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Puppy chews everything – what can I do?

Mar 5, 2025 | Dogs, General

How do I stop my puppy from chewing everything? How do I stop my dog ​​from biting furniture, tearing wallpaper, chewing shoes, and gnawing on cables and other things? Unwanted chewing is not only destructive and expensive when it is done on the couch or personal items. Chewing on electrical cables is dangerous and in the worst case scenario it can cost the dog its life. The fact is that no puppy destroys things because it wants to annoy you. There are other reasons behind its bad behavior, which we will try to get to the bottom of here.

The little Rottweiler puppy feels good.

Make the apartment puppy-proof.

Put away all valuable items that could be dangerous for the dog. Remove electrical cables from the area that the dog can access and secure the sockets with child safety locks. Do not leave any clothing or other items that are important to you lying around. The trash can should also be out of reach of the small dog.

Rule out illness.

In very rare cases, unwanted chewing can be a sign of illness. It is extremely rare for a brain tumor or thyroid disease to cause this change in the dog’s personality. When you take your little dog to the vet, ask for his opinion.

Is your puppy teething?

Puppies are naturally curious and explore their environment with their mouths just like small children do. To properly explore their environment, they put interesting objects in their mouths and chew on them. This increases significantly when the second teeth come through between the third and seventh month. When teething, small dogs have a special need to constantly gnaw on something. Chewing is the best way to make the pain more bearable.

Offer your dog alternatives that are more interesting than your furniture and taste better. Get special chews from the dog shop. If these don’t have the desired effect, you can rub them with peanut butter or bacon to make them more attractive to the little one.

Does your puppy seek attention?

The dog wants your attention, even if it is negative attention. Negative attention is better than no attention. If the dog is not given enough time and his social needs are not met, he will misbehave to get your attention.

Keep your dog mentally and physically occupied to burn off his excess energy. A quick walk around the block is not enough. Take long walks in nature, let him swim or go jogging with him. You know your dog best and will know what kind of exercise he enjoys.

Does the dog have separation anxiety?

To track down this phenomenon, it is helpful to observe your dog with a camera when he is home alone. If your puppy starts chewing on everything and “letting off steam” immediately after you leave the house, this can be a sign of separation anxiety and stress management. A dog usually becomes restless and starts barking or howling as soon as it notices that you want to leave the house without it. For this type of anxiety and stress management, your dog needs special training from an experienced dog trainer.

Your puppy is suffering from a lack of exercise and is bored.

Once you have installed the camera, you can see if your puppy starts chewing after you have left the house. In this case, boredom may be a trigger for the destructive behavior. Under-stimulated dogs tend to find their own tasks to keep themselves physically and mentally occupied. For example, they will investigate the garbage or chew your leash to satisfy their curiosity and relieve excess energy.

Make sure the little puppy gets enough exercise and mental stimulation so that it can relieve its excess energy. There are many toys you can make yourself that will keep the dog occupied while you are away.

Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy Juma.

Conclusion

Dogs chew out of a natural instinct. Chewing is a natural reflex for the dog or other animals such as cats, mice and even cows. Wolves chew sticks and bones in the wild.
Think about what the dog gains and what he achieves by chewing. Does it help the puppy with teething, does chewing reduce stress and pent-up energy? Does it provide mental stimulation or reduce hunger? It can break down barriers and keep him busy with fun games. Once you understand that the chewing reflex is of natural origin, find the solution to the problems listed above. Offer your dog alternatives that taste much better than your slippers or his leash. Your puppy must be excited by your offer of a solution and he will change his chewing habits.

What is a good cat basket?

