Eating stuff when outside

[Shain1611]

I have two chi's..one a long hair, and the other a short hair. When I take them outside they eat wood chips, worms, grass, and other little snacks. I have tried to break them of this. Every time they pick up something I tell them NO! Most of the time they drop it but sometimes they think its a game.

Am I the only one who is experiencing this?

[princess j]

Hi and Welcome! No you are not the only one. Bianca, my chi will pick up sticks and want to chew on them, especially when we are out for a walk. I just tell her no, and continue on. She's getting better, so I assume the more you tell them no, they'll get the idea. I'm no expert, maybe someone else will have a better idea. Maybe take their favorite toys out there with them?

[Shain1611]

Hi and Welcome! No you are not the only one. Bianca, my chi will pick up sticks and want to chew on them, especially when we are out for a walk. I just tell her no, and continue on. She's getting better, so I assume the more you tell them no, they'll get the idea. I'm no expert, maybe someone else will have a better idea. Maybe take their favorite toys out there with them?


Thanks for your help..

I have another question...

My female sometimes starts jerking her head up, as if there are bugs around her head. She then tries to hid under the couch and we have to block off the couch and some other areas she may want to hid under. Is this what's know as mood swings or is there something else going on here? Sometimes these moods can last a day or more than all of a sudden she's back to normal.

[ladyvader]

I have two chi's..one a long hair, and the other a short hair. When I take them outside they eat wood chips, worms, grass, and other little snacks. I have tried to break them of this. Every time they pick up something I tell them NO! Most of the time they drop it but sometimes they think its a game.


Sadie, my chi, loves to try to eat grass, leaves, and she picks up twigs and carries them around. I tell her no, and sometimes she drops them, sometimes I just get her ball and distract her. With the twigs she brings them and we play tug-a-war with it. She is very adventurous tho, and loves to sniff around the garden and run.

My female sometimes starts jerking her head up, as if there are bugs around her head. She then tries to hid under the couch and we have to block off the couch and some other areas she may want to hid under. Is this what's know as mood swings or is there something else going on here? Sometimes these moods can last a day or more than all of a sudden she's back to normal.

Sadie doesn't do the head thing but she loves to hide under stuff. The last few days it's been my bed, and she has left to lil presents there.... lol The last time was Saturday, and I didn't know til yesterday... I fixed her tho.. I pulled everything out and got cardboard boxes, and put some of the stuff from under our bed in them, and then just took empty ones too, and put them under the bed all the way around so she can't get under there. She was sure surprised :shock:when she tried to go under there and couldn't!! :lmbo:

[TLI]

I have two chi's..one a long hair, and the other a short hair. When I take them outside they eat wood chips, worms, grass, and other little snacks. I have tried to break them of this. Every time they pick up something I tell them NO! Most of the time they drop it but sometimes they think its a game.

Am I the only one who is experiencing this?

Lexie picks up everything she sees on the ground also. She doesn't always eat it though. I have noticed she will eat it if it's a spider. I have no clue why she would want to eat a spider...LOL

Other than that, she just picks it up, and if I don't say anything, she'll drop it, or just sniff it. If she thinks I don't want her to have it, she will run around in circles wanting me to chase her to get it from her.

As far as jerking their heads. I'm no expert here for sure, but the only time Lexie ever jerked her head was when the vet gave her Lepto and Corona in her series vaccine, and she had a terrible reaction. It lasted for 3 days, but was accompanied with other symptoms.

We have changed vets since that incident! From what I've been told, vets should know that Lepto, and Corona is a "no no" for Chi's.

I would take your baby in to your vet to rule out mild seizures. After a seizure they become tired and somewhat disoriented, which could explain the hiding. I don't want to alarm you, it's more than likely something simple and harmless, but just to be safe I'd make a vet appointment.

[islandbabies]

I'm lol-ing here at work! My little one Abby is this way, she will pick up things before I can even tell her no! I'm wondering if it's 'cause they're so low to the ground they're able to see these things. ROFL!
Thank goodness none of the little guys have eaten anything that was harmful to them.

[tanay]

Alfie loves to pick up leaves, sticks, and especially worms and slugs. You should be careful if you see them eating worms or slugs, because this can cause lung worm. After I noticed that Alfie was coughing, I took him to the vet, mentioned that he like to eat worms, and she said it could be a lung worm. I have him a pill, and within a week the cough had gone.

Alfie also loves to find insects inside, and play with them. Its really funny to watch him throwing bugs around, pouncing on them, and doing it all over again. This is good for me, because I hate bugs- he kills them, and then I pick them up! hahaha

[Shain1611]

Sadie, my chi, loves to try to eat grass, leaves, and she picks up twigs and carries them around. I tell her no, and sometimes she drops them, sometimes I just get her ball and distract her. With the twigs she brings them and we play tug-a-war with it. She is very adventurous tho, and loves to sniff around the garden and run.



