I ordered “extra thick” 12" beef rolls from Amazon and my Pyr mix is able to get chunks off them pretty easily, made me nervous as heck. I’ve stopped letting him have them at all. I got some beef tracheas but he has them eaten in about 5 minutes. I give him raw knuckle and shin bones from the butcher but those make a huge mess if indoors so they’re outside only treats. Hard chewers are a challenge!
I’ve never tried beef cheek rolls so can’t say for sure. I only let my guys have these for around 20 -30 minutes a day, so they can’t make a ton of progress in those short chew sessions. I first learned about them from a Doberman breeder who reviewed them on Youtube. Her video might give you a better idea: https://youtu.be/2Dj2NIVMchc
1 Like
Tell me about it! The best thing I’ve found is this. BUT, it’s hit or miss. The company seems to be challenged in making all the replacement treats the right size. If they are a hair too small, my dog gets them out within 20 minutes. But if they are the right size…chef’s kiss! It’ll occupy her for hours. https://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Everlasting-Treat-Wheeler-Large/dp/B00GSQO150?th=1
Mine gets the Red Barn stuffed bones
I love the pupdates! Shaun (our mini-poodle pup) is doing quite well now at 5.5 months. He may be retaining his canine teeth, though, so we have a vet appointment on the 25th (I’m hoping they fall out by then!). We aren’t planning on neutering till 1 year, so I want to see what can/should be done if they don’t. Otherwise, we’re right in the thick of teething, but he loves bully sticks! I got a holder for them which keeps them from eating the nub, and also makes them a bit easier to grip. I limited his time on them at first because they can cause the runs.
I don’t know what kind of rawhide stick I bought for him but he has been at it for over a week and there is still half of it left. Unfortunately he is chewing anything and everything right now. Most of my family room furniture has marks left by all my dogs. Why do they like chewing wood so much. I always worry about splinters. This one seems to be the worst from what I can remember. Nothing is safe, pant legs, sweater, my hands and slippers. I don’t now how much to reprimand as I don’t want our relationship be totally negative.
He is so different from Bentley my last dog who was so independent, tough and fearless. This guy is all over me most of the time. Another action I am not sure how to deal with is that he wants to be on my lap. Of course it is only his front end that fits across.
A positive is that he seems to be very smart. I play ball with him in his run which is 40 feet long, He immediately retrieved the ball and dropped it in front of me. We do this for a while, then he has zoomies after which he and I can both have a rest.
He has served his purpose, I have stopped crying over loosing Bentley and don’t have time to be bored or depressed. Though sometimes I am exasperated.
13 Likes
Glad Colton has taken his job - seriously 
~ frisbee ? ~ enjoy your Sunday !
2 Likes
When I was a very young child, my family had a Belgian Sheepdog which adored my mom (5’2" and 99#). Gus also wanted to be a lapdog (only with her), so Mama would place three dining room chairs side by side, and sit on the middle one, with the dog draped across her lap. The extra chair on each side held the excess dog.
You and Colton remind me of Mama and Gus, lol.
5 Likes
I wouldn’t worry too much about that. I’d reprimand chewing on ME, my clothing etc… and then immediately redirect to something he can have. He’s probably at the teething stage where it’s just instinct to constantly chew. He’ll grow out of most of that.
2 Likes
For anyone needing a full menu of pill-hiding food options, I have used cream cheese daily for the past several years. No suspicion or acrobatic chewing to consume food and spit pills. Each dog gets cream cheese nightly, whether or not they need meds. Making it routine has eliminated the wise old dog’s suspicion of “Why are you sticking your finger at me with a dollop of PB? There must be a nasty pill in there. I will proceed with caution.”
For OP’s concern about punishment negatively impacting relationship, I wouldn’t worry. It’s all a balance. I would start to address your feeling Colton is too dependent on your physical presence. Practicing time alone in the kennel when you are at the barn is great! It is so easy for those of us who are home during the day to not realize we are unwittingly creating separation anxiety.
