[MaggieV]

This is actually a two-part question: First problem: under "things"

I have a 13mo male Deerhead Chihuaua who constantly likes to chew my under "things". Usually my dirty underwear, but he'll settle for clean ones too. He also manages to find socks, and my daughter's tights. I don't understand why??? I constantly give my dogs appropriate things to chew. I make my own turkey jerky for them, buy them healthy jaw busy treats but this 1 dog won't leave my items alone. What's the deal and how do I stop it? I only catch him in the act 7 out of 10 times but I know its him and not the others cuz the others are with me at the time. Any suggestions?

The second problem I'm having with him is that he loves to dig in my back yard and I'm afraid that he's teaching my other two puppies to join along with him. I have many patches of dirt where he's been digging so the grass hasn't been able to grow.

I know the younger ones are picking up on the word "no" cuz they've destroyed about 5 pairs of my ear buds, and now they won't go near them. Persistence and constant watching and discipline.

When I go out to run errands, my dogs go outside, but they have access to one room in my house where their food/water/beds are.

We adopted him when he was about 6 months old and we have no idea what he was allowed to do with his previous owners, but he is skittish in different area, especially doors.....??? Don't know what that's about.

I really think he's trainable, but I just don't know how if I can't catch him doing it 100% of the time. HELP PLEASE

 

[ThoseWordsAtBest]

Why? Because it's stinky, and it's available. Put clothes in a hamper the dog can't get into. Being he is a Chihuahua, it should be pretty easy to find something he can't get into. Stop letting them near the stuff in the first place, because it's just setting them up for failure.

 

[jenz]

I agree. Pick up your stuff, keep it out of reach --and you won't have a problem. My two dogs are constant chewers and I have learned to pick up my stuff and keep my counters clean--or face the consequences!

How much exercise do you give your dogs? That may also be a factor. If they are bored and under-exercised, they're more inclined to get into trouble.

I'm almost afraid to ask, but what is a "Deerhead Chihuahua"? I'd love to see a picture. I'm envisioning antlers, lol.

Jen

 

[Rowdy]

There is just something special about under things. Cameron was hell on bras for the 1st 6 months of his life. I agree with the others, pick up your stuff and put it out of reach.

 

[ThoseWordsAtBest]

Shambles developed a real fondness for underwear around about 8 months old. He got several pairs even though I KNEW I wasn't leaving any thing out for him to get. I soon discovered he could easily open the hamper and things were ripe for the pickin'. Then I just had to be sure I was shutting the bathroom door as well as putting things in the hamper.

 

[KBLover]

This is actually a two-part question: First problem: under "things"

I have a 13mo male Deerhead Chihuaua who constantly likes to chew my under "things". Usually my dirty underwear, but he'll settle for clean ones too. He also manages to find socks, and my daughter's tights. I don't understand why???

Scent.

What's the closest thing you wear to the most scent-filled parts of your body? Underwear and socks

These things have the scents of the people he likes on them, and very strongly (especially to a dog's nose), and that's going to attract him to the object. Interacting with the scent of someone he adores is the next best thing to interacting with the person directly. The scent brings up mental images of you/his people, and it's comforting and rewarding to him (a self-rewarding behavior).

As far as stopping it, working on a strong "leave it" can help as well as make it a "I'll wait until you say so" type behavior over time. Until then - keep the garments out of reach.

 

[xxxxdogdragoness]

Haveent you heard? It's that they target the undies, ESP when you have company over & they wait & to run arou s with it over their heads happily while you give the 'chase of shame' it's a dog conspiracy

Just kidding :9. dogs like smelly things, prolly why they like unmentionables

 

[spotted nikes]

My brother's dog once took all of his clothes out of the laundry basket while he was at work, and went out the doggie door with them, and left them strewn all over the backyard. It looked like an irate wife was throwing him out of the house! I came home, and my brother told me "I think Fats is kicking me out of the house!".