What is a good cat basket?

by | Mar 10, 2025 | ,

As cats sleep up to 16 hours a day, the cat basket should be an ideal place for your cat to sleep and retreat. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to good features and criteria when buying. …

Dog cookies that are also very tasty for cats

Sep 13, 2024 | Cats, Dogs, General, Recipes

Ingredients:

  • 200 g wholemeal spelt flour
  • 50 g soft rolled oats
  • 40 g grated cheese, e.g. Pecorino or Parmesan
  • 50 g butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 eggs

 

Preparation:

Mix the flour with the rolled oats and cheese. Mix the butter with the olive oil and eggs until creamy and then knead in the flour mixture until you have a smooth dough that is easy to roll out. Cut out shapes from the dough or simply cut diamonds. The pieces should be quite small for the cat, as the cookie is difficult to break into small pieces when baked. Bake in the oven at 180° for about 20 to 30 minutes.

  • Leave the cookies to dry out well overnight and then store in a tin in a dry place.
  • The recipe makes approx. 350 g of cookies.
  • The cookies will keep for at least 8 weeks.

PS: The recipe is originally for dogs. Our cat Gisela reacted very passionately to the cookies and now always gets her own portion baked.

The Dachshund

Sep 13, 2024 | Dogs, General

Dachshund lady Josefine and Dachshund male Ule enjoy our designer dog baskets

To better understand the nature and character of the Dachshund, you should know that it was originally bred for hunting underground. Among other things, they were used to hunt badgers, which are superior to dachshunds as predators. This resulted in its combative, self-confident and decisive nature.

The Dachshund’s body shape is characterized by short legs and an elongated body shape. Extensive jumping and agility as a dog sport are not recommended for the Dachshund’s long back.

The character of the Dachshund can be easily deduced from its original area of use. Its self-confident demeanor recommends consistent training from puppyhood onwards. When interacting with other dogs, Dachshunds often show little respect, even towards larger, stronger dogs. Motivation and consistency are the key to success when training Dachshunds, but they should still be given a certain amount of freedom.

His passion for digging is legendary and a place of his own in the garden to indulge his passion is actually part of a species-appropriate attitude.
The Dachshund will become a family dog if it grows up with children and does not have any negative experiences. Nevertheless, it is advisable not to leave dogs and small children alone, especially if they are unfamiliar to the animal.

The terms rough-haired, short-haired and long-haired dachshund describe the coat texture.

 

 

The different types of Dachshund refer to the size of the dogs

 

 

Varieties:

  • Dachshund: largest dachshund breed, chest circumference approx. 35-40 cm
  • Miniature dachshund: chest circumference approx. 30-35 cm
  • Rabbit dachshund: Chest circumference max. 30 cm

 

Facts about the Dachshund

  • Life expectancy approx. 14 to 17 years
  • Urge to move medium
  • Training effort high,
  • Low grooming effort
  • Time expenditure high

French Bulldog

Sep 11, 2024 | Dogs

The French Bulldog is a lively, alert dog. It is very agile, although it has a muscular and compact build. Its bat ears and short tail also characterize it, as does a broad and angular head with a blunt-nosed face. The face of this dog breed is characterized by numerous wrinkles on the forehead, nose and zygomatic arches. The coat is short-haired and easy to care for. They do not tolerate blazing sun, extreme heat and cold.

The nature of the French Bulldog is sociable, friendly and cheerful. They are calm, self-confident and sensitive companion dogs, but at the same time playful, sporty and alert. Keeping them in kennels is completely unsuitable for this breed. They need unrestricted attention and love individual contact with their owner.

French Bulldogs do not need much exercise, but are enthusiastic about long walks and are attentive, affectionate companions.

 

 

Facts about the French Bulldog

  • High urge to move
  • Colors: fawn, brindle, piebald
  • Function: companion and guard dog
  • Weight: 8 – 14 kg
  • Height: approx. 36 cm
  • Life expectancy: approx. 13 – 15 years

Porkchop & Lambchop in the BOWL designer dog bed

Dog and Heat

Aug 15, 2024 | Dogs, General

When it’s hot, dogs love to let off steam and cool off in the water.

Dogs and heat. Useful tips on how to survive the hot days.

You just have to imagine that the owner has to endure these high temperatures in a fur coat. Then it might be easier to understand how the dog feels in the heat. Since dogs, unlike humans, cannot cool down through sweat – our four-legged friends have only a few sweat glands – dogs and heat do not get along so well. Cooling down works through panting. Heavy panting should already alert the dog owner to take countermeasures.

