Problem with Nebo, help

**wolf_Q** · 02-08-2007, 10:33 AM

Actually the reason is because his tags stain the white fur on his neck really bad, and as a groomer, it drove me crazy.

It's taken over a year with the tag holders to even get rid of the stains they wouldn't come off with any shampoo I tried. He wears a thick rolled leather collar and he has multiple tags (ID, rabies, city license, microchip, etc.) so any sort of tag that goes on the actual collar doesn't really work. Tape might work though and keep the stains off, I may try it, thanks.

I wonder if you can buy neoprene? Thats what quiet spots are made out of they look fairly easy to make.

**elizabethann** · 02-08-2007, 11:35 AM

I hope Nebo is doing okay today. Give the cutie pie a big hug for me.

**pitc9** · 02-08-2007, 11:44 AM

Ohhh.. I see!
Well... I don't know if you know how to sew at all... but you could make a little bag for his tags. Just a tiny simple bag with a draw string to keep it on.
I used to make purses when I was little on my mom's sewing machine like this.

Cut the material out with the bottom of the bag on the fold of the material. Sew up the 2 open sides and sew in a little casing for the draw string. Easier said than done I know, I just figured if you or your mom knew how to sew. You could make these little bags until Nebo's sweet little sister can keep her teeth off of the $8 tag bags!

**slleipnir** · 02-08-2007, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by wolf_Q

Actually the reason is because his tags stain the white fur on his neck really bad, and as a groomer, it drove me crazy.

It's taken over a year with the tag holders to even get rid of the stains they wouldn't come off with any shampoo I tried. He wears a thick rolled leather collar and he has multiple tags (ID, rabies, city license, microchip, etc.) so any sort of tag that goes on the actual collar doesn't really work. Tape might work though and keep the stains off, I may try it, thanks.

I wonder if you can buy neoprene? Thats what quiet spots are made out of they look fairly easy to make.

What about plastic tags? Mine both have plastic tags, I dont see how they would stain but mine don't have white fur either...

Poor Nebo

Don't be so hard on yourself either...I hope he's all better now.

**pessimisaurus** · 02-08-2007, 12:19 PM

my suggestion would be to wrap the tags in tape or something until Keva is about 6 months old or so, when shes stopped "teething".

the other thing is to watch her 100% of the time when shes with Nebo (if you cant watch her then take the quiet spot or nebo's collar off) and as soon as she goes to chew the quiet spot, clap your hands loudly and say "AH!-AH!" to inturrupt her, and then redirect her to an appropriate chew item, one that is similar in material to the quiet spot, so a stuffie or something.

chewing is a drive behavior, and dogs hate to be inturrupted during a drive. its similar to us being engaged in a good book or some engaging behavior- if everytime you sat down to read in the livingroom you were inturrupted, you wouldnt just stop reading, you just wont do it in the livingroom anymore. its the same thing with dogs- if everytime she chews the quiet spot she is inturrupted, she will soon learn that a.) its pointless to chew nebo's quiet spot, so she may as well just chew her toys and b.) when you say "Ah!-Ah!" she can look to you for something good to chew on. It takes a few days of this before they figure it out, but it works, you just have to be consistent.

**cyber-sibes** · 02-08-2007, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Brody's Mum

Archie and Tobey used to do the same to all their tags - they now have little steel canisters with their names and addresses written on a piece of paper inside - so far they are still intact!

Glad to hear Nebo is okay - sounds like you were right with your diagnosis

May I ask where you got the little cannister? Sherman gets his tags stuck between the deck boards & rips them off a couple times a year. I now sew his flat onto his collar, but this sounds like it might work too.
I'm glad Nebo seems to be doing alright now, and hoping he stays that way!

**wolf_Q** · 02-08-2007, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by pessimisaurus

if everytime she chews the quiet spot she is inturrupted, she will soon learn that a.) its pointless to chew nebo's quiet spot, so she may as well just chew her toys and b.) when you say "Ah!-Ah!" she can look to you for something good to chew on. It takes a few days of this before they figure it out, but it works, you just have to be consistent.

Have fun with your husky pup, I hope he will listen better than Keva.

I've been teaching her consistantly since the day I brought her home that the front room is off limits. I clap/yell/etc and she'll run out when I do, but she always goes back later, and I catch her in the act every time. I do the same when she chews on the tag holder, and she'll stop...then do it again. I offer her toys instead and she'll chew on it for a bit, but the tag holder is much more entertaining. She's a stubborn little bugger. Nebo was a nawtee puppy in other ways, but he listened much better...she's fearless, nothing phases her.

I'm not that concerned about the tag holder, it has one hole in it, but otherwise ok. The other one I threw away was over a year old anyway, I'll just buy him a new one at Strut Your Mutt...I'm sure this one will be sufficiently destroyed by then.

**pessimisaurus** · 02-08-2007, 02:56 PM

haha ah yes, well, Id say read this: http://jamesandkenneth.com/PDF_docs/J&KBEFOREtext.pdf

theres a section (chapter 4, starts on page 30) about chew training and good ways to manage a puppy until its trained, you may find some helpful info in there, particularly with management. the ex-pen is my best friend. lol my board & train pups spend most of their time in there so as to avoid learning bad habits (as well as to teach them how to be alone, what to chew on, and to help with house training, etc). I dont know if the quiet spot is the only "illegal" chew issue youre having, but this book has tons of awesome info, even for experienced puppy owners.

the front room is a different issue, thats more a management problem it sounds like. you can try timeouts if shes never allowed in there ever. they are pretty simple, and generally only take a few days to work. all you do is as soon as she steps one foot in the off limits area you say "Too Bad!" and then go pick her up and put her behind the nearest door (closet, bathroom, bedroom, crate, etc) for *10* seconds. after 10 seconds, open the door, say ok! and let her back out. usually it takes 4-5 time outs at a time, for just a few days, and then they figure it out. its pretty amazing!

**Kfamr** · 02-08-2007, 03:07 PM

I think Amy if very aware of how to train a Husky.

Oh poor Bebo! How is he doing today, Amy?

Don't feel bad, who would have known that listerine would cause that?

Keva sounds like a typical Husky pup and I know with your great knowledge and experience with Huskies she will turn out just as wonderful as Bebo.

**cyber-sibes** · 02-08-2007, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by wolf_Q

She's a stubborn little bugger. Nebo was a nawtee puppy in other ways, but he listened much better...she's fearless, nothing phases her.

LOL! She sounds like my Star! Fortunately we got our destructo-puppy girl out of that phase without too much damage all around. That stubborn streak is still with her! Sherman's so much easier to deal with. Maybe you've just got a little alpha on your hands- Look out, Nebo!LOL! You've done such a wonderful job with Nebo, Keva will turn out fine too.