 

[Greater Swiss]

Caeda has always had a thing for socks. Even if I think I've gotten them all cleaned up, if there is one to be found, she'll find it!
We gave Caeda full roam of our kitchen/livingroom for quite a while. We still only give her occasional access to the bedroom/bathroom area. Part of the reason we keep her out of the bedroom isn't to train her to behave around the occasional sock, its to train ourselves to pick up! I knew we were messy sometimes, but getting Caeda taught us that we were lol. SHE trained US to be more meticulous cleaning the house!
One thing I've done a little bit, that seemed to help (at least with getting the sock/underwear back), I used it for trading games with treats. It has definitely minimized the chase game at least! One of these days I intend to take the time to teach her "put it away" with socks .....if I'm really lucky maybe she'll just drop them in the hamper instead of chewing on them (yeah, right...but I can dream)

 

[Bitca38]

No matter what we did Cooper always managed to find socks, and he was not very willing to drop it in the early stages so we tried a different method. We sprayed a random sock with bitter apple and "accidentally" dropped it for him, as anticipated he picked it up the second we dropped it, and as we hoped he spit it out immediately and thankfully has not touched a sock ever again. First thing is to definitely try to keep everything out of his reach, but if he still manages to find some of this stuff try to associate it with a bad taste.

 

[Roloni]

Months ago...
Roxxie had a piece of cloth in her mouth...I Didnt know what it was.
20 minutes later ..
im at 7/11 buyimg a coffee.
The cashier gave me my change..I put it in my pocket..
and it fell down my pants leg and into my shoe.
She ate my pocket...

 

[MaggieV]

LOL. I get the smelly part, but most of the time he pulls out the clean stuff and just start chomping away. When I find them, he's chewed them at the seams every time. Last night I found that he pulled out my daughter's underwear from her room (I don't need to see HER underwear in the hallway thank you!!! She's 19!)....they were clean ones. He must've been startled, cuz he didn't get the chance to chew on them and just left them there. I just don't get the fascination. I have 5 dogs, and this 1 dog is the only one doing it....go figure.

 

[MaggieV]

No matter what, he always manages to find something....no matter how hard I try to keep them out of his reach. He's a tricky little devil. Where would I find bitter apple? I'd like to try that one. I'm guessing that it's safe....?

Thanks!

 

[MaggieV]

LOL! I'm sure your brother was pissed off! What is it with the clothes? What is the fascination? Mine doesn't PREFER the dirty ones, just whatever he can get his mouth on. I have 5 dogs and he's the only one doing it. I'm constantly giving my dogs stuff to chew, but he would prefer the underwear. grrrr

 

[MaggieV]

I would agree with you, but he doesn't care if they are clean or dirty. Most of the ones I've caught him with are clean. Yesterday he pulled out my (19yo) daughter's clean underwear.....we don't even have to see it in action to know that it's him cuz we have 4 other dogs and none of them do this behavior. I just want it to stop. I'm annoyed with having to replace my underwear and my husbands socks for all the ones he's chewed.

 

[The_Monstors]

Why not offer a fabric like toy to chew on? You mentioned chews but all food stuff. He may need some variety in getting some toys. Gweeb likes fabric as well but he's learned not to chew on socks, but has also access to rope toys made out of nylon rope and also I made a braid out of a old shirt. Also just because he's small doesnt mean he doesn't need exercise and specially mental stimulation so you guys should play and encourage him towards the toys.

I still think a lot of this can be solved with everyone being proactive though. You can shut doors, put things in tall hampers, you can shut your drawers and clothes closets and not leave crap out. He's a tiny dog and doesn't have strength or height to open drawers and lids so if it's not out then there's nothing to get. If there is stuff out where even a small dog can get it, then that's really less about the dog and is on you and the family for giving him the chance. If he does get into things, you need to have a better reward than socks and train him to "leave it" and reward when he lets go.

 

[Roloni]

I have a 13mo male Deerhead Chihuaua

 

[MaggieV]

Was there something said here that didn't come thru?