Coat Chewer - Exclusively Setters2024-03-28T23:56:04Zhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/forum/topics/coat-chewer?commentId=865021%3AComment%3A514814&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHi Sandra, I would definate…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-20:865021:Comment:5147172011-03-20T21:02:34.359ZVal Martinhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/xn/detail/u_3k8ugkdvlpw06
<p>Hi Sandra, I would definately not consider using a muzzle for this problem, far better to use a crate like I said before. Just a thought......what shampoo do you use on your dogs? Perhaps trying something like a Tea Tree based shampoo might make your dogs coats less appealing. </p>
<p>Because he seems to only chew the other male dogs coats then it seems as though he probably started out only grooming the other male dogs coats overnight while they were resting together for acceptance into…</p>
<p>Hi Sandra, I would definately not consider using a muzzle for this problem, far better to use a crate like I said before. Just a thought......what shampoo do you use on your dogs? Perhaps trying something like a Tea Tree based shampoo might make your dogs coats less appealing. </p>
<p>Because he seems to only chew the other male dogs coats then it seems as though he probably started out only grooming the other male dogs coats overnight while they were resting together for acceptance into the pack as a youngster (especially as he doesnt seem to do this to the females). He probably felt comforted by his actions and as the other males have not objected to him chewing at their coats then it has probably become a habit (like someone who finds biting their nails a calming experience). </p> Hi Ladies,
Have spoken to Kat…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-20:865021:Comment:5148142011-03-20T20:23:20.722Zeva ciechonskahttp://irishsetters.ning.com/xn/detail/u_0gijg39gsgi1q
<p>Hi Ladies,</p>
<p>Have spoken to Katrina about this because she has also had a coat chewer. What she did was to let the dogs out for a last pee in the evening and then let her chewer out by herself. That seemed to work. Maybe, as others have suggested, cage him at night by himself with toys to keep him occupied. Maybe if you place the cage in the dog room with the others he cannot get to them but can still see them so he won't feel alone. Katrina said eventually her coat chewer just…</p>
<p>Hi Ladies,</p>
<p>Have spoken to Katrina about this because she has also had a coat chewer. What she did was to let the dogs out for a last pee in the evening and then let her chewer out by herself. That seemed to work. Maybe, as others have suggested, cage him at night by himself with toys to keep him occupied. Maybe if you place the cage in the dog room with the others he cannot get to them but can still see them so he won't feel alone. Katrina said eventually her coat chewer just forgot about it and never did it again.</p>
<p>Good luck</p> Hi Angela,
Yes we are hoping…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-20:865021:Comment:5149822011-03-20T18:36:19.929ZSandra, Nicola & Jenna Sturrockhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/SandraNicolaJennaSturrock
<p>Hi Angela,</p>
<p>Yes we are hoping as he is just 8 months that he will grow out of it but for the mean time i think we may have to resort to cage him over night or try the box muzzle. Thanks for your suggestions.</p>
<p>Hi Angela,</p>
<p>Yes we are hoping as he is just 8 months that he will grow out of it but for the mean time i think we may have to resort to cage him over night or try the box muzzle. Thanks for your suggestions.</p> Hi Val,
Thank you for your s…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-20:865021:Comment:5148902011-03-20T18:34:02.470ZSandra, Nicola & Jenna Sturrockhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/SandraNicolaJennaSturrock
<p>Hi Val, </p>
<p>Thank you for your suggestions, will have to try them. But we have never once seen him show interest just see the devastation in the morning, and this has been going on for a couple of months now and it is gradually getting worse. Thanks again.</p>
<p>Hi Val, </p>
<p>Thank you for your suggestions, will have to try them. But we have never once seen him show interest just see the devastation in the morning, and this has been going on for a couple of months now and it is gradually getting worse. Thanks again.</p> Hi Ossian,
Yes it is always…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-20:865021:Comment:5148872011-03-20T18:29:09.971ZSandra, Nicola & Jenna Sturrockhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/SandraNicolaJennaSturrock
<p>Hi Ossian,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Yes it is always the days before a show, typical. However we have never once seen the chewer do it, the reason we know it is him as he is the new addition to the family and it had never happened before, so process of elimination would suggest it is him. But the other dogs he chews never seem to have told him off for it. Just wish they would as this may encourage him to stop.</p>
<p>Hi Ossian,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Yes it is always the days before a show, typical. However we have never once seen the chewer do it, the reason we know it is him as he is the new addition to the family and it had never happened before, so process of elimination would suggest it is him. But the other dogs he chews never seem to have told him off for it. Just wish they would as this may encourage him to stop.</p> Hi Eva,
He is not a licker, b…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-20:865021:Comment:5147002011-03-20T18:24:45.833ZSandra, Nicola & Jenna Sturrockhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/SandraNicolaJennaSturrock
<p>Hi Eva,</p>
<p>He is not a licker, but like you said we never see him doing it just the results. The coat just looks like someone has come along and cut the coat with scissors, however it is not just one particular it is the 3 other male dogs we have that he targets and they never seem to tell him off for it and the bitches probably do, we wish they would though. We are hoping he will grow out of it too! Thank you for your suggestions.</p>
<p>Hi Eva,</p>
<p>He is not a licker, but like you said we never see him doing it just the results. The coat just looks like someone has come along and cut the coat with scissors, however it is not just one particular it is the 3 other male dogs we have that he targets and they never seem to tell him off for it and the bitches probably do, we wish they would though. We are hoping he will grow out of it too! Thank you for your suggestions.</p> Thank you for the link, we sh…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-20:865021:Comment:5146972011-03-20T18:20:08.762ZSandra, Nicola & Jenna Sturrockhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/SandraNicolaJennaSturrock
Thank you for the link, we shall have a look into it. Much appreciated.
