lladyfair,

We have two labs and one shorkie. All rescues. The labs were 8 weeks old when we adopted them. We gave them an old pair of walking shoes to chew on. It took them almost 8 months to almost destroy them. Of course we removed shoe laces. From there we moved to empty plastic water bottles without the lids. We watched carefully and made sure they didn't eat the plastic. Then we discovered Nyla Bones.

Nyla Bones are still the thing for them at almost age 3. Our pound puppy, the shorkie steals them because he chews also. He is only a year old. We occasionally find a small child's toy under furniture he has chewed on.

Our labs have never chewed on shoes other than the first pair we offered them. Pound puppy chewed through a strap on a pair of my shoes so I keep my shoes out of sight.

Of course your puppy is teething. Can't believe the kong. Maybe you need a larger one. If you haven't tried Nyla Bones I would start with the large ones. Tennis balls, basket balls, volley balls were history with our labs their first year.

Good luck. Glad you got a fur baby.

Lady what kind of dog? Also did you get him from a breeder or shelter? I'm wondering what type of early days he had, was he with other dogs?

The blue ball is interesting. Have you tried giving him other blue balls or toys? Might be the color or the texture. Also what color is your carpet? Is it just one room? How about couches or other fabric things?

Hi Ladyfair, we have three inside dogs. Louie is a Maltese & is 8, Gino is shihtzu & is 6 & Busterbrown is 3 & is half Mtese & Shihtzu & I believe he has a little of something else in him as he sheds. When we only had Louie & Gino they had 105 toys Lol yes they were spoiled but we had a dollar store near by & Walmart used to have a dollar bin. Then Buster joined the household in under six months we were down to maybe twenty toys he destroyed them all. He loved getting the squeakers out. Now Louie has a blue teddy bear Buster will play with it but won't destroy it. Every time he runs up or down the stairs he always grabs a toy shakes it to death & then hips up on the bed. Our vet told us the one color that dogs can see is blue. Our dogs are more than spoiled Louie will only drink out of a blue plastic cup in our kitchen.

When Buster was little he only weighed three lbs yet one morning he was able to drag my purse (I used to keep it between my nightstand & bed) he ate over $60 in makeup he chewed up two pairs of my glasses & one of my husbands he are the buttons off of our video game needless to say we do not leave anything around anymore that he can get at he is getting better but oh my did he try our patience lol.

You mentioned your carpet where there seems to be spots where he may been chewing sprinkle some cyanne (sp?) pepper on the carpet. & that should stop that & it won't hurt him. Also Petco has quiet a few products that you could look into most are sprays. Have you tried giving him a large raw Hyde bone? The white ones they have some almost a foot long. Also at night is your dog crated or gated in a specific area of the house? All of our dogs have crates only I took the doors off & put blankies inside & there are two dog beds as well these are all in our kitchen. We have a desk like area so the crates fit nicely & each night they go to bed around 9-10 & they are gated in the kitchen. Your dog still has a lot of puppy in him. It's great that you take him out to run off the energy. A routine is important. I'm sorry I don't have better advice. In regards to the balls I think dogs know when they get one of the first toys that are special to them. All tree of ours have one. Have you tried those long flat soft fabric toys? They do have a squeaker but if that's one of his things you could always take it out. My dogs love them. You mentioned the kong we have a yellow Lab that's an outside dog he has a long kennel outside & a doggy door that leads him into the garage kennel. He too tore his up then we bought they heavy duty one & that did the trick. If your dog is bored maybe try some of the dog puzzle toys there kind if expensive but they keep them busy they have to keep pawing at the different compartments to find their treat, also the kong 's have the ones that you can put treats or peanut butter in. I wish you the best of luck I hope your carpet survives lol!

Hugs & God Bless
Lisa

my goodness some frisky doggies out there...LOL I thought I had it bad....Shep was a give away guy...nobody wanted him...first off he is a one person dog...does not like others...shows his teeth if they try petting him...but the first year I had shep he destroyed all the furniture in my living room...it was all old stuff and no harm was done to shep for pulling it all apart....

he had gotten better....but then some additional shredding took place here with pillow from bed...so when I leave they get kitchen door closed...from kitchen they can go outside but they cannot get into my stuff...oh I forgot he ate a bottle of his medicine too...so scared by that the med now is no longer on the bed....he has seizure disorder and takes K-Bro Vet which is potassium bromide...two pills day one in morn...one at night...

anyway I thought he was a dog that would be destroyed if he ever ended up in the pound...because he does not like people...since he is firmly attached to me he is my buddy no matter what wrongs he does....:-{)

Lol get him a lawn mower tire to chew on!:) I to am curious as to what breed of dog you have...name?

