Not without my effects

So it turns out my new dog isn't perfect after all.

He has a teensy-weensy flaw.

Or maybe we would be more accurate in describing it as a condition.

He suffers from a particular canine malady known as Pica.

Although we probably should not characterize him as suffering.

Because Rizzo glories in it.

To quote the Internet:

Pica is a medical issue referring to a dog's craving of a non-food item and the subsequent eating of that item.

Rizzo's got a king-sized case of Pica.

As in (I've reported this to you before) he loves to eat everything outside.

To include: pine cones, pine needles, tree bark, sticks, flowers, acorns, grass, leaves, dirt, and even rocks.

Yes; rocks. My dog is a rock star.

(I say this although I have never actually seen Rizzo ingest a rock. But I have seen him with a rock in his mouth and I'm pretty sure you'll agree that this begs the question: What's next?)

(Swallowing is what's next.)

But try ridding your yard of every one of those things! A massive White Oak towers over our house in front. The back privacy fence is ringed with conifers just as towering.

The climate is sub-tropical. This may as well be a jungle. And that means a 24-hour buffet for a dog with Pica.

I've had Rizzo for seven weeks and you don't want to know how much natural-type detritus I've had to clean off the back steps leading to the deck and pool, just outside our kitchen French doors.

Stuff he leaves there after he's done snacking: Chunks of wood. Flower stems. Half-eaten acorns. Mangled sticks. Remnants of leaves.

I tried going outside with him and barking Leave it! every time he even sniffed at something.

He just looked at me before playfully cavorting with another pine cone, or bringing a stick up to the steps for a nosh.

Rizzo! You'll get splinters! I admonished.

Splinters schplinters, his expression replied.

This from a dog who, when inside the house, will chew only on his own chew toys. He has never shown the slightest interest in a shoe or the leg of a table. 

Also he is housebroken. And I didn't have to do it, which is good, because I have no clue how to housebreak a dog. 

Like I said: He's all but perfect. Until it's time to go outside.

By the way: I do plan to tell the vet about Rizzo's unusual dietary propensities when it's time for a checkup. But I think you'll agree that to avoid an emergency visit to said small-animal medico, a stopgap measure was needed.

So now you know my problem. And I'll tell you how I solved it.

First let me say, I considered a muzzle. They're cheap and (I suppose) effective. Dogs can't pick anything up in their mouths while wearing one.

But neither can they sniff, bark, pant, or drink. Also they just generally hate it, not least because they love sniffing, barking, panting, and drinking.

And how would you like to wear a rubber muzzle every time you go outside?

No? I thought as much.

So, up on the Internet, click click click I went.

(I'm intrepid in the Google wars.)

And look what I found: The OutFox Field Guard.

It was made specifically to help dogs who live in California avoid entangling their snouts and ears in something called Foxtail Grass.

We don't have that in the Southeast. But the clever inventor had an Aha! moment when thinking about other dogs in other places who may not encounter Foxtail Grass but who have a weakness for feasting on local flora.

After reading testimonial after glowing testimonial, and even though the item was a trifle pricey, I ordered an OutFox Field Guard in Extra Small for Rizzo.

My reasoning was, it's about ten times cheaper (at least) than taking my dog to the vet with a rock in his belly.

I told Rizzo his pine cone-eating days were seriously numbered. He was grasping one between his paws at the time. I took it away from him.

He looked over beyond the pool, where approximately eight thousand six hundred thirty-nine pine cones lay on the ground.

And where, scarcely six months from now, a quarter-million fresh acorns will be underfoot.

I sighed.

A few days later, our OutFox Field Guard arrived. I sussed out the process involved in installing said device on my dog.

At first, I got it wrong. I attached the two Velcro straps under his collar correctly but didn't pull the elastic cords tightly enough.

Rizzo ran away downstairs to the TV room and by the time he was down there, the mask was flopping around his feet. Paws.

I tried again. I pulled the elastic tight and pushed the purple plastic toggle down towards Rizzo's neck. I put a finger underneath to test and make sure he wasn't strangling.

I opened the door. Rizzo stepped out onto the deck steps. He looked bewildered.

For at least twenty minutes he sat, barely moving, just staring. I worried that my actions had plunged him into deep depression.

I could almost hear him thinking: What will I do now for fun?

That was a short session. I removed Rizzo's Field Guard and stayed with him while he checked his messages and sniffed around a bit.

But after that? So easy, it's like falling off a log. I learned to put the Field Guard on him correctly (even popping a few treats down inside for him to eat) and he learned how to have fun even though he can't eat anything not placed by me inside the mask.

He runs around, sniffs, plays, tries to pick stuff up, realizes he can't, and moves on to something else. He has even figured out that he can drink from his outside water dish that I fill with the hose.

I've seen the Field Guard dripping.

Rizzo once more struts around the yard like a boss. A boss who can't endanger his own health because he's too dumb to leave rocks alone.

