I gave Tornado-dog the Happy Belly brand rawhide. They are easier to digest. At first, one chew would last most of the day and one would last 2-3 nights. It was easy to grab it when he started biting and he'd be refocused for a good amount of time. I would give him a fresh chew as soon as we came in from his morning potty for the day downstairs. In the bedroom, he usually had two he was working on at night.
None of the other chews lasted long enough to satisfy him and he'd start chewing on the furniture, cats, Cat-dog, or me. The non-edible chews didn't hold his attention.
When playing, I just used a toy substitution for my hand.
Of course, we now have an expectation of a chew at bedtime and in the morning. He was actually waking me up earlier and earlier to go potty - just so he could get his chew. He now knows unless he really has to go potty, we don't get up til after 7 am.
He's now 8 months and the chewing is over. He rarely gets mouthy. He's more likely to stand on my head and poke me with his feet.
He now gets a dentastix or happy belly twice a day - after he and Cat-dog get their nighttime and morning cookie. It's funny to watch them at night. They stand next to the outer nightstand and watch for me to get the cookies and chew out of the cookie jar. As soon as I get them, Tornado-dog jumps over the bed and sits pretty on the other side. Cat-dog slithers under the bed and gets in position - so her front feet are facing toward Tornado-dog. I give a cookie to him, then hang over the bed and slide the other cookie between her feet. By that time, he's inhaled his cookie so he sits for his chew. He only inhales the cookies, so the chew lasts several minutes - long enough for Cat-dog to finish her cookie in peace.
But we love them anyway...
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)
