Dutch Shepherd Forum

Maybe this is normal.. maybe not. Some reason my dog loves wood.. when I catch him with it he drops and and trots away like nothing happens. It's rather funny but it's frustrating to me because he has such beautiful teeth and he's rounding them down to a little brown dot is formed in the middle. This is on his front k9's and on his back molars now. He knows he is not suppose to touch wood but there are times we go for a hike and when I catch up to him he's in the woods flipping and throwing sticks in the air like a big puppy. Time I get there I tell him NO and he drops the stick and is by my feet. He loves kong balls and I do replace the stick with that but he is driven for wood. We burn wood for the winter here and when I stack it he will sit there like a good boy.. then all of a sudden he will literally pickup the biggest log and try and run away with my and make a laughing sound.

I've tie him to a tree with a cable and he started to chew the cable which I didn't want to happen because of his teeth. I tried the hot sauce thing on the wood. I tried sprays and deer repellents my vet told me to use and nope. He prefers it with hot sauce.. Vet said they didn't think it was a big deal but it sounds like he's putting himself into some teeth problems when he's older. His teeth just look awful. He's already broken his bottom teeth out and now has a goofy smile with missing teeth. I thought about a remote shock collar.. just catch him in the act and give him a zap but there must be a better way?

I would think that wood would not be the problem but a cable would. How old is he? The chewing may be a nervous habit. Can you do any replacement, nyla bones, etc?

He is two years.. just a little over. I tried the nyla bones, he actually was chewing those for awhile until they splintered/shredded. He has a few new ones that he won't even touch. I thought it was a nervous habit.. I also think it might be a prey drive thing? He will dig at the stick like he has killed it and then prance around almost like a... check it out!?!

He knows it's a no no.. when I stack wood (burn wood for heat) I'll catch him behind our wood shed just digging and chew the wood then I'll say "What are you doing?!?" he puts his head town and walks towards me to put his head between my legs. I just walk away and finish what I'm doing.. I don't get it though. I almost wish I would have bought two.. I think he needs a playmate.

2 DSs may well both chew wood and run around the yard with victory logs in their mouths. out of 6 DS that i have had, only one was not big-stick/log crazed.
but if you have a DS with a malfunctioning off switch, a playmate can do wonders for his happiness level and energy use and would reduce your mandatory daily involvement [ tho 2 would require other personal attention to each]. it would at least redirect a good portion of his wood-chewing energy into chasing and tackling a housemate and chewing on his ears, legs, and neck

But a second dog could very well pick up any bad habits the first dog has...and that would be double trouble!!

A playmate can satiate each other's energy (and good socialization) that we humans (IMO) can't fill in and up.
DS have a penchant for sticks. Try antlers horn (for great chewers) or beef knuckle bone. It will keep them busy for awhile.
If you want to get another pup, I know De las Flores Kennel has one more male, almost 8 weeks old now. Check his website. No, I am not related to the person or the kennel. But I am intending to get a pup from him as I am satisfied with what I see and the positive feedback of his clients.

Anubis

Anubis wrote:Try antlers horn (for great chewers) or beef knuckle bone. It will keep them busy for awhile.

My dogs (and most of the dogs that I know) love deer and elk antlers. Some prefer split, others whole. Tyson likes both and will rotate depending "how" he wants to chew/gnaw. He always has a couple of each laying around the house.
We only have 2 issues:
1st, my husband forgets he has to watch where he's walking...OUCH!!
2nd, Tyson sometimes like to have me involved in the activity and will inevitably "hand me" the slobbery end of one he's been gnawing on.

My new hashtag: #lifewithaDS

Yeah, I'll have to do some more research. I'm thinking a playmate will force him into not doing it as much. He does have a playmate but we never really have the time to drive over there and let them go at it. When he does they literally bite each others collars, ears and necks which is nice to see. Not to mention the running around the house a million times playing tag.

and there are some excellent pups up or adoption now - one in TX that may be a brother of my new TexXander, who is amazing all around - the absolutely best temperament, being so far the most environmentally sound DS I have ever run into, in addition to being very social with dogs and people and cats, and any other good thing one could think of. I really lucked out and this new one is said to be exactly like him in personality and temperament and probably the same age - which is now 5 months. and there are other DS and mal puppies out there.

I have two DS's and yep, they keep each other plenty busy and leave me alone. Mine love love wood and sticks too. I get mine Moose antlers from Elkusa.com and they love them and they last forever. It does stink when you step on them too, the uncut antlers are better to step on, they dont hurt as much as the cut antlers, they fly better too across the room when you walk and kick one by mistake. I really would not think wood would wear teeth down? Sadie loves running through the yard with a huge stick, she learned quick that she cant fit through the arbor with a big stick, or go up stairs with one.

Dutchringgirl wrote:they fly better too across the room when you walk and kick one by mistake.

So true!

Dutchringgirl wrote:I really would not think wood would wear teeth down?

That kind of confused me, too. Especially since my dogs chew on antlers and their teeth aren't worn.

Maybe they don't eat enough wood? His teeth have a little brown dot in the middle, the vet wasn't worried about it... but wouldn't that be a nerve or something? I can try and snap a picture.