My dog is a boxer mix that I've had for 7 months and is about a year old now. Until about 2-3 months ago, my dog used to wolf down those fruit-roll up shaped rawhide bones (not the ones with knots in them). Specifically the Hartz Dental ones you can buy at Walmart for $3-4 for two. Now, if anything he'll lightly chews on it for a few minutes then stop. I've also given him those roll-up looking rawhides with meat stuffed inside and a sort of glaze on it (also from Walmart in the $3-4 range for two) and he still loves those. The dog, was a massive chewer when I first found him, destroying things with his jaw and teeth that I wouldn't think was possible. I've NEVER disciplined him for chewing rawhides. If anything, I've praised him for it. So, WTF? My understanding is dogs really don't care much about taste. So, I don't think that's the issue. He also used to chew more on this fabric duck squeeker and rubber tire toy and now he does the same thing-chews on it for a few minutes if I bring attention to it and then will stop and just lay there. Any ideas?
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Some dogs DO lose interest in chewing when they reach maturity. It doesn't necessarily have to do with "teething" per se, but simply growing out of a "phase" and no longer feeling compelled to release energy by chewing. It's not taste that dogs are after, but SMELL. Their sense of smell is so powerful, that it pretty much acts like a taste accessory. Dogs do have taste buds, but not as many as we do.....but odor and taste do matter. You may want to try a different kind of chew. Petsmart (or most any pet supply store) sells "chew hooves"- they're sterilized cow hooves. They get pretty stinky when the dogs chew them....which is why most dogs LOVE them. Bully sticks- another item you'll have to visit the pet store for.....are a big hit with most dogs. Pig ears, kneecaps, tracheas and other various dehydrated animal parts are available as dog chews depending on where you look. For what it's worth, he's better off not eating rawhide anyway. You gotta pay attention to the labeling....if it comes from anywhere outside the US, Mexico, Canada, or Europe/Australia....you're dealing with some pretty nasty chemicals they use to bleach, dehydrate and sterilize that stuff. Remember the dog food recalls....the tainted stuff came from China. 3rd world countries are allowed to use toxic chemicals that are banned in North America and most modern countries....over time, those toxic chemicals can build up in the dog's system and cause cancer or other serious problems. If you ever do feed rawhide again, check the label and make sure it's not made in China or Thailand or some similar country. Those "Dingo" bones someone else mentioned are products of China and make my dogs sick, actually....I wouldn't reccomend them at all. The hooves and bully sticks are byproducts of the American or Canadian beef industry, and are free from hazardous chemicals. Your dog might also like Greenies, or a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter & treats. He may enjoy a tug rope or some other type of toy. Plenty of adult dogs care nothing about chewing....as long as he's not eating your couch, no worries :).
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