Need help with my dog :(

[Missycim]

I have a Chihuahua and before i got the little guy I never liked what I term "rat dogs" but he grew on me


anywho we had to deal with him barking when left alone (we got another dog from a friend that was going to put him in a shelter if we didnt take him) so this was cleared up after we got the other dog but he still has anxiety issues buy chewing up every piece of plastic or pen he can find (also napkins or paper towels). I tried getting chew toys but people warned me that he could choke on it being so small, anyone have any ideas on what he could chew that could help him?

[stjohndoe]

1. My neighbors use deer antlers.

They are very hard, last forever, and you should find them at Petsmart, etc.

[Missycim]

2. Thanks :)

nt

[TrogL]

23. We buy elk antlers from a farm

[Missycim]

3. Here is a pic

I cant help showing him off...

[IMG][/IMG]

[Baitball Blogger]

4. He's adorable!

[stjohndoe]

6. He is a cutie.

Also, something we have used, but a bit more trouble because of cleaning and refilling, is a Kong. We fill it with a peanut butter and dry dog food mix. Freezing them will make it harder to get the treat out so it will last longer.

[LoveMyCali]

12. Oh what a sweetie!

You could also try a kong, they are very hard rubber toys and they come in different sizes for differnt sized dogs. I think they even have one shaped like a pacifier.

[Missycim]

15. here is more

[IMG][/IMG]

[eShirl]

17. aw!!!!!

[Missycim]

22. It hurts to see this picture

I am a driver on the road 5 days a week and I miss my little buddy so much

[auntAgonist]

26. adorable! Would you be able to take your pup with you?

You say you're a driver. Do you drive truck ?

I used to have a sheltie terrier mix that I took in my truck with me for years. She loved it.

aA




welcome to DU

[Missycim]

32. Well its more of a family pet

these dogs bond to one person and he has bonded to my daughter (I know this is selfish but I wish he had done it to me ) so I cant really take him away from her.

[Rhiannon12866]

27. Awwwww! How sweet! That's what I call friends...

[Missycim]

33. thats one of their more calmer moments lol

the smaller dog is always annoying the larger one by humping him and just being a pain in the butt, the larger one puts him in his place when he gets to bad. Its funny watching them play and the larger one will tackle the smaller one, no one gets hurt its just play.

[Scuba]

5. Dogs are highly social animals and long periods alone are bad for their psyches. How much is he ...

... being left alone?

[Missycim]

7. well we have a doggie pal

for him during the day but my GF is a drivers aide on a school bus she is gone for 4 hours then comes home for a break then goes back out for another run other then that only time he is left alone is errands and such. I try to bring him with me if i can cause women like to AHHHHHHH over him .

[Missycim]

10. The other dog is

a shitz-zu (sp)? he is about 14 pounds heavier and gets roughed up by my jayden lol well until he has had enough and lets it be known

[AngryOldDem]

8. Nylabones

Our Dachshund loves 'em. They come in flavors -- chicken and chocolate.

She also loves soft, unstuffed toys. I forget the name of them, but you can find them at any pet store.

We can't give her any toys made of plastic, especially if it has a squeaker, because she will literally rip the thing to shreds until she gets the squeaker out. I once bought her such a toy and it was destroyed within 10 minutes. The bones and these soft toys are her favorites.

[Missycim]

9. I would get her the soft toys

but they are too much like the kids toys and I dont want to confuse him but the bones idea I will give it a try

[AngryOldDem]

11. True, that.

My kids are older so that's not an issue, but yes, I can see how some dogs could be confused.

She loves the bones, though...she'll get one and hold it between her paws and chew and chew and chew... I like to see that because it's good for her. And they last for a long time -- when the ends begin to get frayed, that's a sign that she needs a new one.

Good luck.

[GoCubsGo]

13. Kong

http://www.kongcompany.com/

They have loads of different toys that will keep a dog or cat occupied and entertained. Some of them allow you to stuff peanut butter, cheese, or some other treat inside, so that the animal has to work at getting to it.

[RebelOne]

14. I have a Chihuahua.

I have had her since she was 6 weeks old. She is now 3 years old. I have never had a problem with her chewing on anything. But she will bark at anything that moves outside.

I also have a Mini-Pin. She would chew on everything. She all but destroyed a new leather purse. I bought those little rawhide chew bones and she loves them. She is a small dog and weighs about 10 pounds. And she also loves those little squeaky toys that she can chew on and they make noise. I have never had problem with her choking on any of the rawhide bones.

[turtlerescue1]

16. Does the pup have the run of the house while you are gone?

Supposedly if they are crated with chewables and blankies, and I used to use a radio. Think the noise from the radio did more good than anything else, according to the neighbors' reports- while I was gone.

As for the chewies, had two dachsies and was on a road trip driving on a highway with limited off ramps, the male wiener got the chewie caught or didn't chew it or who knows what? He was choking, nothing like going 65-70 mph and looking for a place to pull off. BUT have had a ton of piggy ears for the fur crew, only the one incident.

I've one of THOSE who are too antsy to go well with separation, but he does much better with the other alpha being nearby. Good luck to you.

