If you have a puppy who is eating non-food objects, he may be doing so as a by-product of a chewing problem. All puppies have a need to chew and will do so during the teething months. Giving puppies appropriate things to chew will reduce the swallowing of scraps left over from the chewing process.

A dog who consistently swallows non-food objects does so because it makes him feel better, at least temporarily. He may be swallowing these objects because he is hungry or is experiencing a diet deficiency. Both of these can be remedied by feeding him a proper amount or by changing to a quality food with a balanced nutritional recipe. Sometimes a dog will chew to relieve stress and swallow some of the scraps in the chewing process. Stress is built up from boredom, lack of exercise, physical restriction, or physical punishment.

If your dog is chewing and swallowing something he shouldn’t, you can bait a trap by smearing a distasteful substance on the object. There are a number of commercial products which work or you can use something as simple as Tabasco sauce. This remedy, however, is really only treating the symptom. It is best to understand the motivation for his behavior.

Your dog may be eating non-food objects because he is unhappy with your relationship. It may be that you are giving him too much attention or too little attention and this may have started in puppyhood. If your puppy got away with a lot of mouthing or if you played tug-of-war games, the need for continued oral stimulation may have been built. If you suspect that he is not getting enough attention, play with him more, and give him more exercise. If you think that he is getting too much attention, (for example, he constantly nudges you for petting), then give him less petting. When he nudges you for attention, tell him "NO," and say, "Sit." Then, give him verbal praise and a pet. If he does start to chew on a non-food item, give him an appropriate item to chew, such as a rubber ball. Never administer physical punishment for chewing and swallowing non-food objects! This will only increase his stress, and, in all likelihood, the problem will continue at an increased pace.