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Post by Hezz on Jun 14, 2012 1:32:16 GMT
Mac, Mac, Mac!!!! What to do, what to do? His chewing up till this week was relatively hit and miss, but this week he has decided to chew up a cycad (ouch!!) in a pot, another pot, a hibiscus bush (in the ground - it is now about a foot high instead of 4' high), and a towel I put down over a rubber door mat for him to lie on at the back door, instead of lying on the cold stones.  Most of it happens while I am out, but not all. He has a bone, but............. I realise it is mostly an age thing - I had the same problem with my last dog and potplants, also when I went out, but I am starting to wish his life away - just the next few months until he grows out of this habit, but wishing his life away, nevertheless.  Oh, dawg!!!!  |
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Post by nat on Jun 14, 2012 19:37:50 GMT
Oh Hezz, I feel for you! I'm going through the same with my adopted 6 month old collie! I know what you mean about wishing his life away:( I keep thinking..... oh, can't wait till hes 8 and acting like a normal dog!
I had to crate my collie for a while when I went out and found this really helped although I hated doing it and he hated it too. They say not to use the crate as a punishment, but I have done so and it seems to have worked. If he chewed in front of me he went in the crate. Just for 15 minutes. If he came out of the crate and chewed again he went back in for 15 minutes...When he was let out of the crate he got a rawhide chew. If he picked up anything else he went back in the crate again.
Sam nips the heads off all the flowers! What is it with their plant obsession?!
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Post by skysmum on Jun 14, 2012 21:37:45 GMT
Awww BAD Mac. You know ive had dogs all my life, ive had 7 in total and my worst chewer was My Whippet Collie Cross, i went through 2 years of it with her and she sooo nearly went back to the rescue on more than one occasion . She turned out to be a lovely dog but although the chewing stopped with age she always always stole something when she was left and took it to her bed to lay on. The best ive had is Tilly, i can honestly say she has never ever chewed a thing and ive had her since she was 7 weeks old, she's been brilliant. But by far the worst ive ever known is my daughters Lab, you know who i mean Hezz ;D. Megga trouble, even eaten the kitchen walls. It is a lab thing we've been told. My daughter used to stuff a big Kong and put it in the freezer the night before, kept him good for ages when she had to go out. As you say its gonna be a rocky road but you will look back and laugh, honestly. ;D |
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Post by skysmum on Jun 14, 2012 21:47:56 GMT
One for you Hezz, on our hol in Cornwall last week, note the 6 year old walking the lamb ;D. And yes i told my son-in-law that the fishing brolly was over the top ;D  |
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Post by Hezz on Jun 15, 2012 0:57:27 GMT
Oh, thanks, guys.  I've got a cold at the moment too, so my patience levels aren't too high. He hasn't missed any walks (even though I feel it has nearly killed me :  I don't have a crate I can use but I can limit his roaming as I usually tie him up if I am out for ages, and the only thing I have seen him chew is the towel. He took my gardening glove for a couple of days without mauling it but temptation must have been too much and the next time I went to get it it had a finger missing. Today I was only out for about an hour and he had gotten my new pair of gloves and ripped one to shreds. Nat, I can kind of accept a 6 month old, but a fully grown dog I expect better from (simply because he is fully grown) silly I know - they are so intelligent, how come this chewing lesson is so hard to learn?! I have never been a fan of food rewards/treats for doing the right thing (just because I have always gotten there before treats were needed and not used to thinking along those lines), but maybe I will have to invest in a Kong, Skysmum, the bone being totally ignored this last week. PS Love the photo - Mac could take some lessons, or maybe the 6 year old can give me some!  |
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Mar 18, 2012 21:01:23 GMT
china
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 68
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Post by china on Jun 15, 2012 6:50:40 GMT
know how u feel,i got my daughters staffy cross and hes the worst dog ive had for chewing,hes eaten my flooring,sofa,wicker sofa,carpet,lean to,door frames,plants,even roses.tried chewing through my rabbit hutch.otherwise hes a smashing dog,lol.he could have let me know when we had someone on our flat roof stealing the lead,too busy sleeping lol
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Nov 30, 2011 23:52:28 GMT
rory
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 25
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Post by rory on Jun 18, 2012 22:59:09 GMT