[Missycim]

18. he went nuts in

A dog create now that he has run of the house with his doggie friend he's a lot more quiet the poor little guy is too hyper I wish I could calm him down some how

[marzipanni]

19. Rope bone

http://www.amazon.com/Knot-Rope-Bone-White-Blue/dp/B000ER1PTE

The reviewer said they spent much more for this type of chew toy at a pet store- Amazon's are a good deal, or you can also make your own-
I used to go to Orchard Supply, a hardware store that has big reels of white cotton rope from ~1/2" to 1" in diameter which they sell by the foot. I think many hardware stores carry rope like this. Buy enough to allow for a big knot near each end- the thick rope knots take up a lot of the length.

Here's a place that sells twisted cotton rope online-
http://www.knotandrope.com/Store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=6

[coffeenap]

20. Hi! We rescued a 3 pound chi last year.

Here are some things we have either used or heard are helpful:

1. The smallest "Mother Hubbard Chicken and Apple" treats. Our dog treats these wheat-free things like they are a bone. No damage to his gums or tongue, unlike Greenies--yikes!

2. Soft toys. Our dog especially likes the short version of the "skunk". It has squeaky things on either end but no stuffing. It makes him so happy to chew on the little legs. Our experience tells us to avoid the really fuzzy ones, but these have been great.

3. Many people have had great luck getting their small dogs a Thunder Shirt. It solves anxiety and can help alleviate the need to chew all the time.

4. We second the rope toy. I found a small one at a regular pet store.

If we think of more, I will post again. I know what you mean about not liking the tiny ones, and then falling in love. Big dog in a small body--what a blast!

[Missycim]

21. I was thinking about

getting him a thundershirt but i dont want it to hurt him or make him crazy. Do you know anyone that has used it?

[TrogL]

24. I have one.

Helps a bit but what worked best is leaving the TV on a channel like National Geographic. Dogs can see a 60hz refresh hdmi tv

[erinlough]

25. I use it during storms for a bichon mix.

She loves it. It fits very snugly and calms her right down. She is just crazy during storms and very hyper all the time, but she tolerates it well. The only thing I can do to calm her at home is to walk her off leash (we live on a farm) and let her run as fast as she can for about 15 minutes. When she comes in after that she is calm.....for a while.

[TheCruces]

29. I know people who use thundershirts

They said it helps. It doesn't hurt them at all.

[Missycim]

30. ok thanks

I just didnt want him to get hurt or feel claustrophobic

[TheCruces]

36. Yeah, they're perfectly safe.

I've only heard good things about them.

[Rhiannon12866]

28. They now have a doggie equivalent to Feliway for cats

The cat variety is supposed to eliminate inappropriate urinating/spraying in cats, but it's also used to help keep them calm. It contains an artificial equivalent of the cat pheromone that calms them. I got Feliway for my cat who I rescued from outdoors.

But now there's a canine version, supposed to do the same things for dogs, help keep them calm and prevent acting out if they're anxious. I've never tried the doggy one, but maybe I should - have a small dog who freaks out when I leave the house, though he's fine after I'm gone. He had a "brother" who he was very attached to, but he passed away.

Here's the website. It's not any sort of med, comes in a diffuser. Let us know how your little one is doing...

http://www.petcomfortzone.com/dogs.html

[Missycim]

31. I am very sorry

to hear about your dog


Ok I will report back with some results

[Missycim]

34. Just got vador groomed lol you can see his face now.

[IMG][/IMG]

[TorchTheWitch]

35. excessive chewing in an adult dog usually means they have pent up energy

Adult dogs excessively chew usually because they have pent up energy and that's how they relieve it much like some of us will do the leg shake or foot tapping or some kind of repetitive movement when we have too much energy and can't otherwise get it out. Your dog needs a TON of exercise to get out that pent up energy, and small breed dogs often seem to have far more energy than larger ones. Exercise the hell out of him every day.

He also really needs acceptable things to chew on to relieve his excess energy but you haven't given him any, so he's been chewing whatever satisfies him. And he needs a lot of them in various places in the house so where ever he is there is something there for him to chew on that he's allowed to so he won't be tempted to not go looking for a toy when there is some delicious piece of furniture or toilet paper roll or whatever there.

Balls are good for helping dogs get rid of excess energy because they can chase them all around, throw them themselves and chase after them and also chew on them. Toys that do something that is inconsistent seems to be the most fascinating for dogs... my dogs LOVE their wiggly giggly balls more than any other toy, and it's the one single thing that has lasted to the third dog without them being able to tear it apart. Though they like toys that make noise, they often get bored with them when they consistently make the noise every time they bite it. The wiggly giggly ball fascinates them no end because sometimes it makes the noise and sometimes it doesn't. They also don't tend to roll very straight which also seems to fascinate them because when they roll they never are all together sure where it's going. Dogs are often particular about what toys they like and what toys aren't all that interesting, so you'll probably have to experiment with different kinds of toys to see what he likes best.

He also needs to learn that everything in your house is YOURS even including "his" toys that you simply allow him to play with and chew on that he has to relinquish when you want him to.