I’m dog sitting a few times a week (same dog), and he loves chewing up cardboard. He doesn’t eat it or anything, just makes a huge mess. He has nylabones and similar chew toys, but he’s not very interested in them. He seems to prefer things he can rip to shreds easily. Any idea what sorts of toys would be a good alternative to cardboard for him to reduce the mess?
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One of our dogs loves to shred cardboard and egg cartons, like you describe. He also really likes toys like this, and will spend time carefully rooting out the smaller toys from inside. As long as we don’t leave the small toys out for too long, he seems content to play with them as they are designed and not destroy them.
https://www.amazon.com/Squirrel-Interactive-Outward-Hound-Ginormous/dp/B005VS9WO6
You can get what are essentially stuffed toys without the stuffing that my friend’s terrier really likes. They are a lot harder to tear than cardboard and might offer a similar experience. They are also good for interactive play.
My dog is the same, and I haven’t found a good, reusable alternative! Cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, paper bags—- he rips, destroys and spits out the bits. I’ve put his dog food in the containers sometimes for a mental game for him, but he really just likes to rip and destroy.
If you’re handy with needle and thread, you could always just cheaply restuff and sew up the toy to let them defluff it over and over!
Buy something with feathers. It’s an old hunting instinct to rip and tear things apart. Probably loves birds and the feeling of loose things like feathers in its mouth.
Or, ignore the cardboard completely and look into a snuffle mat. Keep that nose busy sniffing.