For the past few weeks I have been on watch patrol. Neither one of my dogs used to chew illegal items such as our shoes, but now Rioja has begun to delight in rubber. So far two of my shoes have fallen victim to her mighty strong jaws. As John likes to remind me every time our dogs act like dogs and engage in behaviors that we humans don’t find so fascinating… um, see it from the bright side… this will give you more appreciation for what your clients are going through… Yes, you bet! I have caught myself smiling sheepishly as my own managing plan fails once again leaving my shoes around for Rioja to find and chew.
Not that our house is messy with “stuff” all over the place, but since a few weeks back my house is even tidier. So besides having more understanding for my clients who report another chewed item, I have been busy implementing a plan of action in hopes that Rioja once again finds her own toys attractive and leaves
my shoes alone!
I think that in the last few days, I am making some progress and her taste for rubber appears to have been satisfied. She is eating out of frozen Kongs daily. This provides her with ample opportunity to chew and lick (rubber) and work for her food – there! You mischievous devil!
I also bought her (and Deuce) some hard rubber toys. Her toys are now rotated on a more frequent basis making sure that she always has access to hard toys that she can chew on or yes even destroy! I have made peace with that. And last I am more aware of her whereabouts. As I am busy writing this I realized she is not laying at her afternoon spot- the cozy pillow by the window, which provides her not only with some comfort but a spanking view… so I get up and go to look for her. I find her not too far from her “perch” half –asleep half aware of my camera (which I snatched as I went looking for her) on the sofa… ah, if only I was a dog….
All this new activity from Rioja has gotten me thinking about several things:
- Our dog’s behavior is never static. It is always adapting to their surroundings and immediate reality.
- They are not perfect thus we shall accept them with their “weaknesses” and we must take responsibility. (Pick after yourself) when they fail (mistaken MY possessions for theirs – as an example).
- They need daily mental, social and physical stimulation or they will find it themselves.
- We love them even though sometimes… we would much rather they get a job of their own to pay for broken items.
- They make us laugh and keep us on our toes… implementing yet another fun game, getting us up from the chair to entertain.
- Dogs remind us also that they are not humans thus their needs are different from ours. I can attest to this: I have never wanted to chew on flip-flops!
- They will learn from their peers…
the like when something deviates with what we humans label as “normal” (read desirable) behavior from our dogs.
In regards to Rioja’s chewing of our shoes, I have to take into account that she began to chew on our possessions just after a cutie that we were boarding left our home. She had never before done so.
As a matter of fact all the destruction started when I left a pair of spanky-new sandals in my bathroom when we went out for dinner and while Rioja’s buddy was still with us only to come back to a chewed up strap on one of the sandals.
Is it possible then that dogs can pick up bad-habits (it is alwaaays bad habits) from their playmates? In other words, a case of: I see….now I must try it?
I am interested in the reasons behind her new acquired habit not so much to point fingers as to the culprit but because this incident sheds some light to the hidden life of our dogs - their social interactions with other dogs and to what their motivations might be in engaging in a new behavior. This case is not yet closed as I am still left wondering who whodunnit and a probable cause.
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