Little thief!!!!
By saundyl
@saundyl (9783)
Canada
May 22, 2009 1:43pm CST
I've posted once or twice about my Husky-border collie (Zeus)who chews everything in sight. Usually my things not toys ive given him.
The other night a family stopped to look at my dad's blazer hes considering selling. They turned off their van and when they went to start it up it wouldn't start.
Zeus has gotten very protective of me generally not liking strangers to come close usually going in circles around them or me while they talk. He doesn't bite or anything he just growls a bit or tries to look menacing (hes more cute than menacing). I thought nothing of him going round and round the van. He decided the girls were ok and was licking them and playing with them then he'd go around the van or up to one of the boys and sniff them. I stopped paying attention.
THEN i see him go up to the open door of the van where the toddler was waving the bottle ZIP he whips right in grabs the bottle and takes off running. MUCH to my embarrassment my dog is now a thief.
I chased after him yelling ZEUS you little thief give it back. He did give it back and looked sorely chastened (he doesn't deal well with being yelled at he looks all sad and slinks like someone will beat him) He didnt chew the bottle so i washed it off and i returned it to the family. They were laughing like crazy at me chasing after him.
They got the van going about half an hour later and left.
Over night Zeus chewed up the welcome sign from the Frog solar lights. (UGH) and the lid off my jug of water.
I'm scared to put my hammock out because I'm sure he will chew it but...he hasnt been chewing things of mine nearly as often. I dont know if my yelling has gotten to him...the extra chew toys i got him have helped or if hes finally getting outa the chewing stage.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@chazamataz (49)
• United States
23 May 09
LOL! Good story. We have a border collie, Mia. I have never seen a dog that chews like Mia! She has chewed, no, eaten the following items....my leather shoes, my running shoes, my kids school book, my wifes garden, part of the couch leg and the wooden fence that used to be in my back yard. I think she is part termite!
@Signal20 (2281)
• United States
23 May 09
Have you tried giving him regular bones? I go to the grocery store once a week and have the butcher cut up the femur bones from the cattle. They're usually called "soup bones". I boil them for a few minutes, let them cool, then give to the dogs. Keeps them occupied for hours, and helps a lot with their chewing need. Some dogs will have their chewing stage last for 2 years.
My two newer dogs, both about a year old have chewed everything. All my chairs and table legs are ruined, corners of cabinets, countless shoes and boots, electric cords-and yeah, they were plugged in too!
They make this bitter apple spray you can spray on stuff and it's supposed to taste bad if they chew on it. I bought a different variant of it at the local store. Caught the dog chewing on the corner of my cabinet, so I sprayed it down real good with the bitter stuff. I walked away, looked back, Max started chewing on it again, then stopped licking his mouth from the bitter spray. I laughed at him and said Hah-what do you think of that? Then, he started licking the spray off the cabinet....he actually liked the taste of it! I just shook my head in disbelief and started yelling at him to stop. I have some goofy animals.
1 person likes this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
24 May 09
Oh yes i give him regular bones - I go to one of the local butchers and ask for the scraps - He gives me the meat that people dont use (its gonna get tossed anyways) and the bones for my dogs. He chews them but really seems to prefer things that i dont give him...ya know the forbidden chair on the deck that he cant get to unless he gnaws out the seat from the edge of the deck (hes done that) or the solar light in the fenced off garden.
I might have to look and see if i can get some of that spray around here. I admit i was tempted the other day to set a bug zapper solar light out with the other solar lights to see what he'd do if it zapped him but...since he chewed up some electrical cord and i could SEE that zapping him when i caught him chewing it i think zapping wasnt much of a deterrent.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
23 May 09
Hey saundyl! I think that Zeus is getting a little better, like
I said he would! He is still at that in between stage where he
is still not completely sure if he will get beaten or punished!
He is trying to please you so badly! He is still a baby so
he just doesn't know what is right yet, but is getting there
and you are being such a patient Mommy! He really loves you,
and he is trying so hard to please you! You just have to keep
being patient with him and I really think he will come around!
You are such a wonderful and loving person and I so wish I
could meet you one day! I feel such a strong connection to
you every time I respond to you! And I love Zeus even though
I don't know him! He has been through some very bad times and
he really needs you! He will come around, I know he will! He
really wants to make you proud of him! Just give him some
more time! Hugs, Opal/Leslie
1 person likes this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
24 May 09
He is doing so much better. I was pleased to see last night that he didnt turn tail and run when a strange (to him) man came into the yard. He was a neighbour and dad had told him to come over here to get some parts for a swather - Zeus followed right behind him and didnt run like he thought he'd get hit.
I REALLY appreciate lately that Zeus barks when people stop in the yard - half the time they stop in the evening and i'm running around in like shorts and a bra or a top and panties...He gives me warning i need to get decent! He gets tons of praise for barking at people.
I dont trust him with the chewing things to leave things where i think he can get them - I put my hammock up friday night to lay on it for a while and when i was done i was like i cant leave this out he'll eat the bed part so i dragged it up onto my front deck and closed the gate so he couldnt get it. It saved me from having to stand on the deck and scream.
Thank you so much for the encouragement - it helps alot!
