Does anyone have a large breed dog?

@tlb0822 (1410)
United States
August 4, 2008 12:44pm CST
When my fiance and I first got our dog dozer from the pound he only weighed 5lbs. Now he is massive and about 100lbs, and he is only 1 year old. He is a rottweiler, and another kind of breed, but we aren't sure what exactly. Our house isn't that large, but he is an inside dog. What do you do to keep your large breed dog entertained? We've given him chew toys, but he still loves my shoes. Any one else have problems with a chewing dog? Any suggests how to get him to stop? Please share any advice.
5 people like this
13 responses
• United States
4 Aug 08
I have a black german shepherd that's about 10 years old. I agree with everyone who's suggested the walking - I've found keeping them cramped up in small places without a lot of room to run around makes them anxious. I would generally say giving them as much attention and stimulation as possible would be the two top things right next to running that needs to be provided for a large dog.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Aug 08
I have a great dane 130 lbs, and an aussie 60 lobs. They both live in my house. I just make sure that I get them on the walks they need to expend energy. I think having 2 big dogs and a back yard helps. Keeping him entertained is individual to each dog but I would start with an obedience class. I am not saying this to be smart but keep your shoes in a place out of reach of the dog. Trade him a toy for whatever they chew on that isn't appropriate. My dogs favorite toy is jolly ball or a tug.
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Aug 08
He only weighed FIVE pounds and he is a rotty mix? omg! He must have been really malnourished! Glad to know he is much healthier now!! When we got our rotty/shepherd/pitbull mix from the shelter she was a big chewer too. She chewed everything, not just the toys we got her! Try getting him more than just toys to chew. my mom just bought our dog a little ball that talks and makes funny noises when it's moved in anyway. This REALLY keeps the dog entertained lol. I'm not sure what it's called but you can get it at Petsmart. Just try finding toys that will do more than just let the dog chew on them. Of course, you also need to train him and show him that what he's doing is bad, when he chews on your stuff. I know it seems mean, but you need to scold him when he does something bad. I'm not saying abuse him! hehe. Just, when you watch him chewing on your shoe (or whatever) take it from him and immediatly just slap his nose. not painfully hard (you don't have to hurt at all dog to make them learn), but just enough to get their attention.
• United States
21 Sep 08
Oo a rotty and pitbull; both beautiful dogs :) I've never heard of Soup Bones O.o What are those? Thanks for best response! I'm glad I helped :D
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
6 Aug 08
My fiance usually does the discipline, that's why I think dozer doesn't usually touch his stuff. We have a pit bull as well, so we try to have a lot of chewy things. We go to our local farmers market and get large soup bones. They're only $2.00 for any size you need..they have them only for dogs. Thanks for the suggestions.
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
4 Aug 08
I always had dachsunds, known for how much they love shoes, but only one of a pair lol. And I had other smaller dogs, that seemed to be chewers. I now have a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, she's 80 lbs, we got her when she was 7 weeks old. We have really lucked out though, she has never chewed on anything that was not hers. However, with the dachsunds, it was a lot of patience, and taking away the item while scolding them. Or giving them their toy and telling them they were good. It takes some time depending on how stubborn the dog is. good luck
1 person likes this
@singout (980)
• United States
5 Aug 08
I have a 110 lb Golden Retriever. He is actually overweight. He is about 2 1/2 years old now. Between his puppy years until about a year ago, He drove us BONKERS with his energy and chewing and swallowing things that could kill him (especially my wife's nylon knee-highs and panties). If she was missing something like that we could always find it the next day in the yard all rolled up in the shape of his intestinal track. It was funny at first but it soon became very aggravating. But believe it or not, he did finally settle down. I made sure he spent as much time outside in our fenced-in back yard as he did inside. He is just as comfortable with either environment except when it is unusually hot or cold. We made sure we had a supply of those real bones with actual meat on them. They are irresistable to dogs. We bought them at Walgreens. Our secondary weapon was flavored leather chews which kept him occupied for quite a while. Be patient. He will finally settle down. Meanwhile, you better buy yourself a few extra pair of shoes to get you through the bad times. You've got another year or so to go. But it is worth it.
