[CrzyBritNAmerica]

So we've been starting to work on leaving Bridgette out of her crate when we're not home and she does fine, so far anyway. She is confined to the living room and there's nothing dangerous for her to get into...but I am still worried that she'll find SOMETHING (not harmful, but something) to chew up.

We have only left her for really short periods of time to begin with. I go to take the trash out and I have walked across the street to the gas station for a soda and left her out. No more than 15 minutes so far. She usually sits by the window and watches for me to come back.

But what I want to ask is if you guys would leave treats out for your dog(s)? I want to leave her a kong or something like that...maybe raw meaty bones...but I am really paranoid that she'll choke. I mean we only really put peanut butter in her kongs, so I really can't imagine it's possible...but what about RMBs? It seems pretty unlikely that she would, but like I said I am even too paranoid to leave treats in her crate...

Oh and she's not really a puppy...3 in August. Am I just being silly?

[Dorygirl]

I think it would be safe to leave things to keep her busy. Choose treats that couldn't possible get to choking size in the time you are away.

We have a toy box with several fun chew things...bones, kong, squeaky duck, that ball with the holes to hold treats...it keeps Dory out of trouble and we just watch to make sure everything is safe.

The stuffed animal toys aren't good....they can get ripped open so quickly and then the stuffing all comes out and that makes me nervous. Those long, spiral bones, made by Merrick (?), last a pretty long time. My vet isn't crazy about rawhide and Dory has tummy trouble with the raw bones from the butcher.

I bought this hoof-looking thing the other day and she ate it in 10 minutes. That's no good. Funny how much money you spend finding the things they like and that last a little while...

[CrzyBritNAmerica]

Originally Posted by Dorygirl

I think it would be safe to leave things to keep her busy. Choose treats that couldn't possible get to choking size in the time you are away.

We have a toy box with several fun chew things...bones, kong, squeaky duck, that ball with the holes to hold treats...it keeps Dory out of trouble and we just watch to make sure everything is safe.

The stuffed animal toys aren't good....they can get ripped open so quickly and then the stuffing all comes out and that makes me nervous. Those long, spiral bones, made by Merrick (?), last a pretty long time. My vet isn't crazy about rawhide and Dory has tummy trouble with the raw bones from the butcher.

I bought this hoof-looking thing the other day and she ate it in 10 minutes. That's no good. Funny how much money you spend finding the things they like and that last a little while...

Yeah, Bridgette isn't even allowed rawhide unless I am within her line of sight, so that is out of the question...plus were quitting rawhide now anyway. She has stuffed animals, but I don't really leave them out for her when I'm not there...I don't think she'd have a problem with them though. But I think kongs might be the best bet.

I just want to avoid any mishaps. I think in my mind I imagine getting to leave her out longer and longer and then finally one day we'll leave her when we both work (which is only 2 days a week for 6.5 hours) and the couch will be nothing but fluff everywhere! LoL. I seriously doubt she'd do that, but I don't want her to be out of the crate and bored.

[Captbob]

Originally Posted by CrzyBritNAmerica

Yeah, Bridgette isn't even allowed rawhide unless I am within her line of sight, so that is out of the question...plus were quitting rawhide now anyway. She has stuffed animals, but I don't really leave them out for her when I'm not there...I don't think she'd have a problem with them though. But I think kongs might be the best bet.

I just want to avoid any mishaps. I think in my mind I imagine getting to leave her out longer and longer and then finally one day we'll leave her when we both work (which is only 2 days a week for 6.5 hours) and the couch will be nothing but fluff everywhere! LoL. I seriously doubt she'd do that, but I don't want her to be out of the crate and bored.

Nylabones are pretty good, but only get the kind for aggresive chewers ( the white hard ones called Durable Chews). Also, make sure they are the correct size for your dog.

http://www.nylabone.com/default.aspx...d=106&subcat=8

Use this to figure the size..... http://www.nylabone.com/default.aspx?pageid=54

[CrzyBritNAmerica]

Originally Posted by Captbob

Nylabones are pretty good, but only get the kind for aggresive chewers ( the white hard ones called Durable Chews). Also, make sure they are the correct size for your dog.

http://www.nylabone.com/default.aspx...d=106&subcat=8

Use this to figure the size..... http://www.nylabone.com/default.aspx?pageid=54

Good site and info! Thanks! I have been thinking about Nylabones, but not sure how Bridge will take to them....I didn't know they had flavoured ones lol. I'll have a look in Petsmart for some.

[Ginny01OT]

The consensus on this forum is to supervise your dog with raw meaty bones--I supervise Riley with almost all treats as I give him rabbit fillets and chicken breast fillets. I only leave out chew toys when I am not home.

[CrzyBritNAmerica]

Originally Posted by Ginny01OT

The consensus on this forum is to supervise your dog with raw meaty bones--I supervise Riley with almost all treats as I give him rabbit fillets and chicken breast fillets. I only leave out chew toys when I am not home.

