Vin0770 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 I did a search on destructive chewing specifically wood on the site and found lots of help....thanks to all those that posted stories and offered ideas. It looks like Mr. Alum and I will become good friends. But I was just looking for some opinions. Sunny and Lola were 3 & 21/2 when we adopted them almost six months ago and are brother and sister by the same mother. After reading about some terribly stressful adoptions and adjustments on this site we really have been blessed. Yes some accidents but greyt in so many ways and maybe having them together at the same time has been the perfect strategy I don't have any serious complaints. Sunny is a saint and never does anything wrong and he should be The Pope's dog he is so well behaved, mindful, affectionate...just perfect really! Then there is Lola...the conniving female ever so affectionate face licking...spawn of Satan! She reminds me of that scene from Jurassic Park when the Velociraptors entered the movie and start eating people..."they watch you, they study you...they remember!" No doubt Lola is the one with the active mind and needs to be challenged...her slow simple brother is just happy there is peanut butter in the house. As the winter has set in I have been challenged to keep them active and we burn energy for 30-45 minutes everyday with playing and training. They were born and raised in Florida so I wish I had the video going when they went outside in their first snow...hilarious...but now it's cabin fever time. Lola is a mental whiz I suspected was always there as her eyes and body language give her away when her conniving kicks in. The Christmas tree was up for two weeks and then she found the low hanging ornaments and started plucking the antique WOOD ones...well she got two and the rest were relocated up. I could never catch her in the act but found the metal hook and about half of the lumber. Then I caught her with the corner of an antique rocker in her mouth and was able to correct that behavior as she is very submissive to me which is greyt! She is so perceptive to my emotions all I have to do is put my hands on my hips and call her name sternly and she flops on her side in submissive forgiveness. She is such a manipulator but I am onto her game of "what...little ol' me act." The rocker was relocated downstairs where they don't like exploring and I'm glad to keep it that way along with no human bed sleeping or couch poaching. Finally I saw her latest mischievous when she did her slink away under the cloak of owner inattentiveness...a WOOD leg on a table in the living room! Hence the Alum treatment and so far so good...along with watching her like a hawk! So why now? I suppose our relationship will forever grow and forever change and I will forever learn. Is she just overtaken by her boredom that she acts out? I'm certain she knows when she is doing something wrong but she "Just can't say NO to wood" all of a sudden. Should I be taking her turds to the lumberyard and selling them for a few bucks? Does the wood that she eats just get digested? No obvious splinters in her turds. Is she turning into a Greyt-Beaver? Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambuca Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 She's comfortable now. More excerise! A tired dog is a happy dog! Also, have chew toys around so she has appropriate options. Have you tried obedience classes? They can also help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Doggone Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Have you thought of giving Lola a "job", either as a possible therapy dog, or if you're so inclined, teaching her agility lessons? Sometimes the really bright ones are just bored, and blossom with regular, achievable learning goals. Of course, that would require your involvement too. My Autumn is more like Sunny, easily pleased, laid back and never bored, but I once had an Australian Shepherd mix who was unbelievably smart. We realized that if we didn't find a job for her, she'd invent her own, and although she was a brilliant dog, alas, as a dog, her imagination didn't cover positive career goals . Once she started therapy lessons and then had her official job, it was if she had discovered her life's mission, and the destructive behavior was a thing of the past. I've never gone the agility route, but I've read many posts here of others who did, and it sounds as if it'd be wonderful with the right hound. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin0770 Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 Great ideas Sambuca & Doggone thanks! Obedience classes are a good thought and Pam I like you premise to turn Lola's cleaver boredom into a positive and help others maybe...or just let her work out with the agility lessons. Time to search the internet for close by options! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Doggone Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 I guess one of your aims is to teach her that "whatever Lola wants, Lola DOESN'T get "! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawnnziggy Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 I hate to be the bearer of bad news but our old guy loved the stuff you put on wood. He just chewed more. Good Luck! I hope it works for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin0770 Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 Oh no Dawnziggy....don't say that's so! Dang so much for me being all confident.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandiandwe Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I sympathize. All of ours have chewed our wooden furniture, mainly when stressed or bored. Fortunately it has been limited to put Jarvie lounge and great-grandmas glory box has been ignored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin0770 Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 Well now four days without dropping another TREE....thank you very little Lola..... I have really been watching them like a hawk when she leaves my room I'm sitting in but I have incorporated mind games with hide and seek to fight the boredom and more intense playing....so now I just have to keep it up and be consistent. I'm the one needing the training....not her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tydyelady Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Toley has started a chewing habit too - (in our home 1 year now, VERY comfortable!). He has decided that pinecones - the cinnamon scented one I bought around the holidays - are nice toys and he chews them up and spits it pieces everywhere. He has now started taking the compressed wood pieces we use in the wood stove. Have no idea what this sudden interest in chewing is about! Quote Mom to Toley (Astascocita Toley) DOB 1/12/09, and Bridge Angel Opie (Wine Sips Away) 3/14/03-12/29/12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin0770 Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 (edited) Susan...isn't it amazing that just when you think you got a pretty good handle on things they give you a new head scratcher? No one has asked me but if a person considering an adoption I'd tell them you really have to be honest about the amount of time and dedication you may need to be asked to provide for these lovely animals. I have to keep my mojo up and not let it get to me because I though like all the other dogs I've had....you get to a point where you think "all right we have all arrived!" Edited January 31, 2014 by Vin0770 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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