Sorry I didn't get the chance to get my paws on the keyboard yesterday- Bosses didn't let me into the computer room, since they went to Iowa City for a wedding over the weekend. I got to hang out with my Grand"paw", "Run"cle, and "Paw"nt. I think that's what they call those people?
Anywho, today, I'm going to tell you a little bit about the one thing that gets me in the most trouble:
My mouth.
I am a young dog, and am learning what is appropriate and not appropriate to chew on. Unfortunately, I figure things out the hard way. Bosses use a technique to help me learn what is right and wrong, which helps a lot. If I have my mouth stuck on something they'd like me to leave alone, they switch the bad thing out with something good, like, a Nylabone/chew/ball. That way, it's positive training with no negative punishments. I think it's great! Sometimes, when they're gone at work, I find something out of the blue and obliterate it. Whoops. Hence the first Monday Mischief that we wrote about- the stairs getting de-carpeted.
Along with behavioral training, chewing on inappropriate items can be physically dangerous for us dogs. What if I would have ingested any of the things I ripped to smithereens?! I hear things don't end well when certain items get stuck, so Boss likes to make sure I'm supervised when chewing on things as much as humanly possible.
We read a neat guide called "Eat This, Not That!" that explains the hazards items can introduce to dogs. There's even a "seasonal hazards" section, which is very relevant during this time of year! Halloween this week, Thanksgiving next month, Christmas, New Years.....lots of fun, but also lots of hazards. I encourage you to read through the guide- even if you know some portions of it already, it's always worth a read. You can learn something new everyday!
What are some inappropriate items I've destroyed?
- Underwear- I only rip up the cute ones that Small Boss has. Not Big Boss's- those aren't cute.
- The carpet on the staircase- I pull the carpet up and shred the padding underneath. Good fun!
- Socks- I like to tug on these. They have good smells, too!
- The rugs in the kitchen- they looked too neat. Plus, all the food smells? Psh! Yeah!
- The memory foam bath mats- they were so squishy. Felt like cotton candy!
- Toilet paper rolls- because when it's shredded, it looks like snow! And I like snow!
- Mom's peony plant roots- THIS was a little more scary. I threw up a lot from these- turns out they are toxic to dogs. Who knew?! Mom immediately put a little fence around these so I can't get them.
- Cardboard boxes- the cats do it, why can't I?
- Markers- I ate one. It wasn't as satisfying as I thought.
The list could go on. However, I don't actually swallow my victims. Whew. I recommend you check that infographic/guide out. I found it very helpful, and we now know what symptoms to look for in case I do end up swallowing something one of these days.
*Note: I was not compensated for this article- I found it informational, and thought it would be a good read!*
Chow!
