The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire

[Lisa]

This idea is seriously doing my head in. I've gone from denial ("Something that small couldn't have REALLY hurt him") to gratefulness ("Thank goodness they caught in time and all's well that ends well") to today being so pissed off with this dog that I can't even see straight. STILL today trying to such down everything that's not superglued to the pavement. And of course every little bit I think, "What if that's poisonous???"

I've just been so, so angry today. Yes, I realise that it's fear that's turned to anger - that's how I roll unfortunately - but I don't know how to keep this dog safe if I can't keep him off things. What do you do to even train this? We've been working on 'don't touch' for months now and he's got it. I could open a box of pizza on the ground in front of him and he wouldn't touch the stuff, but something that didn't come from me and that I didn't notice to say 'don't touch' about in time? Down the gullet.

How do people deal with this? Because I am not dealing.

It’s tough. I just kept on working on a strong “leave it”...which means that when I see something I don’t want him to have, when I say “leave it” he turns to me for a treat. This does not always work. So if he actually has something in his mouth, the “leave it” now means “drop it”. Which generally works unless the item is something really tasty like a mouldy sandwich or a cast-off BBQ bone. No amount of “leave it” or treat will induce him to drop it. So he eats it. This only happens rarely, but still...one day I’m afraid he will find something that he will eat that will be the end of him.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I don’t have a solution but just wanted t say I feel your pain. Stanleys a nightmare for it. He eats everything he even considers edible - it’s rotten and something I worry about a lot.

It must be harder for you when you’ve had dogs that don’t do it. I’ve only had Stanley really, so I think I’ll be shocked if I have a dog that doesn’t snaffle everything possible!

Thanks, Jen. You are right, this is completely alien behaviour for me. Brogan was taught from a tiny puppy not to eat anything that wasn't handed to him, so he didn't. But I also think part of it is simply a difference in breed and nothing I taught or didn't.

In my arrogance, I really thought if I taught Carbon not to eat things off the ground, he'd get it as he is so smart. But he's like a crack addict except his crack is food. Disgusting food. It's embarrassing because I've devolved into yelling, "For f^%%$^s sake, quit eating weird s$#@t off the ground!" which is not only vulgar (apologies) but completely and utterly unhelpful. And embarrassing, let's not forget embarrassing.

 

[SwampDonkey]

You've not had s lab long enough in the end you just don't get embarrassed. Just give yourself a break. Xxx

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I just kept on working on a strong “leave it”...which means that when I see something I don’t want him to have, when I say “leave it” he turns to me for a treat. This does not always work. So if he actually has something in his mouth, the “leave it” now means “drop it”. Which generally works unless the item is something really tasty like a mouldy sandwich or a cast-off BBQ bone. No amount of “leave it” or treat will induce him to drop it. So he eats it. This only happens rarely, but still...one day I’m afraid he will find something that he will eat that will be the end of him.

Thanks and I empathise with your empathising, if that makes sense. They really are food addicts in the true sense of the word, these Labs. I know that's a root of a lot Lab dog jokes, but it's scary.

 

[Oberon]

"For f^%%$^s sake, quit eating weird s$#@t off the ground!"

This is me every single walk. Labradors will be Labradors.... Eternal vigilance combined with an air of resignation - that’s the approach I’ve cultivated over the years.

 

[Xena Dog Princess]

Emily, please stop being so hard on yourself. Carbon did what 99% of our dogs would have done. He's not a weirdo nor an aberration of the breed for snaffling up the bait. I'll bet that even guide dog Labs struggle with this, and I'm sure that despite their training there's the odd bit of garbage snaffling going on when the harness comes off. I'm able to reach into Xena's mouth to pull out danger food (WHO DROPS HALF A BLOCK OF CHOCCIE ON THE FOOTPATH YOU GUYS?), she'll give other stuff, but she'll guzzle down cat shit. I just cross my fingers and pray that it's nothing sinister. She mostly finds apple cores and bits of bread.

 

[Oberon]

Was just reminded of the time my first Labrador, Nicolae, are a hash cookie on the street and got himself stoned. Funny in hindsight.

 

[Jen]

Was just reminded of the time my first Labrador, Nicolae, are a hash cookie on the street and got himself stoned. Funny in hindsight.

Stanleys also eaten what we think was the butt end of a joint and was off his tits for the night

 

[Xena Dog Princess]

Was just reminded of the time my first Labrador, Nicolae, are a hash cookie on the street and got himself stoned. Funny in hindsight.

Stanleys also eaten what we think was the butt end of a joint and was off his tits for the night

I'm only laughing because they both ended up ok. I know pets getting access to drugs is a serious business and I'm sure that vets see a lot of sad cases.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Was just reminded of the time my first Labrador, Nicolae, are a hash cookie on the street and got himself stoned. Funny in hindsight.

Stanleys also eaten what we think was the butt end of a joint and was off his tits for the night

Well, that'll probably be our next vet visit, then! I've been warned.

 

[Lisa]

I'm only laughing because they both ended up ok. I know pets getting access to drugs is a serious business and I'm sure that vets see a lot of sad cases.

Cannabis is soon to be legal in Canada (like next week) and among the many things I’m concerned about is Simba picking up some butts or whatever from the ground. On the bright side, he will leave cigarettes alone so here’s hoping

 

[Xena Dog Princess]

@Lisa oh the butt issue hadn't even occurred to me. I HATE it when people don't dispose of their cigarette butts properly. When I smoked I always put them in a rubbish bin, and I hate that most people don't! I hope that Simba stays away from them, and I hope that the government runs some ads about disposing of joints/edibles properly.

 

[Ashley]

I think most dogs will eat something they find appetizing when given the chance...Quinn has a great leave it and even she will scarf something if she’s far enough away or she’ll grab a bite and leave the rest once I see her. My vet said she recommends insurance for labs because they eat so much random crap haha (we took that advice). We were at a dog trail a few weeks ago and I was walking with a poop bag and a chocolate lab ran up behind me and ripped it from my hand and ate it...so things could be grosser! Glad Carbon is ok post poison!

 

[Boogie]

I think most dogs will eat something they find appetizing when given the chance...Quinn has a great leave it and even she will scarf something if she’s far enough away or she’ll grab a bite and leave the rest once I see her.

This is Tatze. She was with my friend recently and she’d eaten half a rancid sheep’s leg before my friend noticed (lots of bushes where they walk, Tatze was in the bush longer than she expected - she called her back and - yuk!)

.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

This is Tatze. She was with my friend recently and she’d eaten half a rancid sheep’s leg before my friend noticed (lots of bushes where they walk, Tatze was in the bush longer than she expected - she called her back and - yuk!)

Mmmm...rotten sheep leg. Shades of our walk in June at Golitha, @kateincornwall ?

 

[kateincornwall]

Mmmm...rotten sheep leg. Shades of our walk in June at Golitha, @kateincornwall ?

Etched on my memory for ever Emily !!!!!!!!! xxxx

 

[Charlie]

Try deer head, Hattie is a mare for finding and snacking on them quite regularly, also any other rotting animal she can find! x

 

[SwampDonkey]

Moo ate or tried to eat a semi defleshed but still articulated hares head. It's jaw kept flapping like it was talking as she jumped about

 

[Selina27]

It's jaw kept flapping like it was talking as she jumped about

Oh grim !

 

[SwampDonkey]

Not the worst thing she ever did but it looked weird