When a Shih Tzu Eats Things
off the Ground Outside

Rocks, Sticks, Dirt, and More

Overview

Does your Shih Tzu mouth, chew, and try to eat everything that they can from the ground outside? If so, it’s important to know what effect rocks, sticks and other outdoor matter can have on a puppy or dog. This section covers the dangers of trying to eat these sorts of things and what you can do to stop your little guy or gal from chewing on everything in the yard or along a walking route.

Shih Tzu about to eat things off the ground, illustrated

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The Dangers of a Shih Tzu Chewing or Trying to Eat Outdoor Matter

Pebbles and rocks. While chewing on rocks may seem like baffling behavior, it’s also exceedingly dangerous. Many things can happen including:

Tooth fracture – This can be extremely painful. Signs include pawing at the mouth, shaking the head, not eating, and/ or excessive drooling. Left untreated, a deep break can lead to systemic infection.
Cuts to the interior of the mouth.
Choking – Rocks are among the top 10 items that dogs choke on.
Intestinal blockage – This often requires emergency surgery.
Perforated internal organs including the stomach and colon – This requires emergency surgery.

Sticks. If your Shih Tzu likes to chew on sticks instead of toys, it’s important to know that this is dangerous. Dangers include:

Splinters in the mouth or esophagus
Cuts to the interior of the mouth or esophagus
Choking – Sticks are among the top 10 items that dogs choke on.
Intestinal blockage – This often requires emergency surgery.
Perforated internal organs including the stomach and colon – This requires emergency surgery.
Possible toxic poisoning - Certain trees including black cherry, black walnut, Buddhist pine (Yew pine), Norfolk Island pine, red maple, oak trees (the leaves and acorns), and apple trees (toxins are in the stems) can be toxic to dogs. Signs of toxic poisoning include muscle tremors, vomiting, shortness of breath, seizures, and even sudden death from acute heart failure.

Leaves. If your Shih Tzu likes to munch on dried leaves in the yard, you may be surprised to learn that this can be very risky. Some of the leaves from trees and shrubs that are toxic include:

Apple tree leaves. You probably know that apple seeds contain a chemical that is toxic to dogs, but the stems and leaves do as well. In fact, concentrations of the toxin (called amygdalin, which metabolizes into cyanide during digestion) is the highest in the autumn, meaning that fallen leaves are the most dangerous of all.
Cherry tree leaves. Cherry pits and the leaves of this tree are toxic, with the most concentrated chemicals in wilted or dead leaves.
Holly plants leaves. Both the berries and the leaves are toxic to dogs. These contain two chemicals: saponins and theobromine (the same that are in chocolate).
Oleander, dogbane, milkweed, foxglove, kalanchoe, and Lily of the Valley all contain a certain type of poison that affects the heart (cardenolides or bufadienolides) which can lead to abnormal heart rhythm and cardiac arrhythmias which can be fatal.
In all, there are over 400 plants that are toxic to canines.

Dirt. Eating dirt is another strange thing that a Shih Tzu may do, and this has its own set of potential dangers including:

May contain sharp rocks and other objects.
May contain pesticides (even if you do not use this, neighbors may and runoff may enter the yard during rainfall).
May contain certain iron-based fertilizers or those containing disulfoton which are toxic.
May contain cocoa bean mulch which contains toxic methyxanthylates.
May be contaminated with dropping from birds or feces from wild animals or other dogs which can lead to parasitic (worm) infection. Certain diseases can also be transmitted via contaminated soil including campylobacter, coronavirus, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, parvovirus, and salmonella.

Pine cones, nuts, and other outdoor matter. Everything under this category, not being food, makes it potentially risky to allow a Shih Tzu to chew on. Pine cones, while not toxic can cause intestinal blockage. Nuts from the black walnut tree can contain a toxic mold (mycotoxin Penitrem A). Ingestion of poisonous wild mushrooms can cause everything from liver failure to coma.

