Corgi Forums

ChloeLouise · **Appropriate items to gnaw? -** 03-21-2006, 03:39 PM

I just read the threads concerning "greenies" and raw hide...both of which confirm my hesitation about giving Choe either of these items! Which then brings me around to asking, what ARE the safest "gnaw toys"? I have stopped giving Chloe stuffed toys because she dissembowels them and consumes the fluff...since she is a "gulper" I avoid giving her anything that she can bite large chunks off, so no "dental bones"...and I take sticks away from her outside...Consequently, I spend a get deal of time standing in the dog "toy" aisle at the grocery, debating the merits and safety of nearly all the offerings! I realize she needs to chew (my kitchen chair legs will attest to this

), PLEASE give advice!! By the way, Chloe is an 11 month old fluffy red and white PWC.
Thanx!

Michael Romanos · 03-21-2006, 05:08 PM

There are simply hundreds and hundreds of quality dog toys that are perfectly safe for Corgis. The emphasis is on quality which means the object is made of material that is pretty much guaranteed to last a lifetime. I would never give a young Corgi a soft, stuffed toy - you're just asking for trouble.
I brought a whicker basket bed for my Taylor even before his arrival. And he just got stuck into it. I was horrified at all the little sharp sticks of whicker that he unleashed. I prayed this three month old pup did not consume any. And here was a Corgi who would never get a bone in his life for fear of him splintering them. Corgis need things to bite and chew to their hearts content, so a low risk thing such as small cigar shaped hides - are worthwhile. Then there are the toy-like objects I have already referred to.

KatC · 05:34 PM

I cant find any toy that Abby cant destroy

, even the ones that are guaranteed to foil even the toughest chewer - she decimates in a very short period of time. The only toys she hasnt demolished are the ones she isnt very fond of - eg Kongs, rope pull toys and those very hard rubber things. She loves, and does not destroy, sponge rubber balls (not tennis balls). I have searched for toys made with sponge rubber instead of that awful stuffing and have come up empty handed so far.

Wish I could manufacture some - would probably make my fortune.

Abby likes to gnaw on her Nylon Bone - this keeps her occupied for long periods.

Michael Romanos · 03-21-2006, 07:59 PM

Interesting you should mention a Kong because I brought one (large size) for Taylor for his third birthday recently and he just does not like it even with a tasty Kong morsel inside of it. So much for being the best toy in the world for dogs and the biggest seller. I bet she can't chew that one up -maybe that's why she don't like it. Taylor loves Pig's Ears and he always breaks them up into little pieces and away they go into his tummy after more chewing and (sucking?).
Maybe Abby would make a great can opener. That would put her to good use.

ChloeLouise · 03-22-2006, 07:01 AM

Thanks for the input!! Yes, Chloe likes Nylabones - but only if they have been partially chewed by her "cousin" Cooper! New, out of the package, Nylabones just aren't as appealing for some reason! My concern about Nylabones is that she actually consumes them - miniscule bit by miniscule shred they disappear! Is this okay? It really is they only commercial thing that will hold her interest. As for Kongs - ha! - I have to agree, what a huge waste of money!! Rope toys have come and gone as Chloe tears them up - and eats them (evidence appears in the yard later)....So, we have a basket full of rejected, clever toys that have cost us an arm and a leg!! Actually, I think marketing chair legs would be the jackpot item!

thanx!
Margo

Jhemphill · 03-22-2006, 11:57 AM

I agree the Maximus pays them no attention, he does not like Nylabones either. We give Maximus and Medjai (American Bulldog) rawhides, but Maximus does not really want them until Medjai has chewed on them and soften them up for her. We watch them with these and Maximus seem to only bite off small pieces and chews them up before swallowing. When they get to be small pieces that we feel could be choking hazads they are thrown away. As far as stuffed toys, we have found nothing that Maxiumus does not bite a hole in and then remove all the stuffing. We give them stuffed toys and then watch when the first sign of stuffing is seen they removed from the dogs. Maxi even had a toy made of fire hose and he chewed through it. He likes tennis balls but pulls the fuzz of them and rope toys he unties the knots. The only things that last are his soccer ball and his football (American) they are flat because he had bit holes in them, but he has not chewed them to pieces. If you find anything that your Corgi likes and can destroy please let us know.

