Antlers and Bully Sticks

[Sally M]

I read the book "Everything You Need to Know about Goldendoodles". Their suggestions for "chew" items were antlers and bully sticks. I must admit I was rather shocked when I found out what Bully products really are. I won't mention it here. Also, I was very shocked when I saw how expensive antlers were. I haven't bought either one. Penny currently chews on Nyla Bones. Do your Doodles like antlers? Does anyone give their dogs bully sticks (maybe they have the same toxicity as rawhide chews?).

[Sally M]

You're funny! Sounds like you may be checking "the doo-doo" for years to come. We probably both will! Nothing like a little undigested red string to grab one's attention. Question about antlers: Do they have any taste? They look and feel like smooth stones/rocks. (Hard to believe deer, elk, etc. regrow these antlers EVERY year).

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

They have "marrow" in the centers and they do have a taste, or so Jack tells me. ;)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Those rope toys can be very dangerous. One of our members had a tragedy a few years back: http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/heartbreaking-but-importan...

Jack's IMS recommended the non-edible Nylabone Durachews for him; according to her, they are hypoallergenic and cannot cause a blockage because the pieces that the dog ingests while chewing are about the size of a grain of rice and pass easily. This is the one we've used and I found the specialist's info to be accurate: 

Unfortunately, it isn;t very appealing to most dogs. Jack chewed on it when he was desperate, but he much prefers antlers.

[Sally M]

So sad about that beautiful dog! I'm glad I threw out all the roped toys. As I said, Penny doesn't chew off any pieces of her Nylabones. She barely dents them with her teeth. Since she likes NylaBones so much, she would probably love the one you showed above, altho, I haven't given her one that is "original flavor" (whatever that means). I'll get one the next time I go to the pet store.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Oh Sally, this made me chuckle. If ALL I ever saw were little pieces of red string in Bella's poop, I'd be clapping like a maniac. She is five and I get a new surprise at least once a week.  It started with socks, she'd eat so many that she'd poop them out in pairs, sometimes matching pairs as well, then fabric scraps from the sewing room, sometimes she'd need a little human help getting it all out, kids little toys, pieces of puzzles, my little foam ear plugs, paper, plastic bags, tissue, tissue and more tissue....It goes on and on. She is the reason that I have Pet insurance.  I have dog and kid proof my home as much as possible, but there are always going to be things I don't think she'd eat until I see it recycled.

[Sally M]

Oh my word! Bella really ate all that stuff? You have to be kidding! But I have a feeling you are not! LOL! Matching socks? And I thought it was funny when Penny snuck 4 or 5 unmatched socks out of the house and hid them behind the shed in our backyard. Fortunately, she ate none; just stashed them away for whatever reason. Tell me...how in the world does a puppy sneak socks out of the house? It's not like she's a hamster and and stuffed them in her pouch! Seriously, I'm glad Bella didn't get sick on any of her strange "food items". Recycled! ROFLMAO (AICGU)!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Oh Sally, I wish I was kidding. That's not even the half of it. She gets into the garbage if the slide in cabinet trash cans are not tight, she has eaten discarded plastic bowls that had food in them, a whole cooked chicken carcass and many many other various other garbage items.

 She has devoured a 5# bag of flour, ( that was the messiest so far)  a whole bag of rice cakes, recently a whole tube of dog toothpaste, tube and cap and all. Luckily that came out the front way. Yes I know these are all my fault, and as many precautions as we take is probably the only reason she's still alive or not had several surgical removal of items thus far. 

Her favorite treats are hers' and her brother's poops and sometimes that comes back out the front too. ( that is the worst so far)

 Yes, she has been a surprise a minute and there is just no predicting, protecting or hiding every thing from her. She's quick, quiet and swallows in one gulp. Needless to say, she is well trained in "Leave it" and drops whatever unwanted item I can catch her with like a hot potato. So I'd recommend you get started on that command soon. It is helpful for a lot of situations. I even use it when another dog catches her attention and she turns from it immediately.  I sometimes felt that she thought her name was "Bellaleaveit". lol

[Sally M]

I think I'll invest in an antler. Seems they last forever. I don't think I need to be concerned about her breaking a tooth. She's not that heavy of a chewer. Would you believe Penny has not chewed/ruined one thing in our house? Not furniture, not shoes, nothing...we lucked out so far!

[Wendy and Eddie]

My doodle, Elmo, chipped a tooth pretty badly on his antler, which made me so sad because he LOVED chewing on it. Not too many people have had that problem though, so I still think it's a good choice for chewing-happy dogs. (I mean-not too many people's doodles have had that problem!)

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

I, too, am grossed out by bully sticks so Ludo has never had one.  However, he LOVES antlers.  I bought mine from Michigan Antler Art and I've been satisfied with them.  The first order, I bought quarter splits, meaning there is more marrow exposed and Ludo LOVES those but there would be pieces of antler all over the floor, sticking to socks and stuff.  He was able to go through them really fast but he is a pretty powerful chewer.  I just bought some half splits from Michigan Antler Art and they're a bigger challenge for Ludo and he actually has hardly made a dent in them and I've stopped finding pieces attached to socks and blankets which I'm happy about!

[Nancy]

I forgot to mention Benebones.  Both of my dogs prefer them to Nylabones :)

http://www.benebone.com/Product 

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Hi Sally. I sent you a private message that you can read once you accept my friend request.