How to get your dog interested in Nylabones

[MY OSCAR]

Originally Posted by Britster

Yeah I worry about antlers cracking teeth to be honest. But the nylabones(dura ones) are pretty darn hard too so I would think the risk would be the same but I don't know.

I won't buy bully's from places like eBay etc because the one time I did they were so beyond smelly and I never know where they're coming from. I really like bestbullysticks. The prices are great but it is still just expensive lol.

We have some Himalayan Chews that are untouched too. It's a shame!

i would think the nylabone would crack teeth quicker than the antlers would.

[Teresa Ford]

Does he like Kong toys ? Mine do Brit, but I have been giving them to them since puppy stage. I have had fosters that don't like Kongs or Nyla bones. I hope some one has an idea that works perfect for Jackson. Bump

[Harrysmum]

Hi Brit! We buy Harry's Nylabones pre-flavoured, our Pets at Home sell them....they do chicken, beef or bacon flavours, these are the only ones he'll really go for.

I actually had a little gnaw on the chicken one - it's actually quite tasty.... Sally + Harry x

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

Does he like Kong toys ? Mine do Brit, but I have been giving them to them since puppy stage. I have had fosters that don't like Kongs or Nyla bones. I hope some one has an idea that works perfect for Jackson. Bump

I do give him kongs - I either fill them with kibble or treats and then 'seal' it with some peanut butter, yogurt, or wet food and freeze it. But they really don't keep his attention for long! LoL

I think I'm going to buy him the Kong Wobbler too, with my petsmart gift card, we dogsat once for a pup that had one and Jax was very interested and tried it. He's a dog that just needs something to do a lot, a lot of stimulation, so anything that can keep his brain occupied!

[CouversMom]

Honestly, Nylabones make me nervous. I've bought some, but just like Jax... My two had no interest. We do bully sticks once every few months, but my two don't *need* things to chew on, they just enjoy it.

[gracielove]

I have heard of dogs getting in trouble with bits of nylabone in the intestines. They are not supposed to be able to bite pieces off and swallow them. It's plastic.

[ladyjane]

I have given my pups and my foster pups Nylabones for a very long time. I only use the Dura Hard ones....I do not believe in giving edible chews. They get enough to eat and I don't see a reason for them to ingest a chew. The edible chews that I know of are not anything I would ever give to them anyway due to the problems with obstructions, choking and GI issues. There is no way a yorkie can bite a piece off of a Dura Hard Nylabone. I am sure of that as I have tried them on all sizes of yorkies. No way would any of them have bits of plastic in them....I believe those who have had issues have used the soft ones.

Some of them chew more than others....the real chewers love the Nylabones and I have never had to entice them with anything on them; but there are flavored ones.

I suppose there is a risk to teeth, but honestly I think it is a bit overblown. As most of you know I have had a ton of little furballs in my home and I have never had a fractured tooth yet. Not saying it cannot happen....but has not happened to any of mine.

[ladyjane]

Brit, try one of these:

DuraChew? Bone - Chicken | Product Finder | By Product Type | Nylabone

If he is used to getting edible chews, it may take a while for him to adjust. Just leave it out for him. Perhaps he will start chewing and like it. My chewers love Nylabones.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Brit, try one of these:

DuraChew? Bone - Chicken | Product Finder | By Product Type | Nylabone

If he is used to getting edible chews, it may take a while for him to adjust. Just leave it out for him. Perhaps he will start chewing and like it. My chewers love Nylabones.

These are the kind we have -- flavored and all. I've tried leaving it out for months, I've tried putting it away and taking it out and making it seem valuable... nada, lol. He's so super picky though, I mean even "Real" chews, he usually won't touch. Back when I used to try to buy rawhide, he wouldn't eat those (except for CET chews), and back when I used to buy pig ears, he would just carry them around the house and not eat them. And we have Himlayan Chews now, that are practically untouched. Bully sticks are the only thing he's ever consistently liked and actually chewed on. And funny thing is, he's so darn picky, yet is SO obnoxiously annoying when he doesn't have something to chew on lol.

The one time he DID chew on one was when we were dogsitting and he was right in front of the other dog chewing, and he did this in like 20 mins to a regular sized durachew... is this normal?:







And then the ends get all pokey, and pointy, and hard. They made his mouth bleed once, and I think that's why he doesn't chew them. Once they get chewed a bit, the ends are so sharp-ish.

[gracielove]

The damage that Britster is showing in her picture is dangerous to a dogs digestive system. There are many accounts of that nylon material causing damage to the intestines and even death to some dogs.

Any chew toy can be a potential hazard to a dog and that is why a responsible company that makes toys for pets will put a warning on the toys. It is certainly up to the owner to decide if they will comply or not.

In the many years that I have had dogs I never had one that was the least bit interested in a nylabone but I suppose dogs that like to chew plastic would be attracted to them.

