Ted's the TV critic!!

[Deleted]

Hi

I need a solution to a slight behavioural issue with Ted. Every now and then he will chew on the corner of the table or something similar which I put down to curiosity as it only lasts a few seconds. Yesterday he went into one of his 'mad' moods and sprinted around the flat, wore himself out and slumped into his bed - nothing unusual except that in his 'travels' he must have picked up the TV remote and was happily chewing on it when I came into the room! Was it his opinion of TV programs or is there something else going on? He has a regular supply of marrow bones for his teeth and an array of soft toys to play with, which he does (mostly at 7:00am!!!!). By nature he is very curious and will sometimes pick things up that are nothing to do with him and take them to bed (laundry, shoes etc.) Any ideas as to how I can nip this chewing habit in the bud (or even why he does it) before he takes it too far?
Thanks

[rachael]

Simon used to take stuff to his bed - slippers and some of my sons toys. If he had already dropped them then I would remove them saying No in a stern voice to where they originally were. Then I would offer him a dog toy and praise him when he took it. If he had my item in his mouth I would excitedly squeak one of his toys and offer it, when he dropped my item I would say good boy. Now he never takes things that are not his. I think they just don't know the boundaries at first.

[Ian]

Pat's probably the best person to asnwer this, but here's my little bit...I can't speak with any great knowledge on this because Sean has never exhibited this behaviour, but he will occassionally tear up a plastic bag if he's on his own and one is to hand!

I think the taking of personal items like laundry etc. is a comfort thing, i.e. they want something with your smell on it close to them.

The chewing issue might have a solution on this page: www.dogbehaviour.com/articles/dogs/chewing.htm but again Pat may have a better idea.

[pumalass]

Hi with chewing furniture sometimes they all do this but as mentioned Pat might be the best one to ask, Mersey when she came home chewed something it was just close to where she was, Bart had a little nibble one day on our stairs but that was all. Beau on the other hand has chewed a sky remote, we think he was trying to make it squeak, he takes my slippers everyday brings my boots, trainers and anything else he can find including a cardigan he regularily takes from the banisters.
One day whilst we were out he took all of my shoes out of my wardrobe.

So they all have their funny little ways but you need to nip the furniture biting in the bud some say it's when they get bored is it when he is left alone if so put a wireless on for him it does help.
Chris

[pat]

well done mark for finding that piece of info it is exactly what i would suggest, it is just trying to get his attention away without making it a game , but just enforcing what is right and what is not
pat

[katie]

One of our dogs Blaze has had our tv remote before I was told by a dog behaviourist that it was because items such as the tv remote have a high concerntration of your smell on them and chewing such an item is a comforting thing for the animal, we now just make sure the remotes are put well out of the way when not in use. Like the article Mark found says we were recommended to try putting the food in a 'Kong'toy and leaving a rawhide chew available.

[sueb]

Bren destroyed a couple of our remote controls, to be honest I never really thought about them having a high concentration of our smell, that makes sense. We just put them out of reach.
Both he also & Nelly take various shoes to their beds, though not as much as they did. I found Bren did get more mischeveous when he seemed to have excess energery (a strange concept for a greyhoud) but then a mad 10 minutes running in the garden (on top of his walk) used to help.

Just a slight word of caution re chewy/rawhide bones, you probably know that they should always be supervised, as they can choke on the last bits (Bren quite often goes to swallow the last bit which is too big)
I'm sure Ted will settle down, Bren certainly has, in fact he looks and acts more like an old "boy" these days, even though he's only 4!!

[Deleted]

Thank you all for the advice. Mark - that is a brilliant site. Ted is, at this moment chewing on a Kong filled with treats. Since the remote (and the Wii wheel!) all he has done is take my slippers and cloth cap to bed. This backs up the theory of a form of comfort which I am quite happy with. Fingers crossed that there will no more illicit chewing (apart from bills that came through the letterbox!)

dave

[patshep]

Although Lily doesn't appear to show an interest in the remote, she does pick up things on her travesl around the house.

Today she lifted two toys from the chi's crate plus his blanket and cushion and deposited them on her bed along with her snuggle chums. She doesn't chew so I think it is a comfort thing.

The largest object she took was a footstall.