Chew Toys Causing Gun Dogs To Go Hard Mouthed?

[fabiomilitello 37]

I've heard some say playing tug of war with a dog using a chew toy can make it hard mouthed, as it learns to clamp down onto items in it's mouth. I've heard others say that using chew-toys altogether with dogs make it hard mouthed. What do you guys think?

Edited February 11, 2015 by fabiomilitello

[Lab 10,979]

I'd never let a gundog have a chew toy....especially one with a squeak in it.

[Casso 1,261]

You should also ask if there are hard mouthed dogs out there whom have never used a bite item,

There are many causes of a hard mouth, if bite items arnt used what causes it then ??

[fabiomilitello 37]

I'd never let a gundog have a chew toy....especially one with a squeak in it.

 

But when they are teething as pups, if you don't give them a chew toy to chew on, won't they just chew everything else? Door frames, furniture, dummies etc...

[bobcullen79 1,495]

 

I'd never let a gundog have a chew toy....especially one with a squeak in it.

 

But when they are teething as pups, if you don't give them a chew toy to chew on, won't they just chew everything else? Door frames, furniture, dummies etc...

 

Not if you give them meaty bones.

[fabiomilitello 37]

From what I've read, a lot of people agree that toys with a squeaker are in fact no good. You don't want the dog to figure out if it bites down hard on something, it'll get a pleasurable noise! Which is a good thing too, because I didn't buy any toys with squeakers. But, I do have a Kong and a rubber bone, plus a few rope toys for the dogs dental health, which after a bit of research, all seem fine. Also, I've read that tug of war with these toys are a big no no as well.

[Lab 10,979]

 

 

I'd never let a gundog have a chew toy....especially one with a squeak in it.

But when they are teething as pups, if you don't give them a chew toy to chew on, won't they just chew everything else? Door frames, furniture, dummies etc...

Not really.......I've never given my 9 year old dog a chew toy and he has never damaged the kennel. His sister on the other hand destroyed anything it could get.

I also have a pup, I say pup but he's 5 now and he chewed everything as a pup too.

As said a good bone in beside them might stop the teething issue.

[fabiomilitello 37]

Just an update for you all, I took Asher home on Sunday. He's been chewing anything and everything in sight, so I've got him a few chew toys. He has a string of rubber sausages which I play keep-away with, to keep him interested in chewing that and not my Dad's antique furniture! He also has a rubber kong bone, which I stuff teething treats (they have menthol and eucalyptis in it to soothe his pain), and leave it in his crate overnight. He also has a couple of rope toys which he loves as well.

 

The other day I got him two bones from the village butcher, which were free, they only asked for a donation to the church! I got him a small marrow bone and a big meaty bone. I've given him the small marrow bone and he loves it. He chews it and tries to scrape the marrow from the inside of the bone clean. I haven't given him the big meaty bone yet, but that'll be his dinner for tonight alongside a bit of Eukanuba dry biscuits.

 

Any suggestions or criticism so far? He's only 7 weeks, so I'm not too fussed about him biting and getting violent just yet.

 

He also recalls when I blow the whistle and he recalls to his name (sometimes! lots of praise and a treat for him when he does though). When he nails the recall, I'll move onto sitting, and then retrieving. I've thrown him a few of his rope toys, he runs after them and just plays with him by himself, so I dont think his retrieving nature has quite developed yet. I don't want to keep throwing him stuff, so I'll try getting him to retrieve in a few weeks.