| My eight month old puppy's name is Josie. We got | | | | and licks it out. I have taken her to the vet several |
| her at four months old from the animal shelter. She | | | | times to make sure things that she has chewed up is |
| was originally sold in a pet store to a couple that had | | | | coming out O.K. Unfortunately, the only way to do |
| to move and they said they could not take her with | | | | this properly is with an x-ray. Have you priced x-ray's |
| them. I am wondering about that story. You'll find out | | | | lately? The dog proceeds to eat gravel, dirt, (which |
| why later. | | | | has been brought onto my carpet in clumps), tree |
| When my husband, my son and I brought Josie | | | | limbs,(shredded), and still chews up all her toys, even |
| home, she chewed a lot because she was teething. | | | | the Kongo ones that are supposed to be Josie proof. |
| For people that have never had puppies before, they | | | | I am still in the process of removing most of my |
| loose their baby teeth the same as babies. We | | | | landscaping bushes in the backyard because she likes |
| bought her a lot of toys and took her to a | | | | to chew them. Hollies, especially are poisonous to |
| veterinarian for a physical. According to the animal | | | | animals. I found that out the hard way when I was |
| hospital, we had to have her spayed within sixty | | | | trimming my holly and she decided to help me. Thank |
| days of adopting her or we would have to give her | | | | goodness she is O.K. |
| back. My son and I took Josie for the surgery and | | | | Josie has definitely been a challenge and she is |
| she came back with no symptoms of pain. We had | | | | extremely hyper. We had a Jack Russell and that |
| purchased extra pain pills in case she was | | | | was a lap dog compared to Josie. Now, I think I |
| uncomfortable. | | | | know the real reason the people brought her back. |
| Time progresses with her chewing and we were | | | | Oh well, our gain. I am 55 years old and this is the |
| counting the days when she would start loosing her | | | | dog my 18 year old son and my husband wanted. He |
| baby teeth. I started finding them everywhere in the | | | | works and my son is leaving this week for |
| carpet. Next, came the new teeth which meant more | | | | boot-camp. My job has ended so guess who gets to |
| chewing. As Josie grew into a 27 pound puppy, it | | | | stay home and train her. I keep thinking that when |
| was getting harder for her to understand the | | | | she turns one year old, maybe she'll calm down. Then |
| meaning of the word, NO! After her teeth came in, | | | | again, I said the same thing about her teething. |
| she finally started taking morning naps and afternoon | | | | These dogs as a general rule are very hyper and are |
| naps and going to bed at 8:30 PM and getting up at | | | | bred on purpose to be that way. Why? Anyhow, if |
| 7:00 AM. This was working out great, but she was | | | | you have very young children, definitely invest in |
| still chewing. Not only chewing but destroying. We | | | | training classes. There are some decent videos that |
| purchased more toys and a spray to apply to the | | | | you can download online for a fee. If you can accept |
| furniture so they would not get attacked by our little | | | | these dogs like they are bred to be, they are very |
| shark. At least the spray worked but the odor was | | | | loving dogs. They do need to know that they don't |
| hard to stand until it diminished. | | | | have to be the protector all the time, I am the |
| Now that she has settled into our lifestyle, I went | | | | protector of her also. This is something I have finally |
| back to work from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Evidently, | | | | gotten through to our bundle of energy. That little |
| Josie didn't like the change in her daily routine. I came | | | | thing, seems to have calmed her down to about 95 |
| home to torn newspapers, garbage pails emptied and | | | | miles per hour instead of 100 miles per hour. I'll take |
| dog food scattered everywhere. She was only in the | | | | anything I can get. |
| family room, kitchen and hallway. This is not a very | | | | Still a challenge but I would not trade Josie for |
| big area. She had jumped onto the kitchen chairs and | | | | anything. We just have to meet her halfway. |
| onto the kitchen table where the newspaper and mail | | | | Anything in the floor is hers, hands down. If you |
| were and had a field day. When she eats, she is so | | | | want it, pick it up. Still working on the table thing |
| hyper that she actually dribbles her food from her | | | | since she can now jump onto it from the floor. My |
| mouth throughout the house while she is eating. That | | | | daughter came home one afternoon and saw Josie |
| way, she eats as she walks back to the food bowl. | | | | sound asleep on top of my kitchen table. One day I'll |
| I know what you're thinking, either do things to wear | | | | wise up and start putting her in the pen but for now, |
| her out or put her in a pen. We did start taking her | | | | the vet says that she is one of the happiest dogs |
| for walks everyday and I would play with her about | | | | she sees. That's enough for me. After all, we |
| 30 minutes everyday in the evening when I got | | | | adopted her. Think what the alternative would have |
| home from work. I even started getting up 15 | | | | been if we didn't. |
| minutes earlier to play with her before I left in the | | | | Please support your local animal shelter. Even if you |
| morning. If it wore her down, I couldn't see it. She | | | | do not adopt a pet, there are other ways you can |
| loves to play ball and play with the water hose. We | | | | help. If you find dog food on sale or you have a |
| have a fenced in back yard for her to play in and | | | | coupon, the animal shelter will love the extra food |
| installed dog doors for her to go out whenever she | | | | they always need. Organizations, Girl Scouts and Boy |
| wanted too. I have a pond with 16 goldfish that are | | | | Scouts to name a couple, could go on a Saturday |
| as big as Koi. We had to buy fencing to go around | | | | and walk the animals on leashes outside their cages. |
| the pond because she loved water so much, she | | | | This is a big help and the workers will not let the |
| thought she could play with the fish. The fish did not | | | | children walk problem dogs. These few things is a |
| agree. When she wants to play in the water, she | | | | great help for the workers at the animal shelter and |
| drags the hose out for us to see. If she figures out | | | | you have the pleasure to know that you helped the |
| how to turn it on, we're in trouble. | | | | animals for that day. |
| Well, back to the present with her being eight | | | | Also, the Dog Whisperer is pretty good to watch. I |
| months old. I am having problems typing this article | | | | thought it was silly at first but I started watching it |
| because she loves to chase the cursor on the | | | | and it has helped when I implement his methods. |
| computer. She loves to bury things in my flower | | | | Never give up, there is always an answer. You just |
| garden, and the poly-sand that is between the | | | | haven't found it yet. |
| stones on the patio that I built myself, she digs it up | | | | |