We don’t remember previous dogs being as challenging. They were. When looking back, we wear rose-colored glasses. Otherwise our population would go extinct because no sane woman would ever have a second child! 
9 Likes
The folks in the LGD group I follow preach redirect-redirect-redirect. So I suppose you have to have a number of high value chewies at-hand all the time.
Yeah, I’m wearing cargo pants exclusively lately so I can keep both treats and chew objects at hand. Current chew favorite is a bully stick in this holder:
or empty cardboard boxes :D. Fortunately he’s not as bad as some I’ve had, but poodles are for sure land sharks!
2 Likes
@DoubleClick, just wanted to tell you that we just received the beef hide roll from Farm Hounds. Wow, you weren’t kidding! This thing is great! I’m ordering one for each of my dogs now! I think it’s going to be a game changer for my busybody pit. Thanks for the recommendation.
2 Likes
Yay!! Glad you’re pleased! I’ve really found the rolls to be a nice chewing option.
1 Like
@Cat_Tap, we haven’t had a new pup update in a while. How are things going? Have you started doggy school yet?
It has been quite a journey. My previous dogs, 7 of them were only allowed in the kitchen, family room and mudroom. Living room with cherry floors were off limits. Since SO died I have not used the living room. However there has been a problem with the TV in the family room so Colton and I are now using the living room. He likes watching TV, jumping up on the furniture with his chewy toys, I no longer care about the state of the furniture. No one will want it anyway once I am gone.
We have stages of working on the chewy toys, practicing our lessons, napping, leaning across my lap for rubs and zoomies, during which he charges from the mudroom into the family room, jumping over the coffee table and landing on the sofa.
Unfortunately since he lived in a kennel until I purchased him potty training is a bit of a challenge. He thinks the best place to go potty is the boot tray or the tray in his crate. I have had to remove the mattress in the crate as he tried to destroy it. We are however making some progress as I am watching the timing and take him to his dog run to relieve himself. He seems to think that this is also a good place to go.
Leash walking is good except when the cats come with us and try to tease him. He wants to play but is a bit too rough for the cats’ liking.
Have been to two sessions of doggy school. He is not impressed with the other yappy dogs. Sits quietly by my side cocking his head from side to side wondering what all the fuss is about. If I have a conversation with him he again cocks his head and is trying to figure our what the words mean. He gets very concerned when I sneeze or cough.
One of his lessons at school is to accept restraint. This is good as he can be a handful when I try to groom him. During this lesson I have to put him on a very short leash which is meant to force him into submission, go down and stay there. Unfortunately he is already very strong and pulled me off my feet. We will have to work on this for our lesson next week.
The purchase of this puppy has fulfilled its purpose. I no longer have time to get depressed and he is good company. Likes to be with me and follows me from room to room, lying by my feet.
I do have some very cute pictures which I have to figure out how to get to my computer from my phone. (I am still learning how to use the cell though I have managed to learn how to text.
My apologies for the lengthy saga but you asked for it.
24 Likes
Could you try a licky mat with frozen yogurt or peanut butter on it when you’re grooming him? Pulling you off your feet is no good! I generally don’t recommend unless in cases like this where it’s a bit of a safety issue, but maybe a head-collar type of thing? (as long as he’s not on a flexi leash or the like)
2 Likes
We have been making some progress in the grooming. The tricky part is trimming his bangs so I can see his eyes without gouging his eyes when using scissors.
1 Like
Oh yeah, that’s a “must sit still” moment. Do you have round-tipped school scissors while he learns not to jostle around?
I’m glad my dogs don’t need heavy grooming! I worked as a groomer/bather in high school… what a tough and thankless job!
1 Like
@Cat_Tap Enjoyed your update ~ glad to read Colton is taking his responsibilities seriously ~ so happy for you ~
Perhaps have the doggy school instructor help with the bangs trimming ~ for safety and practice ~
And of course anxiously awaiting pictures ~ Jingles & AO ~
1 Like