When he's tired, he sits and basks in the sun -- something he adores.

Now? When it's time to go outside, Rizzo waits patiently and even lifts his head for me to outfit him with his OutFox Field Guard.

I still occasionally put a treat or two inside for him to enjoy an al fresco snack.

It works like a charm.

How often do things work out so beautifully? 

Not as often as I'd like. But I'll take it.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Thursday :: Happy March

Comments

[sally]

So glad you found just the right thing for Rizzo. He looks content, and is not longer the subject of possibly harming himself. He's a cutie!

My brother's new dog, Bella, that they rescued from Texas, doesn't eat stuff outside, but she has the propensity of wanting to PLAY every second; I do not exaggerate. She'll bring whatever is handy to you and wants to play run and catch constantly. And, yes, she'll bring rocks also. If you start the playing game she never, ever wants to take a break. She also likes to jump in the pool. I can just see it now when the kids play next summer, in the pool, she'll probably have to be kept inside. :)

xoxo

[Jennifer]

@Sally ... Oh dear! Now, I will say, Rizzo does want to play when he's inside. But usually, he'll content himself for a long time with his toys. Then when he gets on my lap, he turns on his back and wants my hands to play with. If I deny him my fingers to nip at, it can get ugly, haaahaha. xoxo

[Luna Crone]

Ohhhhhhh.... lol..... I know, I shouldn't laugh, at Rizzo, or at you.... But you must admit, it is a funny story.

Amazing, that he only wants to do this picca-thing, outdoors. And wonnnnnnderful too!!!!!! I'd hate to have him have to wear that, all the time.

But you "let your fingers do the walking" on your keyboard, and solved the problem. Good Dog Mama!!!!! :-)

So happy he has gotten accustomed to the "Bee Keeper's Hat"!!! He is a smart little thing. :-)

Gentle hugs,
Luna Crone

[Judy]

Oh my Gosh! This is brilliant! So is the dog. He doesn't try and rip and tear it off--which I find quite amazing. How very cool and how smart are you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jennifer]

@Luna ... Haaahahaha if he ate stuff he wasn't supposed to inside too, I'd be up a creek without a paddle for sure. But he knows what he wants and if I have anything to do with it, he won't get it! xoxo

@Judy ... It is a miracle. Necessity is the mother of invention and this particular invention has a new child. So far so good ... he only tried to get it off once or twice and, finding he couldn't, he gave up. xoxo

[Mari]

Oh Rizzo!
I think this is the sort of thing that only happens to you. It did make me laugh a little, but I'm glad you found a solution, and he looks quite content. I think you need to start writing these kinds of things down and publish a book!

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... Hahahaha maybe I should ... xoxo

[Cheryl Arment]

Back in the 1990's I had a dog that loved to eat pinecones. I didn't care except he would come inside and eventually up-chuck on the kitchen floor. I didn't have google then. So, I demanded that he leave them alone and he obeyed if I stuck with him.

I am glad that you found a solution. What would we do without Google? Rizzo looks cute with his Out Fox Guard on. Have a happy weekend!

[Jennifer]

@Cheryl ... Rizzo did regurgitate one time on a blanket the first weekend I had him. That's the first time we noticed he was eating acorns and pine cones. He kept eating but never spit up again that I know of. But I'm glad for the mask because lots of that stuff is toxic to dogs. xoxo

[Anna]

He is TO-DIE-FOR cute and almost even cuter with that silly thing on🙈😍

[Jennifer]

@Anna ... He is! He really is that cute! Nothing can stop the cuteness. You know how it is! Haahaaha xoxo

[Barb]

I wonder if maybe Rizzo will be conditioned not to eat everything that comes across his path outside after he wears the hood for awhile? My friends used to train service dogs and their last one could not be finished to become the companion of a disabled person because he would eat anything left on the floor - socks, gloves, small stuffed animals, etc. They made many a trip to the vet, but he couldn't be dissuaded. Of course, they were careful not to let anything on the floor, but often a disabled person needs a dog that will pick up something they've dropped (and NOT eat it). Now the dog is a part of my friend's family. He has grown out of his need to eat inappropriate things and has been trained as a therapy dog - my friend takes him to schools and hospitals to visit. He is perfectly obedient and well-loved. Good Luck to you and Rizzo! PS It's snowing here - we leave for the beach in 24 days (not that I'm counting...)

[Jennifer]

@Barb ... I was hoping the very same thing! In fact, several times a day I do let Rizzo out for just a few minutes, without his mask. But if he's going out to "play" or bask, I don't dare because I have seen that he just can't resist munching on sticks. But he's so sweet about it, that I'm just glad we found the mask. I'm also grateful that he shows no interest in chowing down on any inedible thing (except his chew toys) while in the house. Therapy dogs are so wonderful. Yay for the beach! But I'll bet that snow is lovely, even if it's not an April Fool's joke! xoxo