Grass Eating Golden Retriever Puppy

[donandsharon]

Hi, we are the very proud Mum and Dad of an 8 week old Golden Retriever.

Besides trying to get our puppy toilet trained, she will happily go outside, but has an affection for eating grass! Or bark chips.

Is this normal and have other puppy owners found they eat grass?

We have Kongs and treats galore, but she seems to think eating grass is better!

Why does she do this and what can we do to either avoid it or stop it.

[bloss344]

Welcome to Dol.

Young puppies are learning about the world and will try to eat everything. A lot of dogs like the lush grass we get now and during Spring. Grass can be a bit irritant, some dog's will vomit it up, some will pass it through. Eating grass isn't a problem unless it has herbicides or fertiliser on it, and it's pretty natural behaviour. She'll turn her interest to something else shortly.

My Goldie puppy is 5 months old and she has always eaten everything she can get her mouth on when she's outside. Grass, sticks, dirt, sand, leaves, she even thinks she can eat stones.

You probably won't be able to stop her unless you are going to be with her every second of the day, it's just not practical.

[BC]

Mine usually have a munch on the grass every morning when they go outside for their wees and they're 3 and 5 years old

[goldielover]

Hi donandsharon,

I wouldn't worry about it too much unless you use weed killer or something like that. My goldens love to graze and do it every day! They used to say that dogs that ate grass were wanting to vomit or were deficient in something, but i very much doubt mine are and they are on different diets. As far as i know though they don't know the real reason for it. Although i have to say that since one of my girls is pregnant she is eating more grass - perhaps she is a little nauseas? I'm not sure. Anyway, no real harm. We have a golden retriever sub forum if you'd like to pop in and say hi - that would be great. It is located in the 'General' section and then under 'Breed sub forum'. There is one for golden pictures and another for golden chat. Feel free to join in!!