How to handle dog toys with a heavy chewer and a gentle dog?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding the puppies. You will likely need to separate them to give them break from playing and keep them separate at mealtimes. This will allow your puppy a chance to rest a bit so that she does not become overwhelmed by her littermate. Good luck!

Having had Siberians for over 40 years, I can attest to the fact that they can be pretty determined when it comes to doing what they want. That is not to say, however, that they are untrainable. I would suggest that you stop two of your interventions right away. All dogs live in the present. They can't guess the future, nor can they remember the past. So a time out is absolutely worthless as a training tool. Further, offering a toy when a dog is misbehaving is actually offering a reward! Also, you need to be very judicious with hand-feeding, or she may dome to expect to be fed that way, and you'll have to break her of the habit. I can help with your problem, but would need more information. You can click on the prompt to initiate a consult, where we can talk back-and-forth about this issue.

Some dogs are chewers. It is good that he does not chew inappropriately. As long as he chews just toys, you'll likely need to keep replacing them. You can try rotating toys so that Berlin does not have an opportunity to totally destroy them. As soon as you see some wear, take it away and replace it. Use caution when giving bones as they could fracture a tooth or teeth.

Thank you for your questions about Luke. I agree and would advise against stuffed toys as he will confuse them. Do keep the kids toys put away as he may think they are his anyway!!! Offer him a variety of toys. Nylabone makes a variety of chew toys for dogs. My only warning though is that the hard toys can break dog’s teeth if they are aggressive chewers. Some toys can break apart and you must always be vigilant to remove and replace these toys to prevent him from swallowing pieces as that could lead to intestinal obstruction. Experiment to find his favorite type of toys. Dogs like bully sticks but too much can make some of them sick to their stomachs. Same with something like a greenie. Always monitor him when he is chewing something because dogs can choke on these. I like to stuff a Kong with kibble, seal the opening with peanut butter (xylitol free) and then put it in the freezer for a few hours. I hope this answers your question and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kyro. I typically start recommending small blood panels at 2-3 years of age to gain baseline values. The exception to this would be any necessary pre-anesthetic bloodwork if the dog were to be anesthetized. Hard toys such as the antlers and Nyla bones can fracture teeth in dogs. So be careful for any aggressive chewing. However, they are durable toys that the dog is less likely to break off a piece and swallow. This becomes an emergency surgery if the toy becomes lodged in the stomach or intestines. So they are safer options in that regard. Rotating toys will give your dog more variety and not force you to buy new ones frequently. I recommend leaving two toys out at a time and then rotate a new one in every couple of weeks. Even if your dog has seen it before, it will seem new to him again. I hope this information helps!

You are correct that antlers and nylon bones will break teeth, but they can also cause obstructions and/or perforations in the GI tract. I recommend a Kong toy. Those are very tough chew toys that are hard to dogs to destroy. You can also fill them with treats. I'd recommend, as an occasional treat, filling it with peanut butter and freezing it overnight in the freezer. That will keep her occupied for a while.

This can take some time and patience - he would much rahter be playing with you then spending time on his own! With some gentle encouragement however, including chew/food toys which keep him busy (there are many puzzle feeders you can buy or DIY models such as plastic bottles with small holes for the food to come out) and a regular routine he will learn. A certified dog trainer can be very helpful also if he is very stubborn! See the attached link for some hints and tips https://www.dogstrust.ie/help-advice/factsheets-downloads/indoorkennel.pdf