6 month old cocker spaniel pup eating anything and everything

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have a 6 month old blue roan cocker spaniel puppy, I have had her since she was 9 weeks old. She is a good little girl, but I do have a slight worry in that she eats anything and everything, she is very greedy and constantly on the look out for something she can eat, she enjoys her walks, but just recently they have turned more into a food hunt than a walk, she is constantly looking for something she can eat.

This wouldnt be so bad, but she eats so much some days she is making herself vomit, but no matter how hard I try I am unable to stop her doing this. If she is not taken out, she will even resort to eating her toys and bedding. (not just chewing, actaully eating them)

I have thought about putting a muzzle on her, but she is otherwise such a good girl, I really dont want to have to do this, it seems so unfair to muzzle such a good dog, but when she is being sick all the time I dont know what else I can do.

She is very well fed (hills science plan three times a day) has the occasional doggy treat or chew, is not fed my table scraps at all, she is a good healthy weight (checked at vets regularly) and has been regularly wormed and flea treated and is walked for at least an hour every single day with out fail. She drinks well and passes urine fine and her stools are normal formed stools.

She has free acsess to the garden, fresh water and lots of toys all day, so I dont think its because she is frustrated or bored (there is also always someone home with her too, so she is very rarely left alone)

She is well in herself and otherwise such a perfect dog, other than eating until she is sick constantly I do not have any problems with her, I am just at a total loss as to why she may be doing this and more to the point, what can I do to stop it. It is happening 3 or 4 times a week now.

She has not had a season yet, but will be getting speyed after her first season.

please help.

ANSWER: The reason she's doing this is because you're feeding a really, really inferior food which is loaded with cheap fillers and not enough protein.

I can only beg you to get her on a better diet and continue to feed her 3x daily.  What I highly recommend for cockers is Innova EVO or Orijen.  If you go to Naturapet.com you can find a store near you that sells Innova and any store that carries premium brands (which Science Diet is most definitely not) will also sell Orijen and other top quality foods.  Switch her over slowly by adding a bit more of the new food every day.

I know that probably your vet recommended Science Diet but vets get about 4 hours training in nutrition
and basically know zip about it.  Sad, but true.  Bluntly put - it's crap!

Please don't use a muzzle unless it's a soft muzzle so she can open her mouth to pant (which is how dogs perspire) and ONLY on walks to prevent her eating garbage, which can be dangerous.

You sound like a really good owner and I love the hour daily walks.

I'd also recommend buying her a couple of Kongs (the very safest toy) and putting a teensy bit of peanut butter inside.  She is only 6 months and they are "chewers" at that age so distraction and prevention are the way to go.  If she eats the bed - remove it.

She's also still in a massive growth spurt so make sure you're feeding her enough.  A puppy eats twice as much as an adult dog of the same weight.  So don't skimp on the food :)

If I can help further, please write.  I'm so hoping you'll get her on a better diet and if my suggestions prove hard to find (which would be unusual) then write back and I'll give you a few more.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your help, it is much appreciated and I will deffinately get her on a better food, I had no idea science plan was so rubbish as the vets recommended it for her. But the fact she is constantly hunting food confirm to me how rubbish the food is for her.

She has kong toys and plenty of other chewable toys available to her all the times (she is a very spoilt pup lol) and she eats until she is full, I never restict the amount she eats, I always make sure that each feed she has plenty in her bowl and she has as much as she wants, there is always some left in her bowl when she is finished eating, so I know she has had enough.

I am hoping not to have to resort to a muzzle, she is too good and it seems so unfair, so will try the better food and see how we get on with that.

Thank you for your help, I will let you know how she gets on  

Answer
When she is finished eating, pick up the bowl.  Set a schedule for her mealtimes and dole it out - don't let her gorge herself.  Puppies will, indeed, eat until they're sick.

Watch out for "other chewable toys" because she can swallow some bad stuff :)  I like Kongs or those very, very hard dental chews.  Toys with stuffing or squeakers are dangerous.  And never rawhides or greenies.

I wouldn't hesitate to use a soft muzzle on walks.  One piece of bad garbage can do a lot of damage.  But remember - she has to be able to open her mouth.

Do go to Naturapet.com to find a store that sells quality food and switch her over slowly. I'd combine kibble with canned (less processed).

You can do a bit of shock tactic when she's chewing something forbidden :)  Get an empty pop can - put 15 pennies in it and duct tape the top shut.  If you find her chewing, say NO in a firm voice (no yelling) and raise the can in the air and bring it down hard ONCE!

Yes, it will startle the wits out of her and that's the idea.  No chat - just pick up the item and walk away.

And, right now I'd start adding a scrambled egg to her food once a day.  Use no oil or milk..just plain scrambled egg.  The extra 9 grams of protein will help until you get her on a quality food.
Best of luck and do write anytime,
Delores