My dog ate my homework...

[Hammer]

I mean she ate my cycling shoes and shorts.

My dog is lucky that she has such a pretty face and good disposition otherwise...

A few weeks ago, I wake up to see that she chewed off two of three straps on each cycling shoe. Granted, they were a year old, but not worn out. Instead of getting a kick a** pair when I was good and ready I ended up buying a duplicate pair because they were last season and on sale for $60 instead of like $80 or whatever (working on moving and planning a wedding and paying for other puppy related expenses ).

Today I go for a bike ride, I'm only gone for two hours. I thought she'd fall asleep because she'd been running around outside for awhile already. She gets put on a leash and stays in the bedroom. I decided rather than wear my good pair of Pearl Izumis, wear my cheap pair of shorts for the short ride. Tossed the PIs onto the bed. The chain is long enough for her to jump on the bed... I get home and see that the shorts are now on the floor. I look at them and there's a hole the size of a quarter in the chamois.

DARN it!! An $80 pair of shorts, I only had two pair. I was thinking of buying a third because I'm always running them through the laundary anyway and I'm going on my first multiday tour, so I thought that 3 would be pretty good.

SERIOUSLY!! I didn't want to *have* to spend the money. I found a pair of the quest shorts (i think...). The shorts lost were the sugar or the short attack or something... I like that inseam. But the shorts I bought today nearly come to my knees... but they were only $50 and I did like the chamois, so I decided to compromise.

Ah man, I love the puppy to death. And we will keep her and possibly still spoil her just a bit, but she's costing us an arm and a leg! I just can't staple everything to the ceiling. I underestimate her reach. She'd probably actually get stuff off of the ceiling.

[makbike]

Have you considered a crate?

[oxysback]

Have you considered a crate?

+1!!

Frankie the Pug is sequestered in the kitchen with a gate whenever we aren't home. She's not destructive, but it's nice to know that if (and this never happens...I just don't want it to!) there are any 'surprises' they're in an easy place to notice and clean. Plus, we have 3 cats...and Frankie likes to surf for kitty roca in the litter box. Gross!

[Hammer]

We did try one when she was a little smaller. And at that time she was injured, we were supposed to contain her and limit her mobility. She fought that so much that we thought it did more harm than good. After that, she was really really good just hanging out on her pillow, so we didn't continue with the crate. Now she's too big for that one.

When she chewed on my shoes it was because we let her off of the chain too early in the morning. We went back to sleep, she didn't. Oops.

In a few days we're moving to an acreage and she can spend A LOT more time outside. We'll probably set up a doggy hangout area for her in an outside building when we're not home.

Ah well, it's tolerance training for kids one day. They're going to go through lots of stuff and possibly break a car.

[lauraelmore1033]

surf for kitty roca...
Now I remember why we don't want a new dog.

[oxysback]

surf for kitty roca...
Now I remember why we don't want a new dog.

ROFL!!

The baby gate stays at the laundry room entrance when Frankie is 'at large'. We have to put it high enough so the cats can scoot under it (dumb cats...you'd think they can't jump!) and low enough so Frankie can't.

We were looking at gates with the little door for cats, but since Frankie and the cats are similar sized, it doesn't work.

[mimitabby]

If your dog can't be enclosed in a kennel and he is destructive, he can seriously damage your house.
Love is nice but houses are expensive, even more so than clothing.
Buy a bigger kennel! We had a dog chew DOORS up when we left him home alone..

[SadieKate]

Crate training. Even if your dog is going to spend time outdoors soon.

If she's fighting you about going into the crate, she's winning the battle of dominance. And, how is a vet supposed to handle her is she won't go into a crate?

Currently, I'd say she's doing a fine job of training you.