TEETHING - Page 1

i have a 4 month pup who is teething i would like to know if a natural rawhide bone is good for him or would something else be more advisible because some people have told me that rawhide is no good for there stomach...

MJJ try some of the soft rubber toys bones and other varieties. Your local pet supply should be able to help you when you explain you want some chews for teething of a puppy.

I'd stay away from rawhide or anything else they can tear a big chunk from and swallow. My dogs have all wanted to chew on both hard and soft toys when teething - as well as things like chair legs, pillows, me... But anyway, I keep soft and hard Nylabones and beef thigh bones on hand at all times regardless of the age of the dog. The latest pup just went through teething, and his favorite is the beef bones. I got him some of those rock-hard "dinosaurs," which he likes, but not like those beef bones.

Go to your butcher and get raw marrow bones... My dog LOVES them. He gets one a day since he was 10 weeks old - he's now 7 months. His teeth look gorgeous as well.

Try ice cubes - you can freeze broth to make them very tasty. I've used them with my dogs in the past and it seems to really satisfy the chewing and helps calm down the soreness that comes as the teeth buds are coming up. To this day, my adults love getting cubes!

MJJ-- All the suggestions offered (nylabones, kongs, raw marrow bones, etc) are great, as long as your dog is interested---but then again, you can have a 'pain in the a--' like my youngest. Nothing held his attention for more than a two-minute-go-around. As for the ice cubes--loved them--gone in one minute. Frozen washrags were great fun. Chew for a couple of minutes, then run around the house with melting water going all over the floor. I lasted for about 5 of those. The only thing that satisfied Joe was the hated rawhide. PT59 is correct. They can tear a big chunk off and swallow it leading to choking or blocked intestines. But..if you're REALLY careful--meaning, you set the pup down next to you and watch him diligently and, CUT OFF the soft, worked piece with meat shears (scissors)---then, you can give him a rawhide. But not just any rawhide. There are different qualities. Most shred apart in 2 minutes. When you purchase one at the pet store, usually the ones that are wrapped and 3x's the price of other, equivalent sizes are strong enough. I had to incorporate the preceding method with my last puppy. He showed only a mild interest in anything else, but loved the rawhides and would chew for at least an hour at each sitting. I stayed with him, watching intently, and cutting continuously. (Every time I cut the rawhide, he sighed, annoyed that all his work was in vain---but, safety first.) After each session, I hid the leftover rawhide. He was always satisfied, and I was content that he had worked the appropriate jaw and head muscles to strengthen ears and create a broader head. An added plus to this regimen was it became a useful bonding exercise. Anyway, if all else fails, try the above--but please be careful. Good luck.

I know I will get attacked for this... but I have always given my dogs rawhides and bones to naw on. Never had a dog choke, or have intestinal problems. Maybe I am just lucky? Maybe I think if the dog isn't an idiot, he will chew it and not choke himself to death??? Some of this gets too rediculous for me. Let the dog be a dog and have the freakin' bone! So many of us want to go back to natural selection and the strong will survive, ok well the dumb ones will choke and we will be without their stupid genes passing on to pups. Amen. I just live with the moto, if my dog wants to be stupid and hurt himself let him, if he doesn't learn something from that, I don't want him living a long life and breeding. Should I have to mash his food and chew it for him? Not let him play with toys or offleash because he may hurt himself? Use common sense and don't give your dogs razor blades to chew. Accidents happen but do you want to deprive your dog, of a life of a dog? They are dogs not children and even children chew their own food and sometimes choke. OMG sometimes they fall and get hurt playing with toys too! Should we put them in bubble wrap and keep them inside? Sometimes life isn't worth living when you are deprived of everything.

4pack-- I won't be one who attacks you. A lot of what you said is true---and my dogs aren't deprived of much. Never even crated or kenneled. Actually, spoiled rotten. But, when advice is given, you have an obligation to warn---that's all. Since your post was in a direct response to my (ridiculous, yes) overdoing-it post, I just have to add--Glad to hear Trick's leg is doing better. And, SGBH--you're right. One never knows how something is being written. I wrote with a smile.

LMH my post was nothing negative twords you. You have the time to watch your dog eat. Thats fine. I usually throw my guys a rawhide while I am working outside doing the lawn or something. They lay around in the grass chewing while I mow. Sometimes I just get a Paris Hilton image, of dogs in pink suits, carried here and there fed better food than I eat most days. I grew up with dogs being dogs, outside in the yard. Not pampered house pets treated like blown glass. We loved our dogs, took them on trips, camping and to the beach and lake. They were much loved members of the family but they lived outside protecting the house, from pests to weirdows. My dogs now that I am an adult are much more spoiled than my childhood pets. They get regular treats, bones, leftovers, get to ride in my rediclously expensive SUV and get it all hairy and stinky. Lots of people think I am over the top regarding my dogs. Still they are just dogs. For the most part they do live outside. To keep them out of trouble, they have a spacious dog run. They are free to chew whatever is in there to pieces, dig and whatever else they want while in there. They get plenty of time out in the yard, playing ball, out running through orchards and rice fields, chasing squirels, rabbits and whatever. When they are out, I am with them and have their attention, playing ball or have given them the "free" command to relax and lay in the shade. Sorry for coming off like I did, sometimes I just see depriving dogs of things is compairable to me not taking my dogs in the car, because I could get in a wreck and they could get killed. We can all be struk down at any moment. Should we hide under the bed to try and prevent it? No, live and do all you enjoy and when your times comes, you wont regret all the things you missed out on.

4pack-- I wasn't angry--just amused. And, you were reacting to my anal suggestion. Saw the absurdity of my step-by-step routine also. (But, would hate to be the cause of some dog's death if I didn't clarify--you see that, I'm sure). By the way, I know you take good care of Tricks--and now I know a little more about you. Take care.