How often does your doodle "chew" on chewies?

[jenn D]

How often do your doodles "chew" during the day and how old are they (and what do they chew on)? whew lots of questions. I think a lot of this is spurred on by my recently learning of nutrition and all the good and bad products-thank you doodle kisses for the easily accessible info for us newbies! My dogs chew as one of their 4 favorite activities. Their top 4 loves in no particular order are person/dog exercises (training, walking, mom throwing balls allover the yard, going places etc.), sleeping, playing with each other, and chewing. They are 8 1/2 months old and 11 months. So basically 2 older pups but in adult clothes. Lol!

They like to chew, alot. But never on inappropriate things which I am grateful for. Soooo, I threw away all the made in china stuff. I posted in food group about frozen kong type ideas. I gues I'll get antlers? I hear about marrow bones but my daughter still has below normal immunity from chemo (thus no way we could do raw diet here) so i can't get raw bones from the butcher. They know they have to eat their messy treats on their pillows (I know I'm strict but its so I can wash them) The boys don't do well with raw hides. They are aggressive chewers and tend to swallow big chunks which is why I have to watch what they chew and when. I want them to like Nylabones but they don't. :( don't seem interested.

Can you tell me about your dogs and their chewing activities?

P.S. Jake is rockin' fast paced commands. So different from low key Brisby. Thanks for the help. You guys are awesome.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Beef femur bones (marrow bones) don't have to be given raw. They are perfectly safe if you microwave or boil them first; no danger of their splintering. I've given them to my dogs after they spent several hours in a soup pot, but you don't have to cook them that long to sterilize them. A few minutes in the microwave will do it. When you cook them, the marrow will soften and you can push it out into your dogs' dishes for an extra treat. Then just let the bones cool. You can also fill the cooked bones. And you can run them through the dishwasher afterwards. :) 

Bully sticks don't last more than a few minutes here, JD demolishes the big ones in a few minutes. But others here have said their dogs manage to chew on them for long periods, so that might be an option for you. 

Himalayan Chews would be another option. 

[Alex/Mindy/Georgia/Coral]

We've had similar affects with some bully sticks we've bought...gone in minutes. Yet she still has a couple that she's had since she was a puppy.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Good Food Group discussion on marrow bones, and how to prepare them, with illustrations. : http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/marrow-...

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

For soft treats (edible) we have been using Fresh Pet Treats. Both chicken and beef. I feel they are 'safe" and can comfortably be given. For the gnawing cravings, Enzo has a unlimited supply of Elk antlers and Himilayan Bones. I hate anything messy ( for my rugs sake) and can't leave Enzo outside on her own, for fear of coyotes, so these two types work out well for us.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Rosemary, for some other safe treat ideas, the Food Group now has a list of Recommended Treat brands that are all North American sourced and produced, and are safe: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/recomme...

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Thanks, K! Will go over and peruse now!

[jenn D]

Thanks again for the great info! Off to checkout the links. :)

[Breanna]

Crush chews on her toys all the time. We haven't seen her kong for the past few days but she chews on that, her teaser toy, a toy bone, and soft toys. She chew her knuckle bone to the point that it broke and we need a new one from the butcher. Unfortunately that's not all she's chewed. There was a time I left her unattended for a few minutes and she ruined a couple pairs of shoes. The bathroom that connects to our bedroom is her cozy place. She goes in there behind a baby gate when we leave the house. It's perfect because she loves laying in there but it is safe and enclosed. The only problem is that she has ripped up most of the linoleum floor. Thankfully she doesn't eat it-I get to sweep up the pieces of it. My boss gave me a zen garden as a gift and crush chewed that up. She has shredded some magazines and a bra. 

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Meg, 1 1/2 loves her antlers, we find them so she gets the entire thing, and she loves femur bones on the ones from Petsmart with the peanut butter in them.  When she tires of the femur bone we but a bit of peanut butter in it for her to renew interest.  Polly Wolly Doodle is only 16 weeks and she will go for anything to chew, but fortunately responds well to the "eh-eh!' and she steals Meg's antler so we now have two good sized ones out (BTW she still takes it but Meg can go to the other).  We learned early with Meg that anything with a squeaker does not last and we picked up two soft toys on the trip home with Polly, they are officially trash.  One toy we find is a water bottle placed in a piece of fire hose and stiched closed, Meg has not been able to chew through that and the two of them play tug with it.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Lucy and Sophie were never big toy or chew puppies or even adult dogs.  Antlers just laid around untouched.  If it wasn't edible then they didn't want it.  Little AnnaBelle on the other hand chews all day long.  She loves nylabones or any nylabone toy, she loves antlers, she just loves everything.  Lucy, since AnnaBelle has joined us will now even occasionally chew on something.  I love the split antlers as I think they are a little easier on their teeth.  They still last a long time.  What we did this week-end was we bought one really large split antler, it was like a foot long or longer, and we cut it in half.  The end result was cheaper than buying two smaller ones.