molly · 03-22-2006, 02:10 PM

Hi, I find the best thing that lasts, and all my children love them are the pig hoofs. I keep several on the floor at all times and they can knaw on them at will. when they get small i throw them away. They are inexpensive and they must really taste good as they will chew on them for a good while at a time.they do not splinter, and hard as a rock. Just don't step on one barefooted! OUCH!!

Michael Romanos · 03-22-2006, 04:39 PM

Molly seems to have a good idea - pig's hoofs that can be removed from Abby's grasp when they get sufficiently eaten up as to cause you anxiety with regard to swallowing whole. Now that's a compromise - and controllable by the human.

Owned by Cheyenne · 03-28-2006, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChloeLouise

Thanks for the input!! Yes, Chloe likes Nylabones - but only if they have been partially chewed by her "cousin" Cooper! New, out of the package, Nylabones just aren't as appealing for some reason! My concern about Nylabones is that she actually consumes them - miniscule bit by miniscule shred they disappear! Is this okay? It really is they only commercial thing that will hold her interest. As for Kongs - ha! - I have to agree, what a huge waste of money!! Rope toys have come and gone as Chloe tears them up - and eats them (evidence appears in the yard later)....So, we have a basket full of rejected, clever toys that have cost us an arm and a leg!! Actually, I think marketing chair legs would be the jackpot item!

thanx!
Margo

I'm not sure how you feel about them, but my corgi loves raw, meaty bones that the butcher has. You could even go to the grocery store and ask for something of the like. If you freeze them, they don't make as much of a mess.

Michael Romanos · 03-28-2006, 03:50 PM

Previous Corgis of mine have had such a lot of painful problems with meat bones that when Taylor came along, no bones I said and no bones said the breeder - who incidently is a leading world Pembroke specialist. And that's the way it is. A little of a shame because dogs and meat bones usually go together. However there are great unmessy alternatives. One Corgi I had often buried the bones I gave him in "secret" places in the garden and even he forgot sometimes where they were - and I was the one who dug them up. He still took ownership of them despite being days, weeks old and full of dirt and decay.

corgimom · 04-28-2006, 07:23 PM

I am curious if "pigs ears" are okay for our dogs to chew on and consume?

I picked one up at pets Mart today and Cody loved it(by the way, so did
my cat, and he tried to steal it from him).

Anyway, is this bad for our Corgis? Does anyone know anything about the
nutrition value of these? There is rarely anything that Cody is interested in
chewing on, but he did like the Pig ear; but I won't give it to him anymore, if
this is not a good thing.

Linda

Michael Romanos · 04-28-2006, 08:44 PM

Hi Linda
Pig's Ear's are marvellous for Corgis. One lasts Taylor around 1 to 2 hours - unless he leaves some of it for later on or hides it away in the first place, to be retrieved later on. He softens up small areas of the ear, bites them off and chews them up - which almost all Corgis will do ie not bite off large chunks and swallow them whole.
Anything to do with a pig that is not salted is great for dogs apart from straight out fat and bones. There are also other really good chewy pig parts for dogs such as pig's trots.
Taylor loves them. I buy them from a local veterinary clinic in packs of 10 for NZ$10 (US$6) and Taylor usually gets one a week.

corgimom · 04-28-2006, 09:41 PM

Michael,

Okay, thank you for responding. Pig Ears are the one thing that he seems
to enjoy . He does soften them up just eats little bits and they seem
so much better than rawhides - my cat loves to steal it after Cody has
softened up the pig ear. I would think they would not be bad for a cat
either, but I have no idea.

I was wondering if they are low in fat??

Linda

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Appropriate items to gnaw?