Dog Can't Chew Anything by Himself

[RottyMom]

Bear my special foster guy can't hold bones or toys to chew them because of the partial paralysis in his leg/foot. Now his teeth aren't so great so when he didn't show any interest in the marrow bone, nylabone etc I got for him I thought it was because his teeth were bad. Well I guess I'm not too smart sometimes but it turns out he can't hold anything in his paws to chew on. Now he's quite happy to have a go on the nylabone when I hold it for him. I'm not really sure if it's a good idea for me to be doing this in terms of being alpha (Judi?). Has anyone else had this experience? The big guy is getting quite attached to me (I guess it's all that bossing around and feeding). Just don't want to be sending him the wrong message.

[moondog]

I've actually used the "hold the bone" technique to impress upon my dog that the bone is mine and I am nice enough to let her "borrow" it. I think holding the bone is an aid to establishing an understanding.

What I would be more concerned about is him becoming too dependent on you for that service. Even without use of both paws, he can learn to push the bone up against a wall or other stationary object and use that in place of one paw to hold it in position for chewing.

So, personally, I don't see anything wrong with you holding the bone for him, but maybe you could have him in a position close to a wall where you can hold it up against the wall and when it gets wedged there you can let go and he can discover a new independence?

[RottyMom]

Originally Posted by moondog

I've actually used the "hold the bone" technique to impress upon my dog that the bone is mine and I am nice enough to let her "borrow" it. I think holding the bone is an aid to establishing an understanding.

What I would be more concerned about is him becoming too dependent on you for that service. Even without use of both paws, he can learn to push the bone up against a wall or other stationary object and use that in place of one paw to hold it in position for chewing.

So, personally, I don't see anything wrong with you holding the bone for him, but maybe you could have him in a position close to a wall where you can hold it up against the wall and when it gets wedged there you can let go and he can discover a new independence?

That's a great idea...I will try it...I also think he hasn't had much experience with toys, bones etc. He does drop it when I ask...without hesitation, everytime He's only been here for a couple of weeks so we're just establishing lot's of things at the moment. I will let you know how it goes with getting him use something else to prop it up. Thanks.

[Judi W]

Somehow, I don't think it's one way or the other. If you are so inclined, hold it for him. If not, don't. It really is that easy. Adults do not "need" chewing like a teething pup. If he is a clever dog, he can learn to push it up against the side of a wall and brace it there or hold it under his elbow or........

[RottyMom]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Somehow, I don't think it's one way or the other. If you are so inclined, hold it for him. If not, don't. It really is that easy. Adults do not "need" chewing like a teething pup. If he is a clever dog, he can learn to push it up against the side of a wall and brace it there or hold it under his elbow or........

I was mainly concerned about the state of his teeth...I was thinking that chewing would be good for cleaning them up. I will have them do a teeth cleaning and anything else that needs to be done when he gets neutered. If there is really no benefit to have him chewing on things then I will leave him to his own devices.

[Judi W]

A great deal of dental health is actually determined by the mouth chemistry. I believe marrow bones if worked on can be useful, but most chew things really do nothing except act as adult pacifiers. Like I said, if you feel like holding for him - no harm, but if you don't, and he wants to chew something he will be stimulated to invent which is not a bad thing. My adult dogs are not chewers although they enjoy an occasional marrow bone, but certainly don't need something to chew on nor do they look for something to chew on. It is not something I've ever promoted so I don't see it as critical for a dog's happiness.

[macho rottie]

Maybe just hold the bone for him to chew once or 2X a week? He probably will learn to do it himself eventually. Raw bones, neck or marrow, is a great way for him to clean the tartar off his teeth and keep the teeth clean. My dogs get raw frozen neck bones all the time and have nice white teeth as a result.

[SABELLESMOM]

I see nothing wrong with holding the bone, in fact he may develop more of an interest in doing it for himself. (wedging it against a wall, etc)

Have his teeth been recently cleaned or checked? I have a 10 year old cocker. He was a rescue and when we had him neutered, we had his teeth cleaned. (Cockers have that forshortened snout and their teeth do not meet like a Rotties) After that we brushed...DAILY! And still in his 10 years with us, we've had his teeth cleaned 3 x. Some even had to be pulled!

Now Bear, is a Rottie? So his troubles may not be as bad as a breed whose teeth no longer meet in a proper bite.

[RottyMom]

Originally Posted by SABELLESMOM

I see nothing wrong with holding the bone, in fact he may develop more of an interest in doing it for himself. (wedging it against a wall, etc)

Have his teeth been recently cleaned or checked? I have a 10 year old cocker. He was a rescue and when we had him neutered, we had his teeth cleaned. (Cockers have that forshortened snout and their teeth do not meet like a Rotties) After that we brushed...DAILY! And still in his 10 years with us, we've had his teeth cleaned 3 x. Some even had to be pulled!

Now Bear, is a Rottie? So his troubles may not be as bad as a breed whose teeth no longer meet in a proper bite.

Bear is a long haired Rotti of well we could say questionable lineage...he is a foster and was not in very good shape when he came to live with us. When he gets neutered he will get his teeth cleaned as well. I will probably continue to hold a bone for him once in awhile.