Yeah I think that will be my conclusion too. I think (even though she'd probably be fine) I would be way too nervous leaving RMBs for her to have when I wasn't there. I think I'll look into Nylabones and she has Kongs. I haven't actually given her an RMB before so we'll have to try that as something for when we are home...

[Alpha]

My guys have their bones all the time. They're pretty big ones though and there's no shards, mainly they just lick and dig at the marrow inside.

To be honest, after the first few days of a new bone they don't bother with it as much. A bit here and there.

As for your girlie, it sounds like she's doing great so far!

Are you rewarding her when you come in and there's no messes?

Hades was a destroyer. A bad one. And I think the most important thing that got him out of that mentality, was the big praise and treatsies and when we got home. He knows what "mess/messes" means. If we came home and there was a mess, he got scolded for of course "making a mess", but if there isn't a mess, he get's big praise and treatsies for "no messes! Yay! Good puppy!" LOL

I could of course be imagining that he trully realizes what's going on, but I'm pretty sure he does because he hasn't made a mess in a long time

For treats, I'd probably fill the biggest kong I could get with some canned food or yogurt, frozen. It's long lasting and requires their full attention. LOL

I found the PB gave my guys the runs and I had to limit how much they got. You don't want to worry about her poops and you want to give her a lot to keep her occupied.

[CrzyBritNAmerica]

Originally Posted by Alpha

My guys have their bones all the time. They're pretty big ones though and there's no shards, mainly they just lick and dig at the marrow inside.

To be honest, after the first few days of a new bone they don't bother with it as much. A bit here and there.

As for your girlie, it sounds like she's doing great so far!

Are you rewarding her when you come in and there's no messes?

Hades was a destroyer. A bad one. And I think the most important thing that got him out of that mentality, was the big praise and treatsies and when we got home. He knows what "mess/messes" means. If we came home and there was a mess, he got scolded for of course "making a mess", but if there isn't a mess, he get's big praise and treatsies for "no messes! Yay! Good puppy!" LOL

I could of course be imagining that he trully realizes what's going on, but I'm pretty sure he does because he hasn't made a mess in a long time

For treats, I'd probably fill the biggest kong I could get with some canned food or yogurt, frozen. It's long lasting and requires their full attention. LOL

I found the PB gave my guys the runs and I had to limit how much they got. You don't want to worry about her poops and you want to give her a lot to keep her occupied.

Thanks for the great advice! I have been praising her a lot when I come in. She sort of looks at me like she has no idea what she did right...but she likes it. I think she'll start to get the hang of it once we get to staying out a bit longer.

She is housetrained, but I am sort of expecting accidents since she won't be used to being alone in the house. Hopefully there won't be any, but if I expect it then I won't be too disappointed or anything.

I am planning on getting some Natural Balance food rolls for the Kong and also non-fat plain yogurt...we use 100% natural peanut butter and she's never had a problem with it, but anything that's not natural gives her gas and loose stools too lol. Yuck!

But I am hoping that she won't be destructive! She doesn't really get into anything when we're home, but she'll occaisionally find something interesting to chew...she recently chewed one of those lids you use to cover cat/dog canned food lol. I really think that if I make sure there isn't anything for her to chew except her kong and what not, she'll be okay.

She's a good girl...just very much a puppy for an almost 3 year old. (She's a rescue so she may not be that old...I'd be willing to bet she isn't, but hey)

[RonE]

I figure if Esther didn't choke on the sofa she ate or get lipid pneumonia from the jug of motor oil she chewed open, it's probably okay to leave her some Nylabones and a Kong with a few biscuits inside.

Besides, she's gotten so efficient at getting those biscuits out of her Kong that I'm rarely out the door before she's done.

[CrzyBritNAmerica]

Originally Posted by RonE

I figure if Esther didn't choke on the sofa she ate or get lipid pneumonia from the jug of motor oil she chewed open, it's probably okay to leave her some Nylabones and a Kong with a few biscuits inside.

Besides, she's gotten so efficient at getting those biscuits out of her Kong that I'm rarely out the door before she's done.

Hehe yeah I hope Bridgette doesn't choke on the sofa.... Yeah I cannot put biscuits in Bridgette's kong as she tends to be done before I can even walk away from her lol. Hence the peanut butter. I like to fill it with peanut butter and then stick treats in it...she gets frustrated sometimes. I guess it might be sad that I think it's funny...but better her spending time with the kong than eating the couch!

[Alpha]

In some situations, it's funny how we make such a big deal about leaving them alone.

I went through it with Hades and for 6 months after I was always so worried what was going on at home while I was out. I was hopelessly paranoid. So I recorded them one time.

What do you think they did? They sat at the window until they could see us no longer and then PARTIED! Not quite

Rather they went to their beds and slept. Literally the WHOLE time until we came back. The whole time I was having a heart attack and they were catching some Z's. ROFL

[Captbob]

Originally Posted by RonE

I figure if Esther didn't choke on the sofa she ate or get lipid pneumonia from the jug of motor oil she chewed open, it's probably okay to leave her some Nylabones and a Kong with a few biscuits inside.

