Is it wrong to do this....

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

I sometimes hold Midas bone for him while he is chewing.. I have a wood floor and often times Midas is trying to hold his antler or bone and it keeps sliding away.. so he jumps on the couch and brings it with him... sometimes I will hold his bone for him and he literally gets on top of me and I hold it for him while he chews it.. I have opposable thumbs and see nothing wrong with holding it for him.. I see it as bonding and I get to hug and kiss him and hes so warm when he lays on me... but I have heard that he is trying to dominate me when he chews a bone on top of me. what does everyone think? is this making midas pack leader or he is just simply bonding with mommy?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I can't answer your questions about the dominating aspect, but you should never hold an antler or other very hard chew object for a dog, because it can cause the dog to break a tooth (slab fracture) much more easily than if he has to hold it himself. . 

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

thank you!  do you mean because then I have a better grip and he can chew it harder?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Because when you hold it, it's in a rigid fixed position and the pressure on his teeth is much greater than if there is some is some movement in the bone as he chews on it, which there is when he has to hold it himself. 

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

got it! thank you!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I certainly don't think this one thing could make Midas think he's the pack leader and the fact that you're not only holding it but giving it and taking it away reinforces that you "own" the bone, but Karen makes a good point about his teeth.

[Alex/Mindy/Georgia/Coral]

Karen you'd have to take the reigns on whether this is a safe alternative, but I saw this on coupaw the other day...

http://www.bonemat.com/home

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm not a big fan of gimmicky things, and I could totally see some dogs chewing up the strap and the mat, lol. Plus a dog like Midas who likes to lie on somebody with his bone would have the whole thing on your lap! 

We haven't had a problem with bones & chew objects getting lost or making a mess here, either.

This does allow some movement, but I'd say, just let the dog hold his own bone, it's simpler, cheaper, and probably safer.