[ApporpSothe]

My dog (10 months) has gotten into the habit where she is not really playing with her toys, but ripping them up and eating them.

I've taken away the toys, but now she is obviously bored and has moved on to the sofa's pillows and her own paws....

Suggestions for not easily destructible toys for a chihuahua / terrier mix?

[glopomcyte]

Get hard rubber toys that are meant for avid chewers, like a Kong (they make really tiny ones for little dogs). These types of toys stand up to my pit bull who LOVES to chew--they generally last 6 months which is more than any other toy ever has. He destroys everything else I give him.

You can stuff the kong toy with peanut butter and freeze it, and that will keep your pup busy for a while. You can also get treat-dispensing rubber toys (Planet Dog is a good brand) and put some kibble or treats in it so your dog has to work at it for a while to get them out.

[fhutiussk]

Rubber toys are a good recommendation. If you dog is not into them, there is a line of toys that are specially designed for hard chewers called Tuffies. You could also try stuffing-free toys or rope toys, your dog might be less interested in ripping them up.

[monologue]

I would avoid video games or buying anything from a store emphasizing "educational" dog toys.

[FjFHQLJQ]

I recommend those rubber bones -- my dog loves nylabones and those blue and white Hertz bones.

[QWNPdpr5]

Kongs, nylabones are good. I give my dogs a rawhide strip on occasion when they get tired of the plastic toys. Not too often though as not to upset their stomachs.

[crestosssa]

Kongs are amazing (though, due to an old roommate, I can never see one and not think, "buttplug").

[mp3 free]

What you really need to do is exercise your dog more.

[CathBraunn]

Ditto on the last. A tired dog is not a destructive dog.

[HakSpeame]

Get hard rubber toys that are meant for avid chewers, like a Kong (they make really tiny ones for little dogs). These types of toys stand up to my pit bull who LOVES to chew--they generally last 6 months which is more than any other toy ever has. He destroys everything else I give him.

You can stuff the kong toy with peanut butter and freeze it, and that will keep your pup busy for a while. You can also get treat-dispensing rubber toys (Planet Dog is a good brand) and put some kibble or treats in it so your dog has to work at it for a while to get them out.

You can also feed your dog his meals in the frozen kong. That will keep him busy for a while, there is no rule that says dogs have to eat out of a bowl. Bully sticks are also pretty good to chew on, easily digestible and can take a little dog some time to get through.

[Hmwmzian]

Kongs are amazing (though, due to an old roommate, I can never see one and not think, "buttplug").

[allmyflights]

thanks for the tips. i'm going to give the kongs a try. i've used bully sticks before, but she becomes so infatuated with them. when i take them away she starts running around the apartment searching desperately for it for an hour or so, then doesn't want to eat her food for about a day. it's weird.

as for the "a tired dog is not a destructive dog" suggestion / bitchy comment, i guess you have never owned a PUPPY. besides, she is not destructive. i said she tears apart HER toys. don't all dogs eventually tear apart toys? the problem here is that she is EATING it. of course she is going to try to make something else a toy since i took away her toys.

[jarsbars]

Bitchy? WTF? It wasn't bitchy. I didn't know you were such a petite flower or I wouldn't have given you the benefit of my experience.

It was a suggestion that I think still stands. I have two 8 yar old terriers that I've owned since they were weeks old. Proper exercising of them was key to their training, even today.

[Controller]

Kongs and nylabones are priceless. We've also found that the hard rope toys from Dollar General hold up better than anything at Petco, smart, etc. They just suck when you are using it to play with your dog.

Excersize and walking the dog and very important. I'm not sure how much you excersize her now but it may help to increase it a bit. You have her at the perfect age to try and teach her that it's not ok to destroy the toys. It will save you valuable time and money down the road.

[Tarrccrys]

she is too active to be kept inside all the time. we walk her and take her to the dog park almost daily (even in the blizzard).

i just went to the dog store and picked up a few things. she is loving her kong right now. i've used the ropes before, but even with those, she manages to rip them into tiny strings and then rip those off and eat it....i don't undestand this dog. she wants to eat everything...even rocks.

[Mello]

she is too active to be kept inside all the time. we walk her and take her to the dog park almost daily (even in the blizzard).

i just went to the dog store and picked up a few things. she is loving her kong right now. i've used the ropes before, but even with those, she manages to rip them into tiny strings and then rip those off and eat it....i don't undestand this dog. she wants to eat everything...even rocks.

My dog destroys the regular rope toys you get from petco, etc. too but the ones from the dollar stores are made out of some synthetic material that she can't break through.

[dwestemesse]

she is too active to be kept inside all the time. we walk her and take her to the dog park almost daily (even in the blizzard).

i just went to the dog store and picked up a few things. she is loving her kong right now. i've used the ropes before, but even with those, she manages to rip them into tiny strings and then rip those off and eat it....i don't undestand this dog. she wants to eat everything...even rocks.

A lot of puppies will try and chew/rip things up. The key is to stay on top of them and redirect them to things you want them to chew up, praising and rewarding them with a special treat for the right behavior. It can also be a sign of anxiety, so getting them into a routine will help them over the long run. I recommend teaching your dog to sit and then having them sit for EVERYTHING (before meals, before walks, before playtime, before giving them chew toys, etc.). That creates a routine where they realize they have to do something for you before they get what they want. It takes away the anxiety of decision making and can relax their general attitude. It is usually referred to as the "No Free Lunch" plan.
Exercise is important as well, a lot of terriers do well with 2-3 walks of 30-40 minutes a day and while it is more difficult, it is possible to exhaust a puppy.

[estheticianI]

When we didn't have a yard and lived in QV, we walked the dogs four times a day. (almost) once a day might not be enough. You could try upping it and see if the behavior stops. This is (one of) the recommendations I got from the dog behaviorist that I hired when my terrier was way too mouthy way too long (into 7-9 months old). That, and I got a second terrier so he would have more exercise and interaction when I'm not at home. It worked.

[TRASIAOREXOLA]

I just saw an ad for Crazy Critters in the Parade Magazine that came with today's Inquirer. It says they are "Stuffing-free toys your dog will love." They also have two squeakers, one in the head and one in the tail. The cost is $23.98 for two, including S&H.

Their web address is: Crazy Critters™ , the stuffing free toy dogs love!.

[incimisiche]

My dog (10 months) has gotten into the habit where she is not really playing with her toys, but ripping them up and eating them.

I've taken away the toys, but now she is obviously bored and has moved on to the sofa's pillows and her own paws....

Suggestions for not easily destructible toys for a chihuahua / terrier mix?

Vermont Chew Man- They are very tough