Having read a few horror stories on the site, and just moved into a new house, I'm keen to get my head around the chewing. Widgeon is a 6mnth black boy who may be related to a goat as he seems to eat anything!! He is crated and penned at night and when we are out, he has the roam of the kitchen and dining room when we are in and unable watch him, he has shown no interest in the kitchen and we have only 2 teeth marks in the plasterboard from his teething stage. So quite happy so far. We have been letting him free in the living room in the eve (he was previously in his pen next to us) and have found that he is keen to eat everything!! If he has a rawhide bone he'll happily sit all night, on his blanket, chewing that. If he has chew toys he'll sit for maybe 30mins and then have a walk round... Std puppy behaviour I think. My question is when he has something I don't want him to have I'm struggling to get it back. I want to make him into my shooting companion so am extra concious of chasing/taking things from his mouth/making it a game. I have tried offering toys/treats/diner but he just looks and says "I know your game" Is it a case of more interesting treats and won't he just see it as a way to get food? I know he's young but he loves to retrieve balls etc but I had a prob with him giving up 'higher value' things like dummies, he'd come back fine and offer it, then quickly move his head as I went to take it. My wife has a passion for guinea pigs and has acquired quite a few stuffed ones, she was VERY upset last night to see him ripping one up (stuffed not real obviously)
Re: Swapping 'forbidden' items I went through this too, when Sam was about 6-9 months old , he is now two years old and much better thank goodness What I found re the reluctance to give up a dummy or ball was to have two , Sam would invariably give up his prized possession if another one was on offer , I always used the word Dead when he gave up his dummy or ball , would say it as he brought it back to me, letting him see that I had another one and gradually I was able to phase out the second one as a bribe ;D With regards to giving up forbidden items , ye , up the ante in the treats department , make it something totally iressistable , such as tiny bits of cheese , chicken or sausages and yes, its bribery but then if it works, so be it
Re: Swapping 'forbidden' items We found this tricky at the beginning. Try not to show its something important and feel panicky. Practice *nonchalant* ;D Go for swaps, or ignore and walk off and find something else HUGELY more interesting. Definitely have some HUGELY high value treats to hand for such eventualities. Our "piece de resistance" was some nice rattly kibble in the food bowl, few good shakes and a call of "dinner!" Good luck!