@cher8558 (425)
• Canada
15 Aug 08
Hi friends,Our dog's name is Tazz. He was so cute when we got him. We knew he was part Rotweiller, but we didn't know what the other part was. Well we sure found out when he started growing by leaps and bounds. He's a rottie, Bull Mastiff. That is a big damn dog. The telling sign of a Bull Mastiff is they are leaners. They will lean on you and that's them showing you that they are the boss. You just push them back. Its so funny, Tazz looks so mean but he is the biggest sweetheart muffin head you've ever met. And he is such a mommy's boy. He is just glued to me. The funniest thing he does is loves jugs. You know the jugs that you get vegetable oil in? All you see in the night time is this big white jug running through the backyard. He doesn't really play with anything else except these jugs. When you give him a new one, well he just thinks he's the cat's !!!. He runs around with it and throws it up in the air and catches it. I love my Tazz. I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to him. He's about 5 years old now so hopefully we have a lot of good years left together. Cheers,Cheryl
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
4 Aug 08
Hi , I have always had small dogs , and wanted a black lab if I ever got a bigger dog . You know my pug puppy mated with my parents yorkie , and they now have puppies . They boy puppies love chewing on shoes and the vet said to go to the bed store , and buy a spray called bitter apple , and it works , so try that
@debny711 (264)
• United States
5 Aug 08
I was going to suggest Bitter Apple. I had a golden retriever years ago and he chewed everything even the wallpaper. I sprayed bitter apple on everything and he stopped. good luck
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
6 Aug 08
I'm defiantly going to look into the spray. Hopefully it helps, because i swear Dozer will eat anything, even banana peppers. He just has a really big appetite.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
5 Aug 08
We have three dogs, all big. Our largest is a Bull Mastiff. Her first three years, she was a chewer. Every pair of shoes, every new book, and then my couch! She almost became homeless! (J/K) We got her chew toys and LOTS of raw hide! she finally grew out of it, but it took a while. I'm sorry, I wish I had better advice. Are you home all day? Just try correcting. I work so am out of the house. Good Luck!
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
5 Aug 08
When I saw my cousin's Rottweiler, I asked him, "Why do you keep a lion in your house?" It was such an enormous dog and it startled me when it came to sit by my cousin but it was like a pussycat to my cousin.
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
5 Aug 08
We have a black labrador retriever - about 8 months old and already huge! The first thing to learn is to put up anything you don't want chewed! Then provide the dog with plenty of things he CAN chew on - there is one kind that you can put treats into and he has to work for a while to figure out how to get it out. I don't know that it's proper training, but if I catch him chewing on something he's not supposed to have, I grab it and smack him with it - he seems to get the point. The one thing with dogs is that they're not going to remember what they did five minutes ago that you're punishing them for now - you have to catch them in the act and punish them right then.
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
5 Aug 08
Good luck on this one, and no I don't have any ideas. Reminds me of my St Bernard, Dakota. His favorite hobby was chewing ONE of each PAIR of shoes I owned. Oh yea, and he destroyed the living room chair one particular weekend also. I never did figure out how to get him to quit. Unfortunately he passed away suddenly in his sleep. One can only hope it wasn't from something he ate.
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
6 Aug 08
Aww...yeah it sounds like dozer. He will eat everything and anything. I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your dear dakota.
@vimaal (3361)
• India
5 Aug 08
hi friend, i don't have large breed dog. Now i have only a small dog only. I love my pet very much. take care have a nice day.
@Ritz100 (1169)
• Yecla, Spain
5 Aug 08
Ive had three Rottweilers and a Rottweiler cross in my lifetime, and yes they love to chew. I know it may sound silly, but putting pepper in your shoes can help to deter to chewing, they dont like it getting up their nose and making them sneeze. The only other alternative is to put your shoes in a cupboard where he cant get to them. And its not only big dogs that do this, I have a small black hairy thing (no particular breed) that just loves to chew anything that has been near a human body - shoes, socks, underwear - awful I know but they just love the stink.
15 Aug 08
Try to schedule a playtime for him about an hour a day. That way your dog will never play again with you shoes and will feel tired to play after your playtime.