When I am sitting out in my garden he will lay beside me with his rock and suck away. He can do this for what seems like hours, quite happy and content. When something else gets his attention he will drop the rock and come back to it again or go find a new one and resume the process.
I have been doing some research and it seems there a several theories. One is that a dog that sucks on rocks is lacking salt and minerals in their diet. Another is that it is a personality disorder and the dog is trying to get attention.
One article I read mentions the disease called “pica” which is when dogs EAT strange things due to a variety of reasons from attention getting, boredom to underlying diseases. Mulligan doesn’t eat the rocks he just sucks the rocks.
I think perhaps he could be lacking salt and other minerals…although he eats very well and gets a good healthy kibble. But he is so active that maybe he is replenishing his lost nutrients. What I really think is that he really just likes to suck rocks. I think it is his way to relax and chill, sucking rocks is his Zen. Like relaxing in my garden is my Zen.
I would love to hear from anyone who has a rock-sucking dog. What are your thoughts about this silly dog habit?
My Great Dane does the same thing. I think he just likes swishing the around in his mouth.
ReplyDeleteMy 5 yr old rottie sucks rocks allthe time.
ReplyDeleteMy rottweiler would rather sucks rock than fetch. Shes obsessed with this. No matter where we go she always finds a rock to suck on.as she's sucking rock its like she loving the rock. She whines and cries.
ReplyDelete