[mdoats]

I gave Rookie a bully stick this afternoon. I figured he could have a good chew while I watched the football game. But the treat seriously stressed him out. He was barking at it and dancing around it, which he often does with a really good treat. (I've posted about this before.) But it took him more than half an hour to settle down for a chew, and then after a minute or two he got up again and was crying, whining, yawning, etc. It's kind of a bummer that he was so stressed out by something I bought as a treat.

I tried praising him whenever he got close enough to take a lick. I gave him the "take it" command a couple of times because he kept looking at me like he was waiting for permission to take it.

I thought about just taking it away from him and putting it away but I know he really enjoys bully sticks when he finally settles down for a chew. He's happily chewing away now the way a normal dog would. But it took almost an hour for him to really settle down.

Any suggestions?!?

 

[FlyingQuizini]

What if you hold one end and let him work on the other, like you're sharing it? Will he do that?

 

[FlyingQuizini]

The other thought is that he's doing it as an attention seeking behavior -- he learned the first time it happened that it gets you to pay attention to him. What happens if you just flat ignore his dancing/whining/pawing/licking?

 

[mdoats]

What if you hold one end and let him work on the other, like you're sharing it? Will he do that?

Thanks, that's a good suggestion. I bought him an antler that I'll be giving to him this week. I'll try holding the antler when I introduce it and see if that helps. It's really a bummer when you buy an expensive treat like a bully stick or an antler and the dog cries!

 

[Oaklys Dad]

I'll be watching this thread closely since Oakly does the same thing if I give him a marrow bone. He did alright with them when he was an only child but now that Caue is here I've had to stop giving them as treats. Oakly just gets way too stressed and he won't even chew it. But he gets mad if Caue steals his bone. :doh:

 

[Merlins mom]

Merlin does this with marrow bones. He really never chews on them and just worries them to death so I don't buy them anymore. LOL! He also does a less intense version of it with bully sticks, but he didn't with the antler. He LOVES the antler and it's been a consistent chew for the last two months. Best darn chew toy I've ever bought and it's about time to order another.

 

[FlyingQuizini]

My Whippet does something similar with large crunchy biscuits. She walk around the house looking for a place to "bury" it, usually picking a corner of the room and nosing at the carpet trying to cover it. Then she examines her handwork, decides it's not good enough, moves the bone and starts over. If I break the bone in half, she'll lie down and eat it.

 

[marieb]

Maddie does something like this too! I always wondered why she does it. I'll give her a bully stick or something she really likes and she'll cry, hold it in her mouth, pace a little, and eventually she'll chew on it.

 

[laprincessa]

I call it Max's happy dance. When I give him the treats I make, he will toss it in the air, run around the room, pounce on it, run around the house with it in his mouth, toss it in the air a couple more times, and finally eat it.

I just thought he was really happy about it.

 

[grrrick]

Too Funny! Ruby used to hide bones/treats in the house. We would find them behind the TV or chairs. She'd eventually eat them, but usually hid them first. She would even whine if she had a tough time finding a spot and if she knew you were watching, she would take it to another room to hide.