Fluff Addict

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Do any of you have a doodle (or any dog for that matter) that is completely obsessed with eating fluff?  Bexter is now 8 months old and is ALMOST perfect.  He is potty trained, crate trained, knows some basic obedience, etc.  However, he is COMPLETELY obsessed with fluff.  Obviously, he doesn't own any stuffed toys nor does he have bedding in his crate.  However, we do allow him on our bed at night or during the day while I'm getting ready, or while the kids are playing their video games he's on the bed right with them.  The problem is that he constantly chews on all our comforters to pull the fluff out and eat it.  He has now (as of today) ruined every single comforter in our house.  I am now using a Lightning McQueen comforter of my son's because Bexter chewed my comforter so badly we had to get rid of it.  Now the Lightning McQueen has taken a chewing and is almost destroyed.  Any suggestions?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My dogs rip their stuffies up and leave the stuffing all over the house.  Maybe if you bought Bexter the cheapest stuffies you could find, he would tear those apart and leave your comforters alone????  I just re-stuff the toys for a while and sew the holes and they last for a few weeks.

[Christine & Camus]

I would try Nancy's suggestion and right now is a good time to find cheap stuffed toys, since most of the holiday toys are 50% or more off.  Also, every time you find his mouth on the comforter tell him no and give him one of the stuffed toys. 

[Michael Gurley]

That's going to take some training! Maybe until he is fully trained he needs to be in the crate unless you are watching him closely and can correct bad behavior. The bedrooms may need to be off-limits!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I agree with Michael, there seems to be a breakdown in Bexter's training in this one area! He should be removed from temptation unless someone is able to watch HIM and not video games etc. until he has learned what is expected of him in regard to comforters. If your kids are not involved in training could they removed their comforters when Bexter is in the room with them? Put them in the closet or something?   At 8 months Tara was still in training as to what was okay to destuff and what was not. It is such a temptation for them!

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

So, Ricki - Are you saying that it might get better?  Is there hope when he gets older or do you think he'll always be this way?  I'm hoping to repaint my bedroom this summer and I'd love to get a new comforter (not Lightning McQueen)!!!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Yes, it can get better but that is up to YOU! LOL! It's kind of a two fold process. Partly him maturing and being able to understand and retain the things you teach him but the big part is the repetitive training he receives from you in regard to destuffing.

We didn't have a problem with Tara destuffing our comforters because she was not allowed in the bedroom unsupervised at that age. We did have problems with her destuffing her own bed though. It took a LOT of training and several beds before she understood that she was not to destuff her bed. I swear though I would look away for a SECOND and she would nibble a little hole in her bed! OMD!!! 

Jane of Guinness and Murphy has given some good advice here about using Bexter's time in the bedroom as a "training opportunity".  And I would suggest you continue to sleep with Lightning McQueen until you are sure your boy understands his boundaries! :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree with this.  If you really want to eliminate the behavior, it will take some training.  I would not allow him on the beds unless it's a "training opportunity".  Whenever he puts his mouth on the comforter, I'd give a firm "no" and then just don't let him do it. You can try redirecting with a stuffed toy, but then he gets the idea that it's fine to de-stuff them, and I'm not sure that's what you want either.  If he continues to try, I'd remove him from the bed.  He'll eventually learn that he's only allowed on the bed when he's not chewing.

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

Coco used to do that at 8 months. I had to train her not to do it. I had to tell her no and make my bedroom off limits. She learned very quickly and now does not touch the comforter!!

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Sasha and Oliver both went thru this stage with the fluff.  Sasha out grew it but Ollie still has a bit of fluff obsession still in him.  Neither doodle has ever went after the bedding because I keep my bedroom door shut at all times and they do not sleep with me.  My suggestion to break the obsession is to not buy any toy with fluff and keep the bedroom doors shut.  It worked with Ollie as he matured he is not so obsessed anymore.  I brought them both really strong stuffed toys for Christmas and was hoping for the best.  Neither dog has destroyed the toys so I think I have broken the obessession :)

[Ashley, Ronnie and Ruby]

Ruby likes moving fluff. So, if she plucked some off of a stuffy and sees it move across the floor, she jumps onto it like she is hunting and eats it. Normally it is not a big issue however when we take her to the groomer, she eats the hair that they cut off of her. This usually ends up with her throwing it up. Ruby is just 7 months so, I too hope that it is something she will outgrow. I do know that my in-laws Lab mix still likes fluff and he is 10. Only time and training will tell I guess.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Ronnie, Oliver eats his and Sasha's hair when I groom them too !!!  I worry that Ollie will get a hair ball - LOL

 

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Sorry, the idea of outgrowing unstuffing fluff hasn't worked for Mitzi.  She turned four in October and just this morning found a child's pillow out in the laundry area and as soon as I came back into the kitchen I found Mitzi pulling the stuffing out of it!  We have given her a couple of her own stuffed critters, she has emptied them of all their stuffing and pulled the eyes out ( a really weird thing) and she now uses them to play tug of war with Pepper.