Chewing

BarrelGirl · 12-18-2008, 09:19 PM

Lately Pistol has developed a new 'trick.' When left in his cage for the day, he has gotten in the bad habit of chewing

Now if he'd go for his toys, I wouldn't complain one bit cuz of course that's what they're for. He gets a few toys in his cage to keep him busy.

He had two pillows in the cage (it's huge, could easily fit a great dane comfortably like this) and early this week he demolished the smaller pillow. My bf yelled at him, but of course this happened in his absence, so it would be futile to punish him..

Well, today he demolished the second larger pillow. Now he doesn't have a pillow in his cage.

In the past month, he's also demolished things we thought were outside of his reach. No lie, they were at least 3 feet from the cage (which is heavy and he cannot move) and he manages to 'suck' them into the cage and shred them. He's shredded some papers, cloth bags, the cord to our tv, dvd player, two phone chargers, anything that's remotely close. I don't understand it, his legs aren't even that long

I'm debating on putting his cage in the middle of a different room instead of our bedroom so there's absolutely nothing he can get into.. if we rearrange the stuff to leave him like 5 feet around the kennel at least.

Oh, and he manages to get his toys out of the cage... his squeaky toy was 2 feet outside his cage today

Is there anything we can do besides keep him without a pillow? He never did this before, and he's 8 months old. Why did he start this now?

Has anyone else experienced this? I hate to have him sleep in the other room without a pillow because of this, but I don't want to keep buying him pillows just for him to shred them!

beth55051 · 12-18-2008, 09:23 PM

Ahh....welcome to puppy raising!

Have you tried keeping a rawhide chew in with him? The pressed rawhide bones seem to last the best. I get mine at Fleet Farm. That or a rope toy made out of a busted cotton lead rope with knots tied into it.

I don't know of a dog bed that is actually chew proof though. He may just be better off without one until he can learn to take better care of his things.

BarrelGirl · 12-18-2008, 09:29 PM

He has a squeaky rubber-like purple elephant, an incredibly abnoxious squeaky bone, a rope (well, two halves of one now...), and he gets a pigskin chew or a chunk of 'dental' rawhide each day.

He does go through his pigskin chews pretty quickly. I haven't tried the pressed bones, though... maybe' I'll just have to get some tomorrow when I get home!

The rope toy of his is a smaller one I bought, but a broken lead is an excellent idea. Maybe I'll add that in there as well.

He's a stinker. My bf said when he got home Pistol was already out of the cage (his neice was there and she let him out), and he went upstairs with Pistol and saw the mess in the cage. He said Pistol looked at the room, put his ears down, and ran back downstairs like he knew he did something bad. If he had a tail, I'm sure it would've been between his legs

He's such a stinker. Now that I'll be home for a month, he'll see less cage time so hopefully we can get a pillow safely back in his cage by the time I return to school

BabyMay · 12-19-2008, 05:44 AM

He is probably bored and is keeping himself amused. Try switching toys like you would with a small child. Put some away and switch every couple of days. And have fun. That is such a wonderful age. NOT.

pasomystic · 12-19-2008, 09:21 AM

He is entering the "teen" time of dog growth--and is energetic and bored. Yes, he needs different toys every day to keep him occupied. Large Kong stuffed with frozen plain yoghurt or canned dog food lasts awhile. He will likely continue to chew bedding for two or three years when he is bored for too long--is a learned condition, and somehow very satisfying for them to destroy. I just used thin blankets I washed every couple of days - nothing with any stuffing at that age. Heavy denim canvas might work.

Mostly, he just needs more exercise and training sessions more often. While raising pups, mine appreciate crate time, because when they are out of the crate, I keep them busy following commands--out of crate equals training/work inside means peace to chew or sleep. I am always asking them to move, to sit, to lie down, to come here, to go there, and only allow rest in the crate--means the crate needs to be where you are-living room or kitchen.

