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[kedves]

Yes, sometimes the most enjoyable thing about a toy or treat is that the other dog(s) don't have it.  I have two, an older uncle and his younger niece.  He's gentle and she's a devil.  When he wants her to play, he grabs a toy that he otherwise couldn't care less about, runs over to her, and shoves it in her face.  "See?  Look how I have your toy!  Ha!"  She can't resist; wrestling ensues.

[infopri]

When we open the door to let him outside, he will suddenly start wagging his tail and pounce on the bone.  He carries it outside and prances around in the yard like "Nyeh-nyeh all you other dogs!  Lookee what I got and you don't!  Suckers!"  We don't have any other pets, so he just has to imagine that some other creature, somewhere is jealous.

I am really getting a kick out of these quirky dog stories.  Thanks for sharing, everyone.

Okay, I know this is a dog thread and I'm offering a cat story, but it's relevant, I think:  When either of my cats (but especially Little Cat) catches a mouse, bird, squirrel, or whatever, he brings it to the house (and into the house, if the back door is open) and starts meowing loudly (with the prey still in his mouth), calling his feline brother and everyone else to come see his prize.  (I've learned finally that when I hear that particular meow, I must race down and close the back door.)

[john_proctor]

Is this the first one s/he's ever had?  Could be something about the taste/smell that is triggering "I like this" but not "I should really chew this thing to bits." 

S/he may well decide to chew it up good in a short time.

I'm not a huge fan of raw hide.  Depends on the breed (in particular, how they chew it and their size).  My lab would just bust it into (fairly ragged edged) hunks and swallow.  It would constipate him for a few days.

[grasshopper]

Dogs are weird. When I was young, we had a shepherd who liked to climb trees.

[swtrixie]

I had a dachshund that could climb trees. That was a sight.

[monita]

My dog loves to chew, but she does the same thing with rawhides... she'll carry them from room to room, carefully hiding them under a pillow or blanket.  If we get her a second bone, though, she'll eat one.  She's just miserly with her chews, and doesn't like to eat the last one.  I think in your "Dog-to-English" dictionary, "couch cushion=safety deposit box."

[bewilderedta]

My dog also took up digging after we got him a rawhide bone. He doesn't actually bury it, just tears up all my poor plants and makes a big mess and throws the bone next to it. I have confiscated the rawhide in order to preserve the flowers.

There is actually a Flaming Lips song about this sort of dog behavior, where the dogs just pick something that they like and treat it like their baby... I can't remember the name, it's on "Zaireeka".

[scheherazade]

My dog has chewed up and eaten every rawhide I've given him...except for one.  I have no idea what is so different about that one, but he's had it for a few years now.  Every once in a while he chews it a bit, but not enough to destroy it.  And in the intervening time, I've given him other rawhides that he's eaten.  Who knows what goes through their tiny brains?

[anakin]

My dog also took up digging after we got him a rawhide bone. He doesn't actually bury it, just tears up all my poor plants and makes a big mess and throws the bone next to it. I have confiscated the rawhide in order to preserve the flowers.

...

It's called caching. Wolves and coyotes still do it. When the pack's been fed and there's extra food around, the idea is to bury it somewhere in your pack's territory for later consumption.

For the OP and others, about why your dog's carrying the rawhide around: As the pack leader, when you give your dog a bone or a toy, you're conferring status upon him. The alphas manage pack social heirarchy by giving or withholding gifts, or by deciding the order in which pack members feed and how much each gets. Since you're the alpha, your dog is expressing gratitude and loyalty by carrying the rawhide with him.

Also, after puppyhood in domestic dogs, chewing is generally a nervous behavior, not a "normal" behavior. You don't need to encourage chewing on a rawhide (or anything else).

[scheherazade]

If you do want to encourage chewing for his teeth, though, you could try getting one of the flavored rawhides.  My dog likes the chicken flavor, but they also have lamb and beef.

[dellaroux]

For the OP and others, about why your dog's carrying the rawhide around: As the pack leader, when you give your dog a bone or a toy, you're conferring status upon him. The alphas manage pack social heirarchy by giving or withholding gifts, or by deciding the order in which pack members feed and how much each gets. Since you're the alpha, your dog is expressing gratitude and loyalty by carrying the rawhide with him.

So, what about the slimy, filthy ragged tennis balls the black Lab I house-sit for finds buried in the snow and drags home?

Are those supposed to be presents for the humans?