I have a shih tzu who has been my constant companion for 8 years now, her name is Dixie. I have two rescue cats...Simba and Nala and another cat named Littlebit.

I don't know what I would do without my babies. That's way too many animals in the house...especially cats. And I NEVER thought I would have so many but I also never thought I would be so dependent on their companionship either! They bring me so much happiness in all this pain.

I forgot to mention-- oops- He is a white - 10 pound-- Maltese

-- Hi hippy--
Yup... no shoes...LOL
His favorites-- Plastic water bottles ( cap and plastic ring at top must come off- first)... plastic bags ( Of course not allowed those but he *will* try to snatch them)... paper towel (empty) tubes and a biggie favorite ---PAPER! He LOVES chewing up paper! Especially paper towels...If there is a napkin on a table -- he will find a way to make it his.....LOL I will put plastic bags in a pillow case ( tie the top securely) so that way... he gets to hear it crinkle around and jump on it... HE loves it! Also the good ol' trick with an old sock tied in knots that we did for our pets (WAY before pet stores had isles of every kind of dog toy that could possibly be imagined.) Also, took a very think long ribbon with very strong material - tied knots all the way down- he loves to naw on those or chase it when I fling it around. Its almost all the free stuff- lol
Hugs to your fur baby :)

Hey Tigg-- He is a Maltese...we bought him ( as a pup) from a breeder... with papers. He has had other blue toys, as far as another blue ball- not so sure. The carpet is a neutral color- he doesn't eat or chew on the couch whats so ever. I dunno maybe cause its leather but he has never even tried. ( thank the heavens above :) ) The carpet is only in one part of the house ( living room) because he is not allowed to roam all over w/o supervision.
Thanks for replying :)

Hurting angel- Hi there-
Ah yes... the squeakers... one of the first to go... the eyes have no chance either....lol You said 105 toys? I figure they are meant to be spoiled a lil' right? ;) or a lot ;) What he really likes are those flat ones with the heavy fur- they have squeakers in both ends ( we like those too.) To us they looked like he would have the seams undone by the end of the night... but who knew? They have been the strongest yet. No claims of "destroy proof" either- ha...even when the fur gets wet it still holds up. After a day or so ... they squeakers are disabled because they get wet BUT... they stay in. I give him a treat ball occasionally ( put cherrios in there -it does occupy some time- I like those things.) He also loves to sniff treats out when hidden. I discovered that he would actually try to hide it from himself... lol by flinging it up and after it lands pull his little blanket over it and try to find it... really cute aren't they? So sweet. I LOVE that you have a Maltese too... I love so many different kinds of dogs- Thanks for replying :)

Hi Bill-- You will forever be THE man in Sheps eyes for sure! I bet he follows you around like your shadow...
Our last dog only liked us too-- LOL Thank you for the comments :)

Hi Dixie -- A lawnmower tire! lol -- yeah that would be about right - better size for his little mouth than a regular tire ... you have one you can lend me?? :) Breed and name? Maltese ... name is "Max"
We had a shih tzu when I was growing up ( I think a mix) great dog! So sweet.
Thanks for your reply! :)

I've only had 1 dog that chewed on stuff like that when he was a pup. He also destroyed his toys. Bella hasn't had time to destroy things. She has close to 100 toys to keep her occupied. She's really a good girl.

Hugs

Many years back we had a dog that ate thru baseboards and furniture...till we sprayed this bitter apple on it that the vet told us about..no more chewing on those places.. Might check with pet stores to see if it still exists

I have a lab...an incredibly hyper-active lab. He's 6 years but I swear you'd think he was 6 months! For our lab, tennis balls are a Godsend. He has probably hundreds hidden all over the house. And these huge Kong ropes. And rawhide bones. My baby chews when he's anxious too. Those are the only things that seem to help quell his anxiety for any length of time. Sure, I have to throw the darn ball...a lot...but he also chews it like "bubble gum," so it's like a toy and stress ball all in one, lol. He's a big boy...110 pounds...so I can't play tug with him or walk him by myself. I've found the tennis ball is what keeps him from tearing the house up...oh and playing outside in the yard every day.

~Michelle