Cody Capers
Cody still lives here; that is the amazing part. I think I have figured out how he has managed to avoid a one-way ticket to anywhere but here.
Alexis loves him, and he loves her.
If it weren't for that? I can't promise a thing.
Very early in his still-young life (he's six months now), the pooch proved that he is a more masterful escape artist than Houdini. He can get out of any kennel we put him in, can jump over any barriers we create, and can find his way out of a locked room. We don't know how; we just know he cannot be contained. Period.
Thus, he was granted full reign over the house when we are gone. It all started about a month ago, and for a long while, all was well. He and Meg get along fabulously, and they seemed to do a good job of keeping each other company.
Then something happened.
I don't know what, I just know that little dude is seeking out things to do while we are gone.
Make that things to DESTROY while we are gone.
Every day. Every single day he actively seeks out something to rip to shreds. Mr. Husband and I both do a full house sweep in the morning before we leave to try to hide/put up anything we think he might get into, but it doesn't work. He just finds ways to climb up high enough to reach what he wants, or finds something we missed.
Like a chair.
Oh, yes. If he can't find some sort of paper product (he prefers boxes above all else), he starts looking for wood to gnaw on. WOOD. Like our couch.
That's not even the worst of what he has done. It's the worst of what I'm willing to immortalize in photos. If I were to take a photo of the upstairs banister, I'm pretty sure I would end up making Havanese stew the next day.
He has plenty to chew on (there are freakin' bones lying next to every. single. one. of those things he destroyed in the photos above). He has company. He really doesn't care if we are or are not home. HE JUST LIKES TO SHRED THINGS.
I'd like to shred him. Alexis' love for him is the only thing stopping me.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Reader Comments (32)
Much as I find the idea of Havanese stew intriguing, I thought you were a vegetarian?
Our dog used to do the same thing. We would put her in an empty crate (with a toy of course) and when we got home there would be a torn up comforter or blanket in the crate with her. Eventually she got full reign of the house and would tear up anything that looked like a stuffed animal. Don't worry, she grew out of it, and Cody probably will too (If you haven't cooked him by then). Have you tried a kong with peanut butter or cheese in it?
Ahh puppies. There are four couches/loveseats in this house that have multiple holes chewed through the backs of them and a kitchen table with chunks missing. It's been 13 years and my mother still will occasionally curse me for bringing home that puppy. I think the worst was when he chewed through the rug in the dining room - right down into the wood floor.
Fun times. I think you may want to leave books, boxes, and old shoes you don't want lying where he can find them from now on. But of course, because dogs aren't stupid, he'll totally know that you're just trying to screw him over and will eat your nice shoes anyway. Sucks, man.
I can provide you with all the box/cardboard you need via work & the bar if you think that might help. Seriously...
at Petsmart/Petco they have all these cool treat things that you can set up and leave all around your house so that the pup has to find them and then he has to work really hard to get them out, it keeps them occupied and mostly out of mischief, if you can find them anyway....
He sure is a cutie any way..
I'm betting he's teething, check his mouth and see if his milk teeth are being replaced.
I don't agree with trannyhead about leaving old shoes for him to chew. Dogs cannot tell the difference between an old shoe and your new ones. A shoe is a shoe is a shoe..
Try those toys that you can place a treat into, they have to chew and play to get to the treat. Also squeaky and other noisy toys.
First off, Meg would look KICK ASS as a nun.
And secondly, we were CONVINCED that those puppy pee pads spoke in evil tongues when we were gone. Fenway used to destroy them just like Cody!!
Hallie
the roo-girl's love for the rat dogs really is the only reason that they are alive.
they would give cody a run for his money.
i hate them.
Thanks for reminding me why we don't have a puppy yet.
Oh, and we've tried the Kong treat-hidden-within-a-toy thing. He LURVES them when we are home, but doesn't even touch them when we're not. Little nut job.
He doesn't chew shoes or stuffed animals, because HE IS A FREAK. I couldn't pay him to destroy some of Alexis' more questionable and annoying items--he just wants cardboard. Or wood.