[ladyjane]

I have an assortment of pups, and have had more than most people over the past 8 years, and they do not and/or have not killed the Nylabones. I do not feel ANY need to supervise them with them. I am not going to sit here and discuss this any further with people who have no experience with them and who use edible chews that definitely require very close supervision. People choose what they want to give their pups...and they can choose to believe me or not. I only make suggestions on YT about things I have experience with in the hopes it will help others. Just as others do. So people can take what they read and make their own choices. They also can use Google and do searches for things like:

Dura Hard Nylabone problems - (IF they do a search for Nylabone problems they WILL find issues with the soft ones.....they are scary to me. I will not use them. Oh..and the plaque attack ones...stay away!)

Bully Stick Problems

Then, read and decide.

Brit, I would have to see it to believe it. I don't know of any pup that could do that to a Dura Hard Nylabone in that short of a time period.
Don't know what else to say......
__________________

[Britster]

Originally Posted by gracielove

The damage that Britster is showing in her picture is dangerous to a dogs digestive system. There are many accounts of that nylon material causing damage to the intestines and even death to some dogs.

Any chew toy can be a potential hazard to a dog and that is why a responsible company that makes toys for pets will put a warning on the toys. It is certainly up to the owner to decide if they will comply or not.

In the many years that I have had dogs I never had one that was the least bit interested in a nylabone but I suppose dogs that like to chew plastic would be attracted to them.

Yeah, that's what was worrisome to me. Especially because he did it so fast. And then once it's at this point, he won't chew on it anymore, because it hurts him (sharp edges). They are too expensive to last for 30 minutes tops.

Funny thing is, he loves plastic! He's always finding water bottles and their caps, or my sisters Barbie dolls, LOL. But Nylabones have always pretty much been a no go.

I was just hoping to find something that would last longer than bully sticks and be more cost efficient, but I guess if he doesn't like it -- he doesn't like. Last night, I put the nylabone in a big baggie with a piece of steak and water, then in the fridge, hoping some of the flavor would get on it. He licked it once or twice, and then left it, lol.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Britster

Yeah, that's what was worrisome to me. Especially because he did it so fast. And then once it's at this point, he won't chew on it anymore, because it hurts him (sharp edges). They are too expensive to last for 30 minutes tops.

Funny thing is, he loves plastic! He's always finding water bottles and their caps, or my sisters Barbie dolls, LOL. But Nylabones have always pretty much been a no go.

I was just hoping to find something that would last longer than bully sticks and be more cost efficient, but I guess if he doesn't like it -- he doesn't like. Last night, I put the nylabone in a big baggie with a piece of steak and water, then in the fridge, hoping some of the flavor would get on it. He licked it once or twice, and then left it, lol.

Again, Brit, I have had many, many pups in my home and they have NEVER done that to a Dura Hard Nylabone....in any time period. Certainly not the time frame you are talking about. I thought when we discussed this in another thread at some point you said it may not have been Dura Hard?? I would have to do a search, but I think you said that. I really think it is not one...of course, I can only go by what you are saying....but it's not like I don't have a lot of experience with a lot of pups each with different chewing needs.

Bottom line, he does not like them, so not an issue anyway. Simply don't provide them.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Brit, I would have to see it to believe it. I don't know of any pup that could do that to a Dura Hard Nylabone in that short of a time period.
Don't know what else to say......
__________________

Lol, I'm not lying. I just took the picture with my own two hands and my own iPhone ... you can check the date stamps if you like. He did it while we were pet sitting another pup, so he started going to town on it to 'show off' (only time he's ever chewed it). I would say it was about 30 minutes tops. A Boston Terrier/Beagle mix that I also dogsit for has destroyed his Dura nylabones VERY quickly. I've sat and watched him. And then it gets down to look like just a stick (without the ends).

And the Flexi was destroyed even quicker. The whole end (the part that looks like a bone) was gone in like 20 minutes. And it wasn't a teeny one, it was like a regular sized one. The Flexi's are the only ones he's ever showed interest in, but like I said, eats them too fast for my liking so haven't bought them since. If I were to buy a Flexi one again, I'll go for the Wolf size.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Britster

Lol, I'm not lying. I just took the picture with my own two hands and my own iPhone ... you can check the date stamps if you like. He did it while we were pet sitting another pup, so he started going to town on it to 'show off' (only time he's ever chewed it). I would say it was about 30 minutes tops. A Boston Terrier/Beagle mix that I also dogsit for has destroyed his Dura nylabones VERY quickly. I've sat and watched him. And then it gets down to look like just a stick (without the ends).

And the Flexi was destroyed even quicker. The whole end (the part that looks like a bone) was gone in like 20 minutes. And it wasn't a teeny one, it was like a regular sized one. The Flexi's are the only ones he's ever showed interest in, but like I said, eats them too fast for my liking so haven't bought them since. If I were to buy a Flexi one again, I'll go for the Wolf size.

Not calling you a liar. But, I have to say that I would have to be there and see it to believe it...and I only say that based upon my experiences with many, many pups.

He's just different than every other dog I guess. *shrug* What else can I say? Give him bully sticks if that is what you think is safe.