Thank you for the link, we shall have a look into it. Much appreciated. Hi Peter,
He is not chewing h…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-20:865021:Comment:5149802011-03-20T18:19:30.240ZSandra, Nicola & Jenna Sturrockhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/SandraNicolaJennaSturrock
<p>Hi Peter,</p>
<p>He is not chewing himself, but is chewing other male dogs only on their sides however not their legs. But yes we may have to resort to crating him over night. Thank you for your suggestions.</p>
<p>Hi Peter,</p>
<p>He is not chewing himself, but is chewing other male dogs only on their sides however not their legs. But yes we may have to resort to crating him over night. Thank you for your suggestions.</p> I have had a coat chewer. I'…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-20:865021:Comment:5145762011-03-20T14:20:29.983ZAngela Robertshttp://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/AngelaRoberts
I have had a coat chewer. I've not really got much advice to give but it was a dog puppy I ran on alongside his litter sister. He started just before they were 6 months old (before the bitch's first show). The first time I noticed it there was only a few bits missing but the next day he took off half the hair down the spine and in the following few days he went right along the spine and started going down the sides over the ribs. I never caught him doing it but it was mostly when out…
I have had a coat chewer. I've not really got much advice to give but it was a dog puppy I ran on alongside his litter sister. He started just before they were 6 months old (before the bitch's first show). The first time I noticed it there was only a few bits missing but the next day he took off half the hair down the spine and in the following few days he went right along the spine and started going down the sides over the ribs. I never caught him doing it but it was mostly when out playing in the garden and he never did it when they were just snuggled up together. It does make a mess and for the coat to come right they have to have a complete change of coat. He never seemed stressed or nervous in fact he was a friendly laid back dog. I had to keep them apart when unsupervised until I rehomed him at 8 months old as he wasn't entire. He went to live with another young Irish and has never done it in his new home. Maybe at this age it is to do with teething but it does seem to become a habit. Maybe try to keep your puppy apart from the others when you are not around so that it breaks the habit and he hopefully forgets about it, not easy I know for a breed that loves company. He is clearly getting satisfa…tag:irishsetters.ning.com,2011-03-20:865021:Comment:5140372011-03-20T13:27:39.273ZVal Martinhttp://irishsetters.ning.com/xn/detail/u_3k8ugkdvlpw06
He is clearly getting satisfaction from it. If he has only recently started this behaviour then it could be caused by some small change to his normal environment which is causing a stress reaction. Dogs can start all sorts of peculiar behaviours when they feel anxious. To change his night time activities you will have to change the day time ones as well. The best way to resolve this problem behaviour is to disrupt it by starting a exciting game with him as soon as you spot him showing…
He is clearly getting satisfaction from it. If he has only recently started this behaviour then it could be caused by some small change to his normal environment which is causing a stress reaction. Dogs can start all sorts of peculiar behaviours when they feel anxious. To change his night time activities you will have to change the day time ones as well. The best way to resolve this problem behaviour is to disrupt it by starting a exciting game with him as soon as you spot him showing interest in the other dogs coat. After the game, give him either a Kong stuffed full with low fat peanut butter or a extra large hide chew to keep his mind occupied for a while. If you replace the grooming behaviour with a more rewarding activity then he will be less inclined to lick in the first place. Offer rewarding activites regularly throughout the day and when you need to disrupt the unwanted behaviour, vary which activity you offer so he looks more to you for excitement and reward rather than the self satisfaction he gets from the licking. You could give him the Kong or chew in a cage if you need to go out somewhere or for sleeping in over night if you are worried that he might start the behaviour when left alone with the other dogs. Never use the cage as a punishment, always make it a nice place for him to relax in with a special treat.