Aww! Silly pup! I walk a 1.5year old beagle/collie cross who eats anything. And I mean anything. She's been crated since she was a puppy and her owners were considering giving her free range of the house, but I talked them out of it. A crate is just a safe place for them to nap while you are away - they either get into trouble (and eat things that could harm them) or sleep while you are away as it is  Unfortunately some ages or breeds are more prone to this - I have a 1.5year old smaller havanese mixed mutt who I can leave around my house with no problems, yet I also walk a 7year old setter who will eat anything leather still if it's left out. If you can, I'd suggest a crate - even one that is a bit more spacious - just so that he doesn't do any harm to his tummy while you are out. Good luck! |
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Post by Hezz on Jun 19, 2012 0:57:18 GMT
Thanks, Rory and China. Nice to know there is a "chewers club" out there - we could start a AA for dogs that chew, lol. He is an outside dog so I don't have to worry about the house, but as I mentioned, I have gone back to putting him back on the chain when I go out. While the chain has a good reach, there is nothing in reach for him to destroy, except his bedding, and that is already gone! Thank you for all suggestions. I have a few pot plants to move, just in case, otherwise he is a lamb. |
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Post by samwiseg on Jun 20, 2012 6:58:39 GMT
Hi Hezz, hope you are feeling a bit better cold wise? As for Mac, little toerag aint he?!!! Sounds like you have had some good advice from fellow doggie owners, but hope the plant pot relocation's have helped too!  |
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Post by Hezz on Jun 21, 2012 2:36:56 GMT
Now he is being as good as gold, lol. "Who, me?  ? Why would I chew? I'm far too cute for thaaat!!" Oh, well. I won't get complacent - it won't last! Thanks Sam. The cold is lingering ............ and lingering .......... but much better than before! ;D |
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Post by stace on Jun 21, 2012 7:47:00 GMT
One for you Hezz, on our hol in Cornwall last week, note the 6 year old walking the lamb ;D. And yes i told my son-in-law that the fishing brolly was over the top ;D That's no brolly. That's a tent! |
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Post by skysmum on Jun 21, 2012 18:25:17 GMT
;D Bless my son in law, its his fishing umbrella but he does get very carried away with weather conditions, he carries a snow shovel in the boot of the car as well, even in the summer. The funny thing is he was having a job to hold it for the wind . In his favour though he had just been fishing |
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Post by samwiseg on Jun 23, 2012 7:19:08 GMT
Now he is being as good as gold, lol. "Who, me? ? Why would I chew? I'm far too cute for thaaat!!" Oh, well. I won't get complacent - it won't last! Thanks Sam. The cold is lingering ............ and lingering .......... but much better than before! ;D LOL! He's trying that tac now is he?! But when you are not looking....  Glad the cold is much better too! |
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Post by Hezz on Jun 23, 2012 9:33:11 GMT
Now he is being as good as gold, lol. "Who, me? ? Why would I chew? I'm far too cute for thaaat!!" Oh, well. I won't get complacent - it won't last! Thanks Sam. The cold is lingering ............ and lingering .......... but much better than before! ;D LOL! He's trying that tac now is he?! But when you are not looking.... Glad the cold is much better too! Funny, but I think the cold is the reason for him being so good! I have been home more, and as it is winter, and beautiful weather, and not feeling up to getting up early and walking him, I have been walking him his morning walk after doing the school run, so sort of mid-morning. I need to find him a regular "play-date" so he can run off all that excess energy with another dog - they do so much more exercise when with another doggy friend. We have had to increase his food intake too, now the lead walks are finished - I see ribs starting to show again. I really don't go the fat-lab look, but poor boy, his bones need to be covered! |
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Post by skysmum on Jun 23, 2012 11:25:18 GMT
Glad your feeling better Hezz, your winters must be like our summers ;D probably nicer at the moment Labs are notoriously hard to keep slim aren't they, i know Jen has to watch Alfie doesn't get too Roley poly. There are a couple of choc labs near me and they can barely walk they are so fat, its cruel because they are not old dogs |
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Most of it happens while I am out, but not all. He has a bone, but............. I realise it is mostly an age thing - I had the same problem with my last dog and potplants, also when I went out, but I am starting to wish his life away - just the next few months until he grows out of this habit, but wishing his life away, nevertheless. 
Oh, dawg!!!! 
I've got a cold at the moment too, so my patience levels aren't too high. He hasn't missed any walks (even though I feel it has nearly killed me :
Unfortunately some ages or breeds are more prone to this - I have a 1.5year old smaller havanese mixed mutt who I can leave around my house with no problems, yet I also walk a 7year old setter who will eat anything leather still if it's left out.
? Why would I chew?
