Chewing - EVERYTHING !!

Missy · Master

Chewing - EVERYTHING !!

Jay · Old Hand

Perhaps Carol would be your best bet, but it sounds like boredom or stress, and knowing Missy I'd plump for stress.

Is she being left alone when she is doing these things? And for how long? There are simple ways to remedy seperation anxienty if thats what it is. Speak to Carol quick and we can nip it in the bud...

Carol · Master

Hi there,

I can sympathise as Eilidh, who's 18 mths old too, enjoys a good chew as well. Like Missy she will chew anything, but she has a particular penchant for door frames for some reason.

You haven't said whether Missy does this when you're in or out. If it's when you're out it could be she doesn't like being on her own too much. Eilidh just chews regardless. Wherever she's lying, if she's close enough to something, she'll give it a wee nibble.

When we're in and she's doing it we tell her sternly to 'leave' and try to distract her. That usually works. Sometimes I think she does it to get our attention to play, but we try not to play whenever she chews so as not to reward 'naughty' behaviour.

When you're out, you could try stuffing a kong full of cheese then hopefully she'll be more interested in that than other things on offer. Make sure she's got plenty of toys, but be careful that you don't leave ones she could chew to bits and choke on. If we're going out for a while, we take Eilidh a walk and get her well and truly knackered so that she lies down and falls asleep until we come back.

These are some of the things we do and they do help. No doubt Carole Robinson will be able to tell you lots more. I am however, told that (if it's not to do with being alone), chewing is a baby thing and that they grow out of it when they're older.

C

-- Edited by Carol at 16:30, 2005-04-16

Missy · Master

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

Missy chews regardless of us being there or not.

I've spoken to Carol and she has given me some really good pointers. Also since my posting I have had a look in Missy's mouth (not easy on any dog and particularly hard on a greyhound !). Her side teeth don't meet at all in the centre of the cheeks and I think that she is maybe still cutting her teeth but will get this checked out at the vets at months end. She may also have a problem with one of her molars which again will be checked out when we visit the doggy doctors !

Missy is still learning the house rules and so maybe a little stressed but then again its when we are not giving her hands on attention that she is being a tealeaf and a nibbler. As you can see she didn't quite manage to completely chew through the broadband connection.

So the reasons for her chewing might be stress, attention seeking or teggy problems.

I'll let you know what the vet says when I find out.

She is a real character and would just couldn't do without her lovely little quirks.

Thanks a lot for your replies.

Katrina

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