Before I got bouncer home I spent quite a few quid on chew toys, puppy kong, nylon bone, rubber dumbells etc. The lil nutter chews everything APART from the chew toys. Is this normal or is Bouncer slightly mad?
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence Normal according to my 5 month pup but couldn't say if it really is normal. We had a couple of kongs when she was small but she wasn't interested until maybe 14/15 weeks when she had them figured out. She seemed to prefer the soft toys and would bite down on their noses, ears and oddly enough, any fabric labels.
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence My six month old never really took to Kong's but yes to anything fabric/soft. After these were half-destroyed, I tossed them out. Cooper chews on everything including the sofa in the family room which now has to be replaced, but not until he has stopped chewing. Ditto on the sofa cushions. Not so much anything wooden. I would say chewing is perfectly normal for any lab pup.
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence My pup didn't chew any of her chew toys that I'd bought. She preferred to chase plastic bottles, chew toilet rolls, etc! ;D
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence I think you have to put quite a bit of effort in to get them addicted to chew toys (in the words of my puppy book ) - I don't think it just happens. I've never regretted it though, it's a god send when you need them to settle in difficult situations. I thanked whatever was looking after me, several times, that Charlie was addicted to kongs when he was injured. Start with super delicious stuff in the kong - chicken, sardines, whatever. Don't freeze it. Even kibble that tips out easily. Slowly make it harder, then reduce the value of the filling. I got so I could leave Charlie with a tiny breakfast of 50g of kibble spread out (in various imaginative ways) through 6 or 7 frozen kongs and keep him occupied most of the morning. Try kong goodie bones for a quick fix and more obvious way to get the food out - I stuff the ends with sticks of sweet dried potato wrapped in fish skin. And kong wobblers are the best thing ever.
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence [quote author=JulieT link=topic=7793.msg109038#msg109038 date=1410547661] I think you have to put quite a bit of effort in to get them addicted to chew toys (in the words of my puppy book ) - I don't think it just happens. I've never regretted it though, it's a god send when you need them to settle in difficult situations. I thanked whatever was looking after me, several times, that Charlie was addicted to kongs when he was injured. Start with super delicious stuff in the kong - chicken, sardines, whatever. Don't freeze it. Even kibble that tips out easily. Slowly make it harder, then reduce the value of the filling. I got so I could leave Charlie with a tiny breakfast of 50g of kibble spread out (in various imaginative ways) through 6 or 7 frozen kongs and keep him occupied most of the morning. Try kong goodie bones for a quick fix and more obvious way to get the food out - I stuff the ends with sticks of sweet dried potato wrapped in fish skin. And kong wobblers are the best thing ever. [/quote] Frozen Kongs?
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence Mira was not interested in chew toys except kongs with edible innards! Still isn't particularly interested in toys of any kind :
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence [quote author=Leanangle link=topic=7793.msg109048#msg109048 date=1410549479] Frozen Kongs? [/quote] If you are successful in getting your dog "into" kongs, then pup will scoff the contents in a microsecond. So once that happens, you start freezing them (at first just for 30 minutes, but eventually overnight so they are frozen solid) and then they take much longer to work the food out of the kong. I started with amazing kongs - chicken and gravy bones, and sardines...now, I can freeze diluted water from a can of sardines and it keeps him happy for 20 minutes per kong. I own 20 kongs. A dog that has scoffed multiple kongs, and has chewed himself to sleep, is "konged out". This is invaluable if you have to leave them for any length of time. And have a chewer, as Charlie very much is (or was, he is much better now). It's so worth developing the habit, I think.
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence Now just to get things in perspective here........ I don't think Julie is a typical Kong user (well Charlie ) - 20 kongs is an impressive haul. I just had the one when Lilly was a pup, and have 2 now. Don't feel any pressure to buy up the world's kong supplies ;D
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence Just for info, this is one thread with quite a lot of kong filling suggestions. We definitely consider Julie our Kong Expert Mod (a special cape required)
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence Anything plastic is destroyed in record time. The handles of my washing basket have disappeared. Don't need miss maple around looking for clues as most things have tell tale teeth marks on them..
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence [quote author=Steph link=topic=7793.msg109020#msg109020 date=1410543199] Normal according to my 5 month pup but couldn't say if it really is normal. We had a couple of kongs when she was small but she wasn't interested until maybe 14/15 weeks when she had them figured out. She seemed to prefer the soft toys and would bite down on their noses, ears and oddly enough, any fabric labels. [/quote] orion is wild about labels, too! he will specifically turn and turn a toy 'round and 'round till he finds the label, then happily gnaw/pull on that, and that ALONE. it's quite bizarre. : i've thought perhaps i should buy him one of those "label blankets" that are manufactured for human babies... basically a fleecy blanket with labels firmly sewn all around the perimeter of it. haha
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=7793.msg109086#msg109086 date=1410556109] Now just to get things in perspective here........ I don't think Julie is a typical Kong user (well Charlie ) - 20 kongs is an impressive haul. I just had the one when Lilly was a pup, and have 2 now. Don't feel any pressure to buy up the world's kong supplies ;D [/quote] 20!!!!!!!! lol wow!
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence I've stickied the kong filling thread. And will add Julie's post below, it is really useful
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence I am a Kongvert. stuffed the thing with all sortds of yummyness & he woofed it down. Now freezing a bit of chicken gravy in it.
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence I have found somthing other than furniture that Bouncer enjoys chewing. Hmmm, it looks a bit big. But I think I can fit the whole thing in my mouth.
Re: Chew Toy Avoidence Lol ;D Harley has a football (garden only) which we deflated very slightly so she can pick it up and play with hubby
