It’s ridiculously annoying when people tell us how busy they are. We KNOW! We’re ALL busy, right? Especially now that the holiday season has kicked in. We need to be in 100 places in 24 hours, have a to-do list longer than our shopping list, and absolutely no time to get it all done.
Most of us are experiencing cold temps, some people are getting buckets of snow, and others are getting that nasty cold rain and freezing rain.
In addition to the monumental to-do list, we have to exercise, train, or otherwise entertain our dogs. Or we pay the price.
I fed my dogs out of a Kong this morning. Levi almost always eats out of food dispensing toy, but I added the puzzle toys for my other three dogs, too.
Come back with me three days ago to learn the reason behind the changes…
First, the destruction of the cat toy.
We have the Christmas tree in the living room and presents under the tree. The dogs are normally gated in that room when we’re away. Levi is almost always crated. However, with presents under the tree, I had to revise the confinement scenario. I (thought I) dog-proofed the family room/kitchen area and left the dogs with frozen stuffed Kongs, like usual, while I ran my errands.
I returned to the mess above. Poor kitty’s scratcher toy was in a thousand pieces scattered all over the family room. Levi had found the one non dog-proofed object and had his way with it. It was my fault, it was left on the floor and within easy reach. Clearly, it was a dog toy I’d left for their enjoyment and amazement.
But wait, there’s more.
The next day, I was awakened by Levi delivering something to me in bed. This is pretty normal. Sometimes it’s a deer antler, other times is a stuffed toy. I never opened my eyes, just took it from him when he offered it. Imagine my surprise when I saw this:
Yep, a big old sharp knife. Thank goodness he has a soft mouth and doesn’t flail around when he’s carrying things. He could’ve cut up the whole house, for Pete’s sake.
The knife was my cue to get up. When I walked into the kitchen, I found cold, hard poop. Someone ::cough Levi:: must’ve gotten up in the night and had to go. He’s the only dog in the house who won’t bark or otherwise let us know he’s gotta go.
Wait, the story gets better.
I tried to flush one tootsie roll at a time and — you guessed it! — the toilet clogged! I guess cold poop isn’t as cooperative as, well, you get the idea. No pictures of that, sorry.
The lesson here, kids, is you’re never too busy to:
- make liberal use of crates
- dog-proof once, twice, thrice
- dog-proof again
- make feeding time a fun challenge with food stuffed toys to help combat boredom and destructivity (yeah, I think that’s a made up word)
Talk back! Share your dog destruction stories — leave a comment below! You’ll make me feel a little better. You can even make it up.
I use songs for anytime i am going out….if frozen it can keep Asher busy for up to two hours. Fortunately he is dog that doesn’t need to be crated and usually just crashes the rest of the time. Even though he can be 3+ hours alone without a problem, I try to have someone come in and let him out even though he can go much longer without going out….I’m with you that a little preventative treatment goes a long way.
Recently we switched to slow-bowls.
I got three different kinds and switch them around every couple of days.
I discovered that they are also freezable!
if I mix his kibble with thing I might put in a Kong (some ripe banana, squash, a little canned dog for that I can freeze the slow-bowls just like a kong (if you have the room in your freezer….great alternative to a kong just to mix things up.
Totally been there, done that. Came home one day to find my guide-dog-in-training ON THE BED (huge no-no) with a book. The front and back covers of the book had been meticulously ripped off and then ripped apart, there was no other damage except some minor chewing on one corner.
And let’s not forget the time she ripped apart a dog bed, because she was mad she wasn’t going out to dinner.
Or the time I found my 17-month-old and 12-week-old pups-in-training playing with my favorite high heels. Luckily the damage when minimal.
Or this morning when said 12-week-old puppy grabbed my GLASSES off the nightstand and attempted to chew them.
Dogs are opportunists, aren’t they!? Kinda like me: if there is candy in a dish on someone’s desk, I’m gonna eat it! 🙂 haha
Candy dishes really should be outlawed. I mean, candy is going to trump paying attention every single time.
Which reminds me of an attempted unzipping,by a canine that will not be named, of a pocket on a backpack to get at some treats. *Sigh*. And now my little opportunist is ready for the big bad world of guide dog college.
Good luck to your charge in guide dog college! It’s a tough time for me, letting them go, but I do love seeing them paired with their person at graduation. Congrats on a job well done with your dog! 🙂