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I have a 10 month mini doxie that once it is given a plush toy he destroys it within 5 minutes and he waits until I fall asleep and chews holes in my comforter. He seems to love the stuffing but not only to play with but eats it. This sometimes becomes a problem when he makes a bowel movement. Any suggestions on how to conquer this problem?? Thanks.

>>I have a 10 month mini doxie that once it is given a plush toy he destroys it within 5 minutes and he waits until I fall asleep and chews holes in my comforter. He seems to love the stuffing but not only to play with but eats it. This sometimes becomes a problem when he makes a bowel movement. Any suggestions on how to conquer this problem?? Thanks.

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If you use careful supervision to prevent his access to the comforter for several months to a year or so, this habit may fade. It did for my dog. If you allow him to continue, it won't fade, and he may seriously harm himself. He's too much of a chewer now for he stuffed toys. Time to move up to more substantial chew toys.

You might experiment with cotton knotted bones as chew toys for him. This worked for my dog. She was craving fabric texture to work on her tooth set, and she was right! Chewing is essential for dogs at the point of setting the permanent teeth in the jaw. Just remember that no toy is safe for all dogs, so you must supervise to make sure your dog doesn't swallow too much of any toy. Remember, too, that a dog's chewing habits change. The way he chews now may not be how he chews in a few months or years.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com