Grass. Out of all of the types of items a Shih Tzu may eat off the ground while outside, grass is certainly one of the most common. It’s long been disproved that dogs do this for the reason of wanting to induce vomiting if they have an upset stomach; though, it may very well have this consequence.

Other risks include possibility of ingesting of lawn care chemicals and possibility of contracting parasites or disease, much like the risk of eating dirt from outside.

Why Shih Tzu Puppies and Dogs Eat Things from the Ground

There is a wide range of possible reasons why a Shih Tzu may have this sort of behavior, including:

#1 Pica. This is a medical issue and compulsive eating disorder that refers to a dog’s craving and ingestion of a non-food item; this disorder is seen in humans, dogs, cats, chimps, and even cattle.

A dog may direct this towards just one thing or several. This does not, however, apply to a puppy or dog that simply mouths or chews on objects.

The exact cause of pica is unknown. However, it is suggested that an iron deficiency (anemia) may be to blame. It is also thought to be linked to other nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, parasitic infection, or diseases including diabetes and liver disease. Separate from this, some veterinarians believe that this can be due to stress or anxiety.

#2 Strong urges to chew. Very common to young puppies that are teething, but possible with dogs of any age, strong urges to chew may be to blame. This makes sense when it comes to sticks. It’s hard to believe that rocks would feel good to chew on, but it’s near impossible to fully figure out dogs and their sometimes very strange quirks.

#3 Attention-seeking behavior. Canines typically figure out rather quickly what brings their owners rushing over and offering all sorts of attention. So, if you act this way when your Shih Tzu starts chewing on leaves or crunches on pebbles, this may be one of the reasons.

#4 Curiosity. Not having opposable thumbs, canines use their mouths to find out the answers to ‘what’s this?’. So, merely mouthing rocks, dirt, and so forth may be a Shih Tzu’s way of exploring. Some outside objects may hold the scent of wild animals, or their natural scents (berries, flowers, sap, etc.) that can make a dog curious.

#5 Boredom. If a dog is left unattended for a period of time, it makes sense that some boredom will kick in. A Shih Tzu may then take it upon themselves to stay occupied. Without any other choices around, it’ll be sticks, rocks, dirt and other natural materials that they pays attention to.

#6 Taste. Rocks are very salty, which many dogs find appealing (it's one of the reasons why dogs like to lick their human's skin, which is also salty). Dirt, grass, sticks, leaves, and those types of things have their own particular woodsy tastes which can also interest dogs.

6 Ways to Stop a Shih Tzu from Eating Things off the Ground

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Now that we’ve covered how dangerous it can be to eat rocks, sticks, leaves, dirt, grass, mushrooms, and other outside matter and we know some of the possible reasons behind this, it’s time to get serious about stopping this behavior.

First, it’s important to have health issues ruled out since we’ve covered the various possible causes of pica, including anemia, diabetes, parasitic infection, and so forth. A dog should have a CBC (complete blood count), urinalysis, serum biochemistry profile, and stool testing, along with a physical examination. If your Shih Tzu is found to be healthy, it’ll be time to incorporate some changes at home:

#1 Reassess your Shih Tzu's meals.

Since nutritional deficiencies may be at the root of this behavior but not all imbalances may be picked up via testing, you’ll want to feel 100% confident that your little guy or gal is receiving the best possible food.

If you are not already offering a top-quality kibble, consider making a gradual switch (over the course of 3 weeks) to a truly superior brand like Wellness CORE for Small Breeds. This is grain-free, turkey and chicken-based formula that contains a healthy level of fiber, probiotics, glucosamine and chondroitin, and omega fatty acids. There are no chemical preservatives (this is preserved with a blend of vitamins, labeled as mixed tocopherols) and there is no wheat, corn, soy, by-products or artificial colors or flavors.

#2 Consider Offering a Probiotic Supplement

While a good kibble will have probiotics, an additional supplement can aid in digestion and optimal nutrient absorption. For this, we recommend Pet Ultimates Probiotics for Dogs. This is one of the most effective ones on the market and is a completely tasteless powder that’s very easy to mix into meals.

#3 Limit Access

Here are some tips:

Toy breeds like the Shih Tzu should be supervised when outside; there’s just too many dangers otherwise. Aside from the hazards of eating non-food items, they face risks such as animal attacks, bee or wasp attacks, escaping through fences, weather effects, and more. Supervision also aids in reinforcing house training through praise and rewards.
For outdoor freedom with control, use a lightweight retractable leash like the TwoEar 16 Foot Retractable Dog Leash. Ensure your Shih Tzu wears a harness instead of a collar, especially important for brachycephalic breeds.
Routinely rake the yard to keep it free from natural debris.

#4. Immediate Intervention

The method for this is two-fold: Interrupt and refocus.

Step 1, Interrupt: A firm 'No', calling their name, or a loud hand clap can work. For persistent cases, like a Shih Tzu eating inappropriate items despite calling out, consider the Company of Animals Pet Corrector. It safely emits a hissing sound that effectively stops animals in their tracks, often used by professional trainers.

Step 2, Refocus: Once you have your Shih Tzu’s attention, immediately refocus your dog’s attention to something else. You can give a command, which is a great option because that can end with handing over a training treat which reinforces good behavior. Or, you can just lead your guy or gal to a different area.

#5 Offer Interesting Chews

If you think that your Shih Tzu gnaws on sticks and other outside debris due to strong chewing urges, it’ll be time to try some new chew toys or treats that draws your dog in and keeps them happy. To ensure they find it pleasing, the toy or chew should be properly sized, have interesting textures, a satisfying consistency, and be durable.

One option to consider is the Petstages Dogwood Wood Alternative Dog Chew Toy. This has all the taste and texture of a natural tree branch, but it's safe to chew on. It's made for strong chewers and it lasts a long time. It starts at size extra-small. And it has options of safe scents including real wood or Mesquite BBQ.

#6 Implement Training for Mouthing Objects While On Walks

If your Shih Tzu eats things off the ground while out on walks, keep in mind that it is you who is in charge. Here are some tips to ensure this.

1: Have your Shih Tzu on a harness (this is vital for this brachycephalic breed as to not impede breathing but will also greatly help you stay in control). If your guy or gal does not yet have a good harness, the Puppia RiteFit Harness is a good choice. This has 4 points of adjustment and is made with a comfortable, breathable mesh.

2: Use a short or retractable leash set to a short 4 to 6-foot length. Dogs that tend to mouth things from the ground should never be allowed to walk ahead or lag behind.

3: Before you leave for the walk, take your Shih Tzu to the designated bathroom area. The idea is to remove the need to stop to pee or poo along the way which is often a time when a dog will sniff around and mouth rocks, twigs, or other things. And, additionally, this is recommended to reinforce housebreaking lessons.

4: With the harness on and the short leash connected, have your Shih Tzu in a heeling position, which is to your immediate left, walking no further ahead than the extension of your foot as you walk.

5: While a leisurely stroll is always nice, walks taken for purposes of exercise should be done at a pace that is considered brisk for your dog, so be sure to keep moving. Remember that you do not need to stop just because your Shih Tzu wants to (other than breaks taken due to thirst or exertion, of course).

6: Any time your Shih Tzu puts their mouth down to possible pick something up, give the leash a pull to correct their action along with a ‘no’ spoken in a firm tone. With the harness on (not a collar), you can rest assured that this sort of simple correction will cause no harm.

7: Keep your dog focused on the walk by making it a bit challenging. Weave around poles, trees, etc., slow down a bit but then speed up, and do this with enthusiasm.

8: Be sure to give praise and a tasty training treat once a walk has been completed without your Shih Tzu eating any debris along the way.

A Final Note

Eating rocks, chewing on sticks, and mouthing things from the ground outside can be quite dangerous. Therefore, while your Shih Tzu may have plenty of quirks that should just be accepted as part of their personality, this is one behavior that you won’t want to dismiss.

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When a Shih Tzu Eats Thingsoff the Ground Outside