Monday, November 2, 2009

Yikes!!

We borrowed a dog crate from Michael and Bernadette because ours was a little too small. The door on this one is different than ours and Michael and Bern had some problems with it when Teagan was using it. When Irv got home from work Thursday, Maggie was loose in my workshop. Thank goodness all she did was pull some fabric off the table. On Friday, I made sure I had it latched properly and when Irv got home, I apparently missed one little hook and she had the tray of the crate pushed out into the room! Oops! So, Sunday when we went to the grocery store, I made sure everything was latched and hooked. I didn't want anymore surprises when we got home.


Well, SURPRISE!!! I STILL didn't have the thing latched properly. Maggie greeted me at the workshop door when I opened it. Out she ran to say hello to Wrigley and Sparky. I quickly scanned the room....no fabric on the floor, nothing out of place....whew!! Then I happen to glance over at my iron. I keep a blanket on the floor in my workshop so she has somewhere to lay when I am in there working. The cord for my iron was hanging oddly....right on her blanket....in two pieces!!! Uh Oh!

I yelled out to Irv to tell him what happened....he yelled back....well she did the same thing to my phone charger! There was Irv's phone charger cord in two pieces! Not even sure when she did that, because that is in the kitchen and we watch her pretty closely, but obviously not close enough.

I have never in my life had a dog that chews. Ever! I just keep reminding myself of the terrible life she had, and how wonderful it is that we have given her this awesome home, filled with love and laughter. She gets good food, clean water, a yard to play in, other dogs to play with. We walk her and talk to her and play with her. She get brushed and pet and gets tons of attention. SO WHY ON EARTH IS SHE CHEWING????

I know, some dogs chew. Some breeds chew more than others. Some dogs just like to chew and some dogs just need more supervision than others. My guess is that Maggie falls into all of those categories.

Make it a marvelous Monday!

12 comments:

Mary Richmond said...

looks like your dog is still young and has retriever in her so she is a natural chewer. lots of good chew toys are a must! also, lots and lots of exercise and entertainment because chewing dogs are often bored dogs....or anxious dogs. she's in a new home and no matter how wonderful i'm sure she's a bit nervous. she has a new pack of humans as well as a new pack of dogs! i have had many dogs and some just chew more than others, even as older dogs. i use kongs and other toys i can stuff with things they like. if you use treats just cut back on the food at other times. i put a swipe of peanut butter in the way back of the kong for my little guy and it keeps him pretty busy for a good long while. my little one is still teething!

good luck!

Cathryn said...

I have to agree with Mary. She looks like she knows she did something wrong in that last picture--but a little confused as to what she did wrong.

Patience is a must with pets.

Lori P said...

What a cutie - and apparently smart too! Ouch. I'm sure Mary knows what she's talking about. The pup's probably anxious of her new surroundings. I've got a non-chewer and we have doggie visitors who require that I put away all of the chewable toys. Sounds like lots of non-destrucable, chewable toys are called for. :)

Kathy said...

Thanks Mary. We plan to stock up on toys. My other two love their kongs. We'll need to go get another one so there is no fighting! :)

Maggie LOVES Irv. In that last picture she had pulled his sweatshirt off the bench in the kitchen and was laying on it after he left for work that morning. :)

Lanyardlady said...

I guess I missed something...is Georgia now Maggie? Sounds like she needs an old shoe. Watch out, Irv...

Kathy said...

Yes, Georgia became Maggie two days after we got her. She just wasn't a Georgia. She is definitely a Maggie!

Angela said...

I was about to ask about the Georgia/Maggie thing, too!

I think she needs a rawhide bone. That should keep her busy.

matt said...

Have fun with that one. Once a chewer always a chewer!

Kathy said...

Don't say that Matt.....hopefully she won't chew on Moki when you get here in December! We haven't tested her with live chew toys yet. :)

matt said...

Yeah well I am not worried. Luna will defend Moki. They are close these days!

Joyce said...

I have my fingers cross things will work their way to no chewing. She came with baggage and hopefully will eventually leave that luggage at the curbside once she realizes how good life is for her now. I love her new name. xo

♥Mimi♥ said...

Given her age and the fact that she is a new family member she is more than likely stressed and confused and bored. Certainly a Kong would be excellent along with vigorous early morning exercise before you leave the house. A good walk or tossing the ball in the backyard. A tired dog is a good dog!

There is also a product on the market called Rescue Remedy. You can either put a few drops on a bandanna around her neck or they also have a plug-in that you could use. This is a product made of herbs and florals and has had excellent results calming down dogs and cats.

Music in the background - quiet music. If she is stressed outside noises will make her worried. I leave the radio on for my dogs tuned into PBS.

I don't believe, once a chewer - always a chewer. She isn't getting into things because she wants to be bad or is taking her anxiety out on you. Dogs don't think that way. With the fabric she was probably trying to find something to do. With the cords - for one reason or another they attract both dogs and cats. I read recently that scientists are now believing that the "cord attraction" can be linked to the fact that teeny, tiny electrical pulses that we can't detect attract the animals. Take the cords you have and push them toward the wall or cover them with conduit.

She's new - give her time. Put yourself in her paws. You would be stressed if you were taken to a country where you didn't understand the language but were expected to be a perfect house guest but weren't told what the house rules were and even if you were told you wouldn't understand what they were saying.

Blog Archive