Last year we got a dog. He is a chewer and loves rawhide. While getting info about dogs, behavior and what not, it seems there is a consenus that rawhide isn't all that great for dogs. The bits and pieces the dog chews and swallows can get stuck in their digestive system. This can cause lots of problems.

The talk on dog messageboards is that everydog (esp chewers) needs a Kong.
Found a KONG (no, not a BONG) at petco. Riggs (our dog) loves his Kong. It is high quality rubber where you can stick goodies or liver paste or peanut butter in it and the dog spends hours chewing, plus it suppose to help clean the dog's teeth.

http://www.kongcompany.com/

Had the kong for a about 6 weeks now and not a piece of the rubber has been chewed off and it is still hard. Haven't seen it around here - I think he buried it in the backyard, it will show up. It cost me about 15.00 for the kit - the red kong and paste together. Or you can buy it for 10.00+

So far, I have saved money - because he would go through 1 rawhide bone/stick every 2 days or so.

Thanks for the info, my puppy is a rawhide junkie.

I'd think it would get pretty nasty in there if you were using peanut butter or liver paste, might even be bad for the dog's health if there's rotting residue, but don't know for sure. My neighbor had these "kongs" for her dogs and you're right, they were pretty much indestructable unless you leave them outdoors all winter. She would fill them with a few dog biscuits that were just barely wider than the hole in bottom. They were hard to put in there but it kept the dogs occupied. They really had to work on them to get a biscuit broken so pieces would fall out.

Two words for you: pizzle sticks, aka bully sticks. If you've got an obsessive chewer, they'll love'em. If I put a Kong and a pizzle out for my pit, she'd look at me like I'm a retard and go for the pizzle. Unfortunately, they are quite a bit more expensive than rawhide, but they don't carry nearly as many health risks for your dog. And you don't want to know what they're made of......

I'd think it would get pretty nasty in there if you were using peanut butter or liver paste, might even be bad for the dog's health if there's rotting residue, but don't know for sure. My neighbor had these "kongs" for her dogs and you're right, they were pretty much indestructable unless you leave them outdoors all winter. She would fill them with a few dog biscuits that were just barely wider than the hole in bottom. They were hard to put in there but it kept the dogs occupied. They really had to work on them to get a biscuit broken so pieces would fall out.

true about the pb, paste, being the anti-germitc as I am, I clean the kong thing out before I fill it. my dog is spoiled.

....yhew.....
http://www.activek9.com/pizzlesticks.html

my rottie loved nylabones the best. he would chew set them up one one end, hold em between his paws, and grind them down but quick. funny thing, he would only chew his bone when he was happy. like if we were in the room with him or he was outside on a nice day. if he was lonely or bored, he would just mope.

he had a kong and liked it fine. he had a finicky stomach so we stayed away from rawhide.

he loved to perforate frisbees. he would put about fifty holes in a frisbee in ten minutes.

occasionally I would throw a piece of firewood in the back yard for him to shove around and gnaw upon. if it was big enough, say twenty pounds, or maybe a little more, he would go apeshit, and try and bite the thing and pick it up.

dont waste money on dogs, give them what they love best: a good diet, even, firm, and consistent discipline, and lots of companionship!

Ha, Kong's.. (Super Buddie Products Last Longer)(Depends On The dogs I guess)

My Dogs (Both Retrievers devour them!) The Huge Nylabones Last a Little longer, but eventually get down too small So I have to throw away.
Lately, because someone is trying to convert me to feeding all "Raw"
A Friend has been giving me 30 lbs of bones from a Butcher shop weekly,
Beef Tips, Beef Rib Tips, Lamb Bones, Pork. Dogs like them partially frozen, they eat down to the bone, cleans their teeth well and For the most part ingesting the raw, uncooked bone is OK. Cooked bones, NEVER give a dog or they will splinter.And are Dangerous. Large Marrow bones some people fill up as you do with the Kong, cramming PB in it stuffing pieces Of broken biscuits in it. If you dog Isn't destructive that's OK, It will out last a Kong, However Large femur/Marrow bones will break dogs teeth.

Just a tip, a a former Vet Tech & Life time Pet owner, If you see your dog chew & swallow a chunk of something & are worried it will not pass in stool,
Induce Vomiting with 1 TSP. per 30- 40 lb of h202 )Hydrogen peroxide..
Take them outside & they'll puke it up within 10 minutes!

Remember Also, We Dont really know how some of those Imported Rawhides, Pigs Ears & Hoofs are Chemically treated. Try to Buy Products that are Not Imported If Your dogs like dick sticks & rawhide type treats!

As soon as the snow melts Our Yard will be decorated with Multicolored mush shit with pieces Parts Of Toys & other things They have digested, YUCK MUCK :eek: At least this way I know it comes out!!

Just a tip, a a former Vet Tech & Life time Pet owner, If you see your dog chew & swallow a chunk of something & are worried it will not pass in stool,
Induce Vomiting with 1 TSP. per 30- 40 lb of h202 )Hydrogen peroxide..
Take them outside & they'll puke it up within 10 minutes!

Thanks for the tip. Our dog ate some choc. at Valentines and I gave him some ipec syrup (about a 1/2 tblsp) and kept him in the backyard, while on the phone with the vet's office, he goes and barfs it up. Then he started to eat it, gross, thankfully I was able to get him into his crate before he could eat anymore. He was fine and did not give him any food or water (per vet's instructions) for about 5 hours later. no problems.


Remember Also, We Dont really know how some of those Imported Rawhides, Pigs Ears & Hoofs are Chemically treated. Try to Buy Products that are Not Imported If Your dogs like dick sticks & rawhide type treats!

I read that too, that rawhides are basically throwbacks from 3rd world countries and we do not know what kind of chemicals been sprayed on them.I have bought Riggs a rawhide since the Kong, and he loved it.

As soon as the snow melts Our Yard will be decorated with Multicolored mush shit with pieces Parts Of Toys & other things They have digested, YUCK MUCK At least this way I know it comes out!!

hehe, at least the snow is covering your yard, our snow melts and it is too damn cold to pick it up (well, some days I do) and we see frozen brown turds in two areas of the yard. what scenery!

What do you recommend to keep dogs off plants and gardens? I have read spraying annommia around plant edges keeps the dog from peeing and digging in the area. Any advice?

Sometimes Garlic Works...(for the Garden )

Always remember the Peroxide Trick, It is safer & works Faster.
In case of any Poisonous Or Toxic Ingestion, Keep Charcoal Caps On hand as well. Inducing Vomiting sometimes in certain cases is not good.
My friend Just send me this Link;

A Canine Version Of "Hot or Not" ;)
http://www.ratemypuppy.com/ratemy/puppy

that is so cute - I'm going to put Riggs picture on there!!!

UPDATE - was unable to register - so I can't track his points, I did upload and the site said a couple of days before it will be shown.

found some funny pictures --
http://www.ratemypuppy.com/ratemy/puppy?image=142525

http://www.ratemypuppy.com/ratemy/puppy?image=184013

http://www.ratemypuppy.com/ratemy/puppy?image=96203