My 9 month old Rottweiler has done this since he was 10 weeks old. He knows he's not suppose to chew on cords, furniture --- basically anything that isn't his chew toy or bone. So, to get around that, he will lay his bone on top of the cord, or lean it next to the couch, and "accidentally" chew on what under the bone. Sometimes he'll even nudge the bone to the side and focus on what's underneath.

At first I thought this was accidental, but over time, I've noticed that he will pick up the bone, make a bee-line for a cord or couch, and drop it there with precision, then he will proceed to "sneak" a chew. Even after I move the bone to another place, he will pick it up and drop it on top of the forbidden item. He'll stop for a while when I tell him "no", make him move away, tell him "sit", and give him the bone.

I have him on a 5 ft leash in the house, so I can usually pick up on his mischief before he destroys something. Lately he likes chewing on his leash.

Does anyone else's dog do this? If so, why do you think they do this? Are they really being devious, or am I seeing things?

That is freaking hilarious

Interesting to ponder. Though I think it would be easy to say he is being devious, I would be more inclined to think that he has properly made the association that the bone must be there for chewing to be okay/safe.


Only he hasn't quite learned that chewing the bone is the only thing around he is allowed to chew. Could the sneaky behavior have been reinforced in that he sometimes does fool you into thinking he is chewing his bone, so that he has been successful chewing other things when the bone is present?

Chewing bone=safe
Chewing something else with bone present=sometimes safe
Chewing something without bone present=never safe
???

Also if you have ever seen the dog chewing something like the sofa and then you bring the dog the bone to redirect, then walk away and he got away with chewing the sofa with the bone there...well that could do it too.

The fact that the dog will pick it up and put it on top of the forbidden item in front of you makes me think that he thinks it is okay and that it has somehow been reinforced, or that the rules are unclear. The fact that you said the dog has done it since it was 10 weeks old (when it certainly did not understand it was not supposed to chew on stuff) also makes me think it has somehow been allowed since then and reinforced accidentally. What a clever boy!

Smart dog either way you want to think about it! I vote for the dog being slightly confused, trying to figure out the rules, the behavior has sometimes been reinforced, maybe not devious. I am quite positive others will dissagree with me, but that is my humble opinion of the case you have described.

I am constantly amazed things I have trained my dog to do without realizing it. Some are positive things, some are not

I thought my dog Nickie was just being sneaky when he does this same thing! He will look up at me with such innocent eyes as if to say "but I'm chewing on my toy/bone".

Once he was at my feet chewing on his toy/bone and I thought what a good boy he was being! When I got up from my chair, I realized that he had chewed my shoe laces in two! Sometimes you just have to laugh!

He also wants to chew on his leather leash all the time when he is anchored in the house. Bitter Apple sprayed on it has zero effect.

 Quote: jennifer wiseman

...Does anyone else's dog do this? If so, why do you think they do this? Are they really being devious, or am I seeing things?

My