Destructo Puppy

[Swissy Mom]

I am suddenly living with Destructo Puppy! About 4 weeks ago, Cash started destroying all his stuffed toys. I took all of them away and left him with nothing but Kongs and other similarly indestructable toys. He had an antler for months without making a dent and then suddenly gnawed it to a stub in no time. He hasn't managed to destroy a Kong, yet, but he has already torn up a couple toys designed for hard chewers that I just bought last night! I don't know what his deal is. He doesn't chew on any of our stuff, only his toys (thank goodness!) He is going for walks, training throughout the day, playing inside and out, so what's with the sudden chewiness? He is 7 1/2 months now and was never a hard chewer or really a chewer at all. Is it just a phase he's going through?

[moondog]

Has he lost most of his teeth yet? I cant remember what age Baron was losing teeth. Maybe they are hurting him a bit and chewing feels good.
Baron really doesn't keep stuffies around long. He destroys all of them within a few days. I buy the cheap ones for a dollar because I know they won't last. I call Baron the destroyer of all things stuffed. He loves to tear out the stuffing!! I think it's pretty normal.

[mezmerelda]

He chewed an antler down? That's impressive.

Gryffin went through a phase like that - but it wasn't limited to things he was supposed to chew on. Interesting timing w/the licky fits, too.

[sam.i.am]

Around the same age (or maybe just a tad later), Delilah went from being very gentle with her toys to un-stuffing her stuffed toys more often. And, she also made huge headway on her antler beginning at that time. Delilah is fairly gentle on toys but she does enjoy a good de-stuffing every now and then. Oliver began this practice at a very young so his stuffed toys never lasted more than a few hours. Oliver also liked wood, as in cabinets, when he was in his later puppy-hood. That was fun.
Delilah is now 14 months old and she is not as purposely destructive as she was a few months ago with the stuffed toys, but if they get any sort of nick or tiny hole, she does go after it and pulls all of the stuffing out. Thankfully, she doesn't eat anything inedible, she just puts all of the fluff all next to her while she de-stuffs the toy. But, she's not allowed to play with stuffed toys unless we are right near her anyway.

[Swissy Mom]

He chewed an antler down? That's impressive.

I know, right? He had had it for months and it still looked basically like it did when I brought it home, then all of a sudden he went at it hard and killed it. I was amazed.

He has lost his teeth...that was a couple months ago. I think he may just be going through a "because I can" phase. At least it is limited to his own things so I really can't complain too much. Maybe I'll invest in a couple of those black kongs until he gets through this. Right now he is killing one of those tire toys. I'm going to have to take it away in a couple minutes...he almost has pieces off of it.

[mezmerelda]

He probably needs another Swissy to play with.

[Delynnr]

My two definitely went through that phase. They chilled out a lot around 1.5 but from around 7 months to 1.5 they tore through the toys! Antlers lasted the longest, so did the kong (mostly because they lick rather than chew the kong), and the goughnut (because they ignored it) I would make sure he has antlers around to chew, maybe one of these?
http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-TCEFB...1995989&sr=1-7

I know he is bigger, but my two have not destroyed it yet and it has gotten abuse from getting treats out. We also had luck with the original Jolly Balls (the ones for horses)

[mezmerelda]

Mine didn't like the goughnot. If you want one, Jen, let me know and I'll mail it to you. It's really only been drooled on.

[Swissy Mom]

So far the kongs are holding up and we have one Orka Jack toy that's surviving some serious chewing. I'll probably get him more antlers because he loves them. I got some new toys to try, all of which claimed to be for tough or hard core chewers. He has already torn bits off of two of them in less than 24 hours. The third is made of fire hose and he's chewing it most, the edges are a little rough now, but so far it's holding up...we'll see.

Thanks for the offer Mez, but I don't want you to have to mail it...I think we have enough for now.

[ToBScholarly]

Around the same age (or maybe just a tad later), Delilah went from being very gentle with her toys to un-stuffing her stuffed toys more often. And, she also made huge headway on her antler beginning at that time. Delilah is fairly gentle on toys but she does enjoy a good de-stuffing every now and then. Oliver began this practice at a very young so his stuffed toys never lasted more than a few hours. Oliver also liked wood, as in cabinets, when he was in his later puppy-hood. That was fun.
Delilah is now 14 months old and she is not as purposely destructive as she was a few months ago with the stuffed toys, but if they get any sort of nick or tiny hole, she does go after it and pulls all of the stuffing out. Thankfully, she doesn't eat anything inedible, she just puts all of the fluff all next to her while she de-stuffs the toy. But, she's not allowed to play with stuffed toys unless we are right near her anyway.

If a Pyr poops stuffing/fluff out of his butt, would you be able to tell the difference? Or would it blend right in?

[bren]

Tek started doing the same thing around that age ... he never outgrew it though. He'll destroy any toy you give him within a matter of minutes. That's why I usually only buy whatever is on sale, and he only gets to play with certain toys under supervision.

Mine didn't care for the goughnut either!

[mezmerelda]

I don't blame them for not liking the goughnut. It smells too plasticy - not at all pleasant, IMO. We have had great luck with antlers, but we're not getting the little one from the store. We're bringing back the entire antler, uncut, from Galena. :-)

[sam.i.am]

If a Pyr poops stuffing/fluff out of his butt, would you be able to tell the difference? Or would it blend right in?

Ah ha ha ha !!!

[Delynnr]

We have not bought our antlers either - most of my family hunts and the last time I was back at my Grandfather's I brought back 6 bleached but still apparently tasty antlers for my girls.