite and chew - i try and stop him he just gives a whimpering type sound cos he wants that small piece of cement- grrr

I cover the area with something he aint happy he starts clawing at the thing i covered it with -

sticks stones and cement type stones

or yeah and another thing

if he doesnt want to come in the house he WONT!!! lol we chase him with the mop to get him in it works for my husband but not me!!

any ideas throwing him a biscuit in the house to retrieve or atleast get him indoors doesnt work anymore

[Jon]

bitter apple spray??

[Beki]

dont chase him, call him in if he doesnt go in n shut the door behind u hel hopefully not like it and come in more.

Have u tried getting a rubber stick? there are a few differnt types about

[gypsyd]

Where can i buy the rubber sticks from please worth a try at least

any ideas re the stones - he's a monkey but i love him to bits

[Beki]

SafeStix Throwing Dog Toy

LUCKY BAMBOO STICK RUBBER TOY LARGE - DiscountedPetProducts.Net

theres a couple from google

[LOVEGSD]

Oscar loves a stick so he's got a rubber one, although it doesn't last longer than a week with him cos he loves to death shake it.

I would try to find a toy that does float his boat, maybe a wubba might and then make this the most exciting thing ever when you're out.

Also do as Beki says and don't chase him round to get the stick off him, he then thinks this is the best game

Oh and also teach the leave or drop command so if he does pick anything up you can ask him to put it down.

[Stuart]

I am afraid to say that you have trained your dog,.. that the command to come in,..means its playtime,..because in his eyes you have been doing just that,.. playing chase,.. do as Beki suggested, command him to come in once,..if not turn and leave him,..it will take a little time, the first time he comes in on command he gets lots of praise and treated,.. he will soon learn that the `game` has changed

In the passed I found that trying to stop a dog from collecting stones is quiet hard to do,.. I would suggest that you have a real good `leave it` command, for the times you see him go for them,...and as suggested Apple Spray, or vinegar mixed with water and sprayed over the stones may help

Sticks, I havent really minded too much, Sam will always be on the look out for a stick, once he finds one, he either plays with Kee,..or carries it around

[Bonniesmummy]

Bonnie used to eat stones but just stopped by herself. She loves sticks to but I don't mind her chewing them so I don't do anything with that.

Don't chase either, your playing a game that way. I tell bonnie 'in' if she doesn't come straight away she gets 'ah hem' then the door gets closed. I'll wait 5mins or so and tell her 'in' again but it didn't take long for her to get the idea and come in straight away xxx

[Otto 's Mutter]

If he likes a tennis ball in the garden, have you tried a Kong squeaky ball when out?

Otto was a little bugga for sticks when he was younger and didn't have any interest in balls. However, I got him some Kong squeaky balls and was able to get his attention from the squeak.

He is now so focussed on his ball that I am using it for training rather than a food treat - some going since he is VERY greedy

As for coming in, make it worth his while to come in. Reward him every time he comes in from the garden. We actually did a little trail of biscuits from the garden to start with, leading up to the back door with a special treat when he got inside. We haven't had to do the trail of biscuits for a very long time but we still give him something when he comes in. We rarely have to ask twice

Hope this helps

Work on your obedience commands with him. As others have said chasing with a broom is playtime for him. Teach Leave it for the stones / sticks. Get his focus on something else and when it is, play with him in an excited tone.

I've never had a problem getting mine to come in but have had to work on them not bringing outdoor toys in. Zee's obsessed with balls so its not unusual to find windfall apples in the house!