I have a 5 month old CavaCorgi he is a little darling but when out walkies he is continually picking

[twocats]

up things, like, sweet wrappers, banana skins, small stones, bottle tops anything he can get. I keep him on a short lead and am scouring the pavements as we walk so I can see before him. I am continually taking things out of his mouth. Can anyone tell me is this just a puppy thing and will he eventually get out of it. Thanks

[squarebear]

Why not rent him out to the council? With all these cutbacks your pup will be cheaper than a street sweeper.

[twocats]

Loved your reply. Thanks

[benny3008]

I had this problem with my Jack Russell, when i took him to puppy training, i was taught how to train him to walk nicely, try holding a treat in the hand without the lead in it, hold it down towards his nose so he can sniff it but not touch, when he has walked for a few metres without picking anything up and focusing on you and the treat, praise him, and give him the treat and plenty of attention, then do the same procedure again but make him walk a little further before he gets the treat and each time you repeat it, raise the distance slightly. this may help, it is also a good way to train dogs to walk of the lead. good luck. :-)

[benny3008]

forgot to mention, once you have carried out this method repeatedly (as tedious as it is) he should soon get used to walking nicely by your side and there should be no need for constant treating. just one every now and again to remind him he is doing well. :-)

[treetops1]

Why not give him a toy to carry, it will take his mind off the rubbish. My neighbour has a muzzle on his dog because of the same problem. Good idea from Squarebear.

[twocats]

The treat idea sounds good. I do treat him when he does his whoopsies and he now sits before crossing the road and I treat him then. Many thanks will try.

[anneasquith]

my dog did this when a pup, i got a muzzle thingy for him, he grew out of it.........

[twocats]

I have tried giving him a ball to carry but he just drops it, yet when on the playing field I throw the ball he fetches and that is it he will carry it to the end of the field then let me take it back because he does not want to carry it home. As for the muzzle, it is a good idea, but the corgi side of him comes out when I want to put his coat on for walkies, he is a tenacious little pup. When I first introduced the harness to him I wrestled with him for 15 minutes so just think how long a muzzle would take. Will I have any fingers left I ask myself. But will keep it in mind. Many thanks

[benny3008]

Haha, just reading your last post, i'm surprised to find that someone else uses a harness as opposed to a collar. you are probably one of the only people i know apart from me and my sister who uses a harness! i find i have alot more control over him with it.

[twocats]

The harness also doubles for a car restraint so I know he is safe.

[slinkycat]

I use a harness too for the little darling in my avatar! Like you say, more control plus it stops him choking himself if he does lunge forward (still working on that)
Geoff used to pick up anything and everything, but now at 10 months he limits himself to chips, crisps and last week half a custard cream!

[benny3008]

Haha, love the way you say Geoff limits himself. :-) Russell tends to lean away from me using the harness to hold him up, i had to use his collar the other day though (as he keeps chewing through his harnesses) and he went to lean away from me on a walk, he was a bit confused when he fell over!

[slinkycat]

Haha, did Russell pick himself up and try to look as if he meant to do it?! Oops no, thats cats, I'm rapidly finding out that dogs don't care how silly they look!
My problem is that we live near a chippy, will never undersatnd why people buy chips then leave a trail of them along the pavement, are they so hungry they keep missing their mouths?
Glad he's never picked up stones Twocats, the vet told us that most operations on dogs are to remove stones from their stomachs:-/

[twocats]

Thanks for all your answers. Will keep working on this. Now off for walkies.

[boxtops]

Interested re the harness - we've just come back from Spain and nearly all the dogs being walked there wore harnesses rather than collars. Looked a lot more comfortable for the dogs, who kept the harnesses on when they were off the lead.

[benny3008]

sometimes, I forget to take Russell's harness off, he then gets bored when he's left alone and chews it off, this is my own fault obviously and I am slowly learning to remember to take it off him after every walk. I bought his 12th harness the other day in a year, they cost £10 each! but I definitely think it's worth it as you say they are alot more comfortable for the dog. :-)

[lankeela]

What on earth is a CavaCorgi? Is it a heating boiler that runs on white wine?

[jakep]

Shame on you Lankeela!! Obviously another pure breed that is yet to make the KC. Don't you know that rescue homes are full of them too!

[lankeela]

I'm all for people having crossbreeds, but why do they insist on trying to give them a 'breed' name?

[Mazziestar]

I was just wondering why it's a cavacorgi and not a corgilier? Does the breed of the sire come first? I 'd love to see what a cavacorgi looks like!