Breeders, please try this...

[alexav]

I have heard from several sources that if soft, fleece type toys are introduced to the puppies at least a week BEFORE their eyes are open, that they will not grow up to be "Shredders" that cannot be allowed to play with all those fun fuzzies we see in the catalogues.

I don't know if it's 100% but I know there is much truth to this and I feel it's definitely worth a try...

How much more fun could a Rottie have throughout it's life if it could enjoy a wider variety of toys without the danger and expense of being on a constant seek and destroy the squeaker mission?

I would like to hear from breeders who have tried this, and breeders who haven't. What do you think?

BTW, I asked Bree's breeder to try this and she is definitely NOT a shredder. She and Alexa have stuffed toys that are still intact for over 5 years. As long as I can wash them when they get disgusting, they don't ever get thrown away...

Thanks in advance for your time.

[Jamie & Odin]

alexav, I'm not a breeder, just the owner of a 16 mos. old that no longer shreds his stuffed toys. And I can attest that a dog (at least mine) that is able to enjoy lots of toys, has a ton of fun! I just monitored him every minute when he was playing with stuffed toys, took them away at the first sign of play that was too rough, and gave him an indestructable one. Now his stuffed squeaky toys are his absolute favorite, we listen from the other room as he makes them squeak over and over.

I think your idea is interesting, am an interested in other's opinions as to its effectiveness.

[frontierrots]

I always intro my babies to soft toys. They play with them all the time and do not destroy them UNTIL after 4-6 months of age. :)

It seems to be an individual personality issue. Some never ever destroy toys (Fred here is 6 1/2 years and never ever rips a hole) and others just enjoy the heck out of making stuffing fly! (Angelica is 10 1/2 andLOVES to shred toys, paper, cloth) But I have still never had this trait emerge until after 4-6 months of age. And all of them have been exposed to toys since a very very young age

[DanaDW]

My puppy is 3 months old now and so far hasn't even damaged any of his toys. He was dumped on our porch at 5 weeks old and he's had stuffed toys since day one (my 17 y.o. daughter donated all of hers). So far the only household damages have been 1 roll of toilet paper, 1 phone cord, and 1 book (my bad, left it on the floor). Bitter apple spray and more care on our part resolved all those issues, at least for now. I have never seen a puppy that learns as quickly as this one has or has just fit himself into the household with such little fuss. I have no idea where he came from but I'm so glad he did because I would never have even thought about getting a Rottweiler and would have missed out on this fantastic pup.

[poohbearsmom]

Deiter's litter had them, and I can tell you, that if there's a squeeky in there, it won't be for long. He performs the surgery with the precision of a brain surgeon, only breaking the threads necessary to remove the offending squeeker. He also made a yamaka (please forgive my spelling, yiddish friends) out of one of Joe's baseball caps, that Joe proudly wore to work......

I think it depends on the dog. But I'd be interesed in trying your suggestion when I breed.

Elisabeth