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12-18-2008, 09:19 PM
BarrelGirl Started Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,042	Chewing Lately Pistol has developed a new 'trick.' When left in his cage for the day, he has gotten in the bad habit of chewing Now if he'd go for his toys, I wouldn't complain one bit cuz of course that's what they're for. He gets a few toys in his cage to keep him busy. He had two pillows in the cage (it's huge, could easily fit a great dane comfortably like this) and early this week he demolished the smaller pillow. My bf yelled at him, but of course this happened in his absence, so it would be futile to punish him.. Well, today he demolished the second larger pillow. Now he doesn't have a pillow in his cage. In the past month, he's also demolished things we thought were outside of his reach. No lie, they were at least 3 feet from the cage (which is heavy and he cannot move) and he manages to 'suck' them into the cage and shred them. He's shredded some papers, cloth bags, the cord to our tv, dvd player, two phone chargers, anything that's remotely close. I don't understand it, his legs aren't even that long I'm debating on putting his cage in the middle of a different room instead of our bedroom so there's absolutely nothing he can get into.. if we rearrange the stuff to leave him like 5 feet around the kennel at least. Oh, and he manages to get his toys out of the cage... his squeaky toy was 2 feet outside his cage today Is there anything we can do besides keep him without a pillow? He never did this before, and he's 8 months old. Why did he start this now? Has anyone else experienced this? I hate to have him sleep in the other room without a pillow because of this, but I don't want to keep buying him pillows just for him to shred them! __________________ I'll never forget you, Clyde! 3/18/02-12/30/06. You left me too soon, Peppy. It will never be the same without you 4/18/91 - 5/1/09.

12-18-2008, 09:23 PM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,977	Ahh....welcome to puppy raising! Have you tried keeping a rawhide chew in with him? The pressed rawhide bones seem to last the best. I get mine at Fleet Farm. That or a rope toy made out of a busted cotton lead rope with knots tied into it. I don't know of a dog bed that is actually chew proof though. He may just be better off without one until he can learn to take better care of his things. __________________ *Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.*

12-18-2008, 09:29 PM
BarrelGirl Started Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,042	He has a squeaky rubber-like purple elephant, an incredibly abnoxious squeaky bone, a rope (well, two halves of one now...), and he gets a pigskin chew or a chunk of 'dental' rawhide each day. He does go through his pigskin chews pretty quickly. I haven't tried the pressed bones, though... maybe' I'll just have to get some tomorrow when I get home! The rope toy of his is a smaller one I bought, but a broken lead is an excellent idea. Maybe I'll add that in there as well. He's a stinker. My bf said when he got home Pistol was already out of the cage (his neice was there and she let him out), and he went upstairs with Pistol and saw the mess in the cage. He said Pistol looked at the room, put his ears down, and ran back downstairs like he knew he did something bad. If he had a tail, I'm sure it would've been between his legs He's such a stinker. Now that I'll be home for a month, he'll see less cage time so hopefully we can get a pillow safely back in his cage by the time I return to school __________________ I'll never forget you, Clyde! 3/18/02-12/30/06. You left me too soon, Peppy. It will never be the same without you 4/18/91 - 5/1/09.

12-19-2008, 05:44 AM
BabyMay Started Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,779	He is probably bored and is keeping himself amused. Try switching toys like you would with a small child. Put some away and switch every couple of days. And have fun. That is such a wonderful age. NOT. __________________ For the love of all animals.

12-19-2008, 09:21 AM
pasomystic Coming two Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,935	He is entering the "teen" time of dog growth--and is energetic and bored. Yes, he needs different toys every day to keep him occupied. Large Kong stuffed with frozen plain yoghurt or canned dog food lasts awhile. He will likely continue to chew bedding for two or three years when he is bored for too long--is a learned condition, and somehow very satisfying for them to destroy. I just used thin blankets I washed every couple of days - nothing with any stuffing at that age. Heavy denim canvas might work. Mostly, he just needs more exercise and training sessions more often. While raising pups, mine appreciate crate time, because when they are out of the crate, I keep them busy following commands--out of crate equals training/work inside means peace to chew or sleep. I am always asking them to move, to sit, to lie down, to come here, to go there, and only allow rest in the crate--means the crate needs to be where you are-living room or kitchen. __________________ We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are.