She saves them in corners and pulls them out when it's time for a walk...

[anakin]

So, what about the slimy, filthy ragged tennis balls the black Lab I house-sit for finds buried in the snow and drags home?

Are those supposed to be presents for the humans?

Yep. Just like the cat story. Labs were bred to find and retrieve waterfowl. Tennis balls resemble ducks, don't you think?

[john_proctor]

I would agree with everything anakin posted except for the suggestion that ALL chewing in adult dogs is the result of nervousness and shouldn't be encouraged.

Adult dogs really don't need more than one, maybe two toys they are allowed to chew.

Excessive chewing in adult dogs is a major problem.

Occasional chewing is fine.  While it is a behavior that is a response to nerves / anxiety, it is also results from : curious manipulation of and play with a favorite item; boredom.

The latter isn't really bad (though not ideal).  Everyone gets a little bored.  If the chewing isn't excessive AND if the behavior is limited to the approved item (a nylabone, say). . .

I have one nylabone chew toy (I vastly prefer that to any other alternative for chewing) that all three of my dogs play with/chew.  I have it just because the occasional chewing instinct/boredom needs an approved outlet.

They actually don't chew on it as much as they use it to play "tag" or "keep away" with one another. 

They play much more often with their tennis balls (their only other toys).

I agree chewing isn't a necessary behavior AND that excessive chewing from a dog past adolescence is a problem.  I guess I might have been/be talking my self into agreeing that it shouldn't be "encouraged." 

But it will happen in an adjusted, healthy adult.  One chew toy that provides a permissible (and safe) outlet should be sufficient.  When they're alert and engaged but still just idly chewing their toy, they're fine, I think.

For dental hygene: 1. mix the diet to include items that will help keep teeth clean; 2. brush manually.  Chewing will do more tooth damage over the long run than help; it's really not a good way to remove plaque. 

And I've already said below that I don't like rawhides.

[john_proctor]

So, what about the slimy, filthy ragged tennis balls the black Lab I house-sit for finds buried in the snow and drags home?

Are those supposed to be presents for the humans?

Yep. Just like the cat story. Labs were bred to find and retrieve waterfowl. Tennis balls resemble ducks, don't you think?

There's also the bit where the dog, having done the "capture" is bringing the prey to you, the "alpha" for the (honor of the) kill bite.

[anakin]

I would agree with everything anakin posted except for the suggestion that ALL chewing in adult dogs is the result of nervousness and shouldn't be encouraged.

Adult dogs really don't need more than one, maybe two toys they are allowed to chew.

Excessive chewing in adult dogs is a major problem.

Occasional chewing is fine.  While it is a behavior that is a response to nerves / anxiety, it is also results from : curious manipulation of and play with a favorite item; boredom.

The latter isn't really bad (though not ideal).  Everyone gets a little bored.  If the chewing isn't excessive AND if the behavior is limited to the approved item (a nylabone, say). . .

I have one nylabone chew toy (I vastly prefer that to any other alternative for chewing) that all three of my dogs play with/chew.  I have it just because the occasional chewing instinct/boredom needs an approved outlet.

They actually don't chew on it as much as they use it to play "tag" or "keep away" with one another. 

They play much more often with their tennis balls (their only other toys).

I agree chewing isn't a necessary behavior AND that excessive chewing from a dog past adolescence is a problem.  I guess I might have been/be talking my self into agreeing that it shouldn't be "encouraged." 

But it will happen in an adjusted, healthy adult.  One chew toy that provides a permissible (and safe) outlet should be sufficient.  When they're alert and engaged but still just idly chewing their toy, they're fine, I think.

For dental hygene: 1. mix the diet to include items that will help keep teeth clean; 2. brush manually.  Chewing will do more tooth damage over the long run than help; it's really not a good way to remove plaque. 

And I've already said below that I don't like rawhides.

Actually what I wrote was that chewing was generally a nervous behavior and we don't need to encourage it. Thanks for expanding on it so well. I've had dogs who enjoyed chewing from time to time, and dogs who never picked up a chew toy after puppyhood.

FWIW, if you have access to a good (reputable) raw dog food supplier, I can tell you that is an excellent way to keep your dog's teeth clean and healthy. Not to mention all sorts of other benefits like nonstinky low-volume poop that decomposes naturally, healthy skin, puppy feet that don't smell like Fritos, clean ears, no puppy farts, behavior benefits, and lower vet bills. No, I am NOT selling anything.