Sadie doesn't do the head thing but she loves to hide under stuff. The last few days it's been my bed, and she has left to lil presents there.... lol The last time was Saturday, and I didn't know til yesterday... I fixed her tho.. I pulled everything out and got cardboard boxes, and put some of the stuff from under our bed in them, and then just took empty ones too, and put them under the bed all the way around so she can't get under there. She was sure surprised :shock:when she tried to go under there and couldn't!! :lmbo:

My wife has gone nuts over the hiding thing. We have them most of the time in our living room and I have had to put pillows under the couches and any other place where the Female tries to hide. This has not gone very well with the wife at all. We are dog lovers and have had dogs all our lives and I must say these little guys are very different than what we have experienced with all our other dogs.
My wife has had both knees replaced this year and the last one just 4 weeks ago, and these little guys have really got to her to the point I had to give them up for adoption this past Saturday. This is why I have been on this board to see if there was any way I could try and train them better. Well I have been back and forth with the rescue mission and I asked them I want them back and that I would work with them on these issues and other ones as well. I know my wife is going to kill me but I have never felt this way before about any dog, let alone these two little guys. So please keep me in your prayers. I’ll keep you all posted. If you don’t hear from that means my wife killed me…..not really.
:)

[Shain1611]

As far as jerking their heads. I'm no expert here for sure, but the only time Lexie ever jerked her head was when the vet gave her Lepto and Corona in her series vaccine, and she had a terrible reaction. It lasted for 3 days, but was accompanied with other symptoms.

We have changed vets since that incident! From what I've been told, vets should know that Lepto, and Corona is a "no no" for Chi's.

I would take your baby in to your vet to rule out mild seizures. After a seizure they become tired and somewhat disoriented, which could explain the hiding. I don't want to alarm you, it's more than likely something simple and harmless, but just to be safe I'd make a vet appointment.

Thanks for the info....I am worried about her and I will take your advice and take her back to the Vet when I getr her home....thanks again

[Shain1611]

I'm lol-ing here at work! My little one Abby is this way, she will pick up things before I can even tell her no! I'm wondering if it's 'cause they're so low to the ground they're able to see these things. ROFL!
Thank goodness none of the little guys have eaten anything that was harmful to them.

Hi,

I haven't seen dogs do this kind of thing before...and you are right about eating something harmful.....just have to keep and eye on them. You can't let them just run outside like other dogs. And I do mean outside in a fenced secure and safe back yard. I know when i first brought them home I had to go all around that back yard along the fence to make sure there were no small openings. I had to use a few bricks and small boards to make it air tight.

I also seen a few critters in the yard and had to close up the small space between the gate and the fence to keep them out. So that was also new for me.
But what can i say I do love these little guys.

[TLI]

My wife has gone nuts over the hiding thing. We have them most of the time in our living room and I have had to put pillows under the couches and any other place where the Female tries to hide. This has not gone very well with the wife at all. We are dog lovers and have had dogs all our lives and I must say these little guys are very different than what we have experienced with all our other dogs.
My wife has had both knees replaced this year and the last one just 4 weeks ago, and these little guys have really got to her to the point I had to give them up for adoption this past Saturday. This is why I have been on this board to see if there was any way I could try and train them better. Well I have been back and forth with the rescue mission and I asked them I want them back and that I would work with them on these issues and other ones as well. I know my wife is going to kill me but I have never felt this way before about any dog, let alone these two little guys. So please keep me in your prayers. I’ll keep you all posted. If you don’t hear from that means my wife killed me…..not really.
:)

Thanks for the info....I am worried about her and I will take your advice and take her back to the Vet when I getr her home....thanks again

I am very sorry to hear the dilemma you are going through. Chi's do have different personalities than other breeds. After having mine, I know that she is nothing like other dogs, except other Chi's...LOL

I've never owned any other dog personally, but I've been around enough to know that Chi's can be stubborn, and sometimes hard to train. It's much easier if you have them from when they are a young pup.

If it's possible, try an obedience trainer. You can find these in your local yellow pages. I know PetSmart has some classes if you have one near you. It's really worth it if you are having some trouble.

Good Luck! Here's to hoping everything gets better....Oh, and I'll also keep my fingers crossed that the wife doesn't kill you....:lol: (Joking of course, cause I know you were too.)

PS~ The head jerking may turn out to be nothing. It's just always safe to know for sure.

[mbuehler]

There is a pile of sticks outside the dog door that were to big for Kimi to drag inside :) He'll grab anything. Leaves, sticks, garbage, etc. He'll shred it in the living room and go back for more!

He really loves mosquito hawks too. Its hilarious to watch him hunt them when they get stuck in the house :)

[islandbabies]

haha! I know what you mean!! It's so much easier for them to get out of small spaces, we have a few bricks in places along the fence/wall line too!!