I feel your pain. I've still got a hole in my leather couch from the dogs. I will never photograph it because it's way too painful to look at. We have a blanket thrown over it and I threaten to kill anyone who removes it and makes me SEE it again. If I knew which dog did it, it would have found a home long ago.
End rant.
The Hound was (and still is, despite CGC, Advanced Obediance, Flyball, Hunting, daycare, etc.) the exact same way.
And somehow, now that she's been with us for years, I can't imagine NOT having her.
Apparently you get used to living with rabid dingos, and even get to like it.
My blood pressure rose FOR you when I saw the photos of the chair and the couch. This is why we don't have a dog yet - while I would LOVE one, I'm pretty sure I don't have the restraint to NOT make Havanese stew as you do.
You have patience to rival the saints for sure.
I'm so glad I have cats. :)
I think their anxiety level goes up when their people are away. Maybe he's just not ready to be out of the crate?
Oh, wait...you said that he can escape from a crate. Sorry. I got nothin'.
Are you telling me that my dream of someday owning a cute little Havanese should forever be tabled? (No pun intended...okay, maybe a little one)
I had a Samoyed for 12 years who was my hubby's darling. She passed away and we stupidly went and got another one right away. Newbie went and started chewing EVERYTHING. We crated her when we weren't home, but she did this under our noses. She would sneak into the other room and ruin a dining room chair! In one instance, she licked the drywall until it was nice and moist and promptly ate her way down to the frame. I discovered this when I headed upstairs to bed. It cost us $2000 to fix the problems she caused to the structure, and I still have those chewed up chairs. I am scared to get new ones, lest my bullies decide they look tasty!
I hope things settle down with the little monster soon. Incidentally, I find that the molded plastic crates work much better at containing potential escapees than do the full wire ones.
Peace - D
Oh, and by the way, Newbie went to a new home. There was no Alexis in the house preventing me from rehoming that one. I have never regretted it, either.
D
Reason # 126 why I can't have a dog right now. My blood pressure would be through the roof!! He's cute but I don't handle that kind of stuff very well!! UGH!
Our two dogs were banished to life outside about the time my wife got pregnant. They still hate me but I am glad I did it becasue one with a new baby I don't have time to tend to their needs. When Braden gets bigger he can love them outside.
Sounds like Cody's teething.
However, our first dog, Chance, learned how to get out of his cage in FIFTEEN SECONDS (did I tell you this before???) We had to resort to PADLOCKING him in his cage when we weren't home until we could trust him. (about 6 months later)
our dog did this one too many times (Ate Christmas presents under last years tree) and became a crate trained dog.
I have no advice for you, just sympathy. And I happen to love that type of stew, so if you decide to... yummy.
Futhur proof that there is very little difference between a teething infant and a puppy. My kids and the dog could have shared the Kong. I hope this 'phase' is over soon!
Ah memories.
Now our dog just pees on things. After we've had him five years.
Pees and poops in weird places. No idea what is up with that.
Weirdest thing our dog chewed -- ear plugs. Bright neon orange ones that he later "deposited" in the back yard.
Havanese Stew goes great with a nice Merlot, and Ruffles!
And I thought my toddler destroyed a lot. Mental Note - No puppies. ;-)
My Shih Tzu have rain of the house now, and he would destroy his puppy pad and all sorts of other stuff also. Then he started chewing on empty water bottles. Its his favortie thing now, and I rarely find other things chewed up anymore. Oh except for the lollipop he found the other day. :)
Our Lab puppy loves to chew wood and it drives me crazy! She's chewed on our swing set, brand new expensive fence, wood trim, baseboards - you name it. Fortunately for us she hasn't figured out how to get out of her crate or we'd be doomed!
He is getting pretty big huh? I have no solutions for you. Our dog used to do this. It drove me nuts. Then he ran away. Problem solved.
makes me not want a puppy!
that little booger wouldn't get "free reign" at my house! he'd find his behind in a crate every time I left the house!