We have put together some useful tips here to help our dogs survive the hot summer well.

Cooling down with water

If the dog likes to swim, cooling down in a lake, river, stream or the sea is a great way to refresh themselves. Equipped with swimming toys and balls, bathing is a successful activity. This way, dogs and heat are even fun.

If the dog doesn’t mind, it can also be sprayed off with the garden hose (starting at the paws). Catching the drops of water is fun for almost every dog.

If the garden hose is not your four-legged friend’s friend, a sturdy children’s paddling pool will also provide cooling.

Walking the dog in summer

If the temperatures are very high, long walks should be scheduled for the early morning or late evening. Walking with the dog and the heat is bearable on cool lawns or shady forest paths. Otherwise, older animals in particular can quickly develop circulatory problems.

During the day, only short walks are recommended, preferably not on hot asphalt. During the midday hours, a nap in the shade or in the cool apartment is on the agenda.

Avoid walking on pavement and asphalt, open fields and paths without shade. Check the heat of the road surface by pressing your hand onto the surface. If you cannot calmly count to 10, the ground is too hot and will burn the dog’s paws. Even if the road surface is not quite so hot, long walks can lead to burns.

Staying outdoors

It is best to stay in the shade with your dog and the heat. On the cool grass in the park under a shady bush, you can bear it even in high temperatures. A stay in the forest is a great change for dog and owner. Strenuous activities such as cycling should be avoided as they put too much strain on the cardiovascular system.

Grooming in hot weather

The fur should be brushed regularly in summer so that more air can reach the skin. Your darling will also be happy with a short summer cut and thinning of the fur, which will give him relief. Dogs can get sunburnt in hairless areas, so don’t cut them too short. Dogs with dark fur suffer much more in the summer heat, so make sure you go into the shade. You can also give your dog relief in hot weather by moistening his legs and stomach or putting a damp cloth on his body.

It is ideal if the four-legged friend can move freely in and around the house in the heat. He will then usually find a cool place himself, inside or outside.

Food and water

Of course, you always have to provide your dog with enough fresh water in hot weather so that it can quench its thirst at any time.

Smaller food portions spread throughout the day are less stressful for the body.

Homemade ice cream is a welcome change for the dog. You can find some recipes to download here.

Traveling in the car with your dog

It cannot be stressed enough: never leave your dog alone in the car in summer temperatures. It is not enough to park the car in the shade. Always take your dog with you. You can be stopped for any reason. The sun moves and in no time at all the temperatures inside the car are hellishly hot and become a death trap. Lack of oxygen, nausea and circulatory failure can lead to the animal’s death in the worst case scenario.

The use of air conditioning is essential for long journeys. If there is no air conditioning, long car journeys must be planned for the cool morning hours or late evening.

Call the police immediately if you discover an animal in a car. If an animal owner acts irresponsibly, he can be held accountable under Section 17 of the Animal Welfare Act. Fines and/or imprisonment of up to 3 years are threatened.

Recognize warning signals

Heavy panting with a stretched neck, a glazed look and a deep red tongue are a warning sign that the heat is getting too much for your four-legged friend. If vomiting, loss of balance and unconsciousness are added to this, the dog has suffered heatstroke, which in the worst case can lead to death. You should consult a vet as soon as possible!

Here you can find information on the topic Heatstroke in Dogs.

Recipe ideas for dog ice cream

Banana Ice Cream

  • 1 overripe banana
  • 100 g cottage chease

Ice Cream with Watermelon

  • 100 g watermelon
  • 100 g natural yogurt

Blueberry Ice Cream

  • 100 g blueberries
  • 100 g quark

Preparation

Mix all ingredients and fill into ice cube trays. Stick a small wooden stick or spoon into each ice cube so that you can feed it to your dog. For larger portions, you can also freeze the ice cream in muffin tins.

Important: Offer the dog the ice cream in small portions and make sure that it only swallows small pieces at a time.

Recipe for dog ice cream

download recipe