My GSD is always doing something in the mud/puddles of water, help?

[Cayley]

One of my German Shepherds (The only female, and she's six years old), constantly plays in the mud, or a puddle of water every chance she can get. This started late July when we stopped being apart of the local Response Unit Search & Rescue, and stopped training her to find human remains. Whenever it rains, or we happen to walk her around our farm, if there's a puddle of mud hole, she immediately goes in there and just circles around in the puddle and bites at the water/mud. I'm getting worried because she's getting to the point where we can't get her to eat as much as she normally does.

No matter what we say or try, she will still go to find an area to go circle around in and bite at the water/mud.

When we went to talk to our former teammates to see if they had this problem with our dog, or if this is normal, they laughed and told us "THAT ISN'T NORMAL, SHE'S CRAZY, PUT HER DOWN." That obviously wasn't any help, and I know that she isn't crazy or needs to put down.

So far, no one has told us anything useful to help :/

What can we do?

[Zisso]

All I can offer is that my girl loves to lay on muddy spots in the yard, on wet leaves and on cold concrete. I think it is because it is cooler. Will be interesting to see what others say.

[ladyfreckles]

HI CAYLEY!

Actually after hearing all the details it sounds like she's trying to find an outlet since she's no longer doing SAR. German Shepherds need to be mentally stimulated and if she's not doing much she might be trying to take care of that herself by sniffing around in the mud. Someone more experienced than me would probably be able to help you though and know more about it because I'm unfamiliar with SAR.

[Cayley]

Originally Posted by ladyfreckles

HI CAYLEY!

Actually after hearing all the details it sounds like she's trying to find an outlet since she's no longer doing SAR. German Shepherds need to be mentally stimulated and if she's not doing much she might be trying to take care of that herself by sniffing around in the mud. Someone more experienced than me would probably be able to help you though and know more about it because I'm unfamiliar with SAR.

OH LOOK WHO IT IS

I'm thinking the same thing, and we've been trying to find a new unit to train with, but so far we haven't had any luck, yet.

Originally Posted by Zisso

All I can offer is that my girl loves to lay on muddy spots in the yard, on wet leaves and on cold concrete. I think it is because it is cooler. Will be interesting to see what others say.

We did have extremely high temperatures in the summertime when she started doing this, but it's been relatively cold, so I dunno.

[msvette2u]

If she can't be called away from it, it could be more than just "entertaining herself", it could be more like OCD.
Do you use a laser light toy at all? Or was she exposed to one?
Also, can you keep her leashed so she isn't going around in the puddles?
OCD behaviors can crop up and tiring the dog out does help a lot.

[Cayley]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

If she can't be called away from it, it could be more than just "entertaining herself", it could be more like OCD.
Do you use a laser light toy at all? Or was she exposed to one?
Also, can you keep her leashed so she isn't going around in the puddles?
OCD behaviors can crop up and tiring the dog out does help a lot.

We never had, or exposed her to a laser light toy, ever. We usually do, but she is stronger than me so usually she ends up pulling me to those puddles, unless my mom is the one handling her. We tried tiring her out today and just walk her around our farm, about an hour more than we usually do. It helped a lot, she was exhausted and slept most of the time afterwards, she hasn't gone for the mud yet. We called our vet about OCD behaviors, and we mentioned how she can act and they think its that too.

[Jelpy]

Lycan and Grendel LOVE water. I purchased a 50 gallon tank for them and the first thing they do in the morning, rain or shine, winter or summer, is immerse themselves in the water. What funny is that if it's raining, they'll then stand at the door looking pitiful and whining that they want out of the rain storm.

Jelpy

[ken k]

Originally Posted by ladyfreckles

HI CAYLEY!

Actually after hearing all the details it sounds like she's trying to find an outlet since she's no longer doing SAR. German Shepherds need to be mentally stimulated and if she's not doing much she might be trying to take care of that herself by sniffing around in the mud. Someone more experienced than me would probably be able to help you though and know more about it because I'm unfamiliar with SAR.

spot on, she needs a job

[Bismarck]

yes, she needs a job, and yes it sounds like she's obsessed with the puddles/water.

while finding her a job, also work on her obedience. work on "leave it", i'd also work on targeting, and start having her do targeting work while you're on your walks.

[Cayley]

Originally Posted by Jelpy

Lycan and Grendel LOVE water. I purchased a 50 gallon tank for them and the first thing they do in the morning, rain or shine, winter or summer, is immerse themselves in the water. What funny is that if it's raining, they'll then stand at the door looking pitiful and whining that they want out of the rain storm.

Jelpy

Awww, we used to have a mini pool for our dogs, but they constantly chewed it all up! Our dogs hate the rain :P, they'll hide in their houses when it rains, except for Elli, she's usually playing in the mud at that point haha.

Originally Posted by ken k

spot on, she needs a job

We're looking for one, so far we haven't found any yet.

Originally Posted by Bismarck

yes, she needs a job, and yes it sounds like she's obsessed with the puddles/water.

while finding her a job, also work on her obedience. work on "leave it", i'd also work on targeting, and start having her do targeting work while you're on your walks.

Good idea, never thought about doing that, but I'll definitely try it thanks!

As for what its like for her when she's playing in the mud, I managed to snag two shots before she got mud all over me ;-;