[Sally567]

I have a five month old GR who will suddenly stop while we are playing ball /frisbee in the back yard and "yank" or pull out our grass by the roots, then try to eat it all. We are working on the Leave It command but does anyone know why he feels the need to do this?
We thought it was an anxiety/overstimulation reaction but have tried to keep the ball throwing low-key (if possible). We end the play session when he starts to pull out the grass.
Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Elisabeth Kazup]

Perfectly normal. I used to describe Penny as de-thatching the lawn one puppy mouthful at a time.

They outgrow it eventually. I think they do it for the same reason they love to rip up paper. It's a 'kill' thing: grab a mouthful, shake it madly and spit it out. Don't worry if he eats some; Goldens are known to like to eat grass without much trouble.

I think ending the play at this point is a good idea. My theory is never reward the behavior you DON'T want. When play degenerates to this, time to go in.

I think you're handling it quite well. Give him a few months: he'll move on to something else.:uhoh:

Pictures? We love pictures!

 

[Oaklys Dad]

Very Very common. My guys love to graze on patches of their favorite grasses. They are very particular about the grasses they eat and have favorite stopping points on our walks where the grass is just perfect.

 

[Elisabeth Kazup]

Penny does too. She loves the broad leaf, taller grass and nibbles on the outer inch or so. Must be tender and sweet.

 

[goldhaven]

I used to have one that would pull the weeds. Never touched the grass, but the weeds weren't safe.

 

[Cathy's Gunner]

Gunner does the same thing. I replaced some of the burned up grass from his urine recently and one piece of the sod wasn't totally set. I let him outside and he was running around with the piece of sod in his mouth. LOL

 

[Willow52]

Hank prefers my potted plants :doh: he doesn't eat them, just tears them apart. He also likes to trample the hosta and ornamental grass. I wish he would pull out some grass and leave the landscaping alone!

 

[janine]

Chesters favorite was also my hosta plants...he would just grab them and run around the yard with the pieces. It really suprised me when they came back the following spring and he hasn't bother them since. It's a puppy thing, take pictures with that grass in his mouth you will laugh about it later.

 

[mesuezee]

Magoo eats and rips up all the grass around where his ball?toy lands when we throw it! There are little circles of missing grass everywhere....I hope he outgrows it LOL!

 

[laprincessa]

Max is two and he still does this. After I mow the field, he goes nuts grabbing the clumps of grass and tossing them in the air. I stop him from eating after a while, because he tends to yak up things that look really gross - on the living room rug - if he eats too much of it. (Dried up yakked up grass looks very much like a dead critter.)