Besides, she's gotten so efficient at getting those biscuits out of her Kong that I'm rarely out the door before she's done.

I use the Natural Balance rolls sliced up for the Kong toy. I cut them so they will barely fit in the Kong, figuring that it will be difficult and time consuming to get them out. I have tried shaking the Kong and twisting it around before I give it to her, and I can't get one of the pieces to fall out. I give it to Smokey and 10 minutes later it is completely empty I have tried to peek at her while she is working with it to find out how she does it , but she always stops and looks up at me, like it is a secret that she doesn't want me to find out about.......

[RonE]

I'll have to try something like that.

The hard biscuits are easy for her. She throws the kong against the wall, or drops it down the stairs, until the biscuits break and fall out.

[DogueEdaddy]

Yes, Nylabone sounds like a good chance if she'll chew it.

When I crate trained my Boxer, I gave him biscuits. It didn't take him long to start heading for the crate as soon as he saw the box, but he had them done before I got out of the room. I gave him rawhide when we were home, but he ate them, no matter how big, then he got sick. No more rawhide. I also gave him RMB's, but he even ate the gigantic ones in less than a day. He wouldn't ever touch Nylabones.

God Bless All......Stan

[poodleholic]

As a general rule, my dogs sleep when I'm gone. I never leave bones or chew toys, because they are potentially dangerous, so only given under supervision. I put filled Kongs in the freezer, and will leave those occasionally.

If your dog is a chewer, keep in mind that more than one dog has redesigned sofas and chairs! Contain in a room where she can't get into trouble, until she's earned freedom of the house.

Originally Posted by CrzyBritNAmerica

So we've been starting to work on leaving Bridgette out of her crate when we're not home and she does fine, so far anyway. She is confined to the living room and there's nothing dangerous for her to get into...but I am still worried that she'll find SOMETHING (not harmful, but something) to chew up.

We have only left her for really short periods of time to begin with. I go to take the trash out and I have walked across the street to the gas station for a soda and left her out. No more than 15 minutes so far. She usually sits by the window and watches for me to come back.

But what I want to ask is if you guys would leave treats out for your dog(s)? I want to leave her a kong or something like that...maybe raw meaty bones...but I am really paranoid that she'll choke. I mean we only really put peanut butter in her kongs, so I really can't imagine it's possible...but what about RMBs? It seems pretty unlikely that she would, but like I said I am even too paranoid to leave treats in her crate...

Oh and she's not really a puppy...3 in August. Am I just being silly?

[CrzyBritNAmerica]

Originally Posted by poodleholic

As a general rule, my dogs sleep when I'm gone. I never leave bones or chew toys, because they are potentially dangerous, so only given under supervision. I put filled Kongs in the freezer, and will leave those occasionally.

If your dog is a chewer, keep in mind that more than one dog has redesigned sofas and chairs! Contain in a room where she can't get into trouble, until she's earned freedom of the house.

Well she won't be having freedom of the house at all I don't think. We will be leaving her in the living room so she has plenty of room. She will also have access to the stairs which only lead to our little entry way. There's a big window there and a bench that she likes to lay on. And then she has the window seat in the living room which I am willing to bet she'll sleep on the whole time.

I think we'll try so Nylabones and hope she likes them and doesn't chew through them, and then she'll have kongs too. I really doubt she'll be destructive...she never has been unless it's a stuffed animal or something of the like. I'll let you guys know how it goes!

[peace36]

I always leave some sort of bone 4 my two. No problems so far. It is really hard to find the Kong. Once they finish with it I will take a couple of weeks before I stumble across where they hid it!

[memyself]

Originally Posted by CrzyBritNAmerica

So we've been starting to work on leaving Bridgette out of her crate when we're not home and she does fine, so far anyway. She is confined to the living room and there's nothing dangerous for her to get into...but I am still worried that she'll find SOMETHING (not harmful, but something) to chew up.

We have only left her for really short periods of time to begin with. I go to take the trash out and I have walked across the street to the gas station for a soda and left her out. No more than 15 minutes so far. She usually sits by the window and watches for me to come back.

But what I want to ask is if you guys would leave treats out for your dog(s)? I want to leave her a kong or something like that...maybe raw meaty bones...but I am really paranoid that she'll choke. I mean we only really put peanut butter in her kongs, so I really can't imagine it's possible...but what about RMBs? It seems pretty unlikely that she would, but like I said I am even too paranoid to leave treats in her crate...

Oh and she's not really a puppy...3 in August. Am I just being silly?

I really believe you should just get her things that'll keep her busy while you're out,i came across some very good meaty bones in my local harris teater store in durham and in addition to my homemade food,my beagle has been having fun all the way.Try and spend time at your local pet store,i don't agree that all the toys are bad,but just beware of canned food for now.Lets know how it goes.