German shepherd picking up stones

I am worried about our dog picking up stones ,I wondered if it was an attention thing so I throw his tough tire toys for him . Admitted he drops the stone when your playing at catch with him , but I can't play catch all day ? We got him from GS Rescue he had been found by the RSPCA in a yard unconscious and very thin . They thought him to be 2 to 3 yrs old but that was last September and with him wanting to play all day and other actions we think he was just under 2 yrs .

Trouble is we cannot eradicate all the stones . Which would be the answer I suppose .

 

I think they all seem to do things we dont want them doing, all you can really do is tell him a firm NO when you see him picking them up.
Does he swallow them?

My mate was eating cat poo and all sorts when I got him last year, and rolling in really smelly stuff in the park.
With regular food and some attention he hasn't done any of that in the last few months.

They pick up bad habits but being young they can grow out of them.
You dont really know what they have had to do in order to survive when you get a rescue.

 

I think there are a few reasons why they do this behaviour. If he doesn't eat them then it could be boredom or anxiety I believe. It sounds as though playing with him helps so I would try keeping him occupied. If he is food orientated then you can get Kong or things to keep him busy for a bit.
Our friends with a similar age shepard, that loves balls, takes it out for a good run in the morning and one in the afternoon, where it chases the ball and it's normally to knackered to do anything to naughty.

 

Pica in Dogs

Quite a common condition, Pica.

 

If he does it in the garden, then try and keep him out as much as possible or block off some of it.Our dogs don't go in the garden but get 4 walks a day and last thing at night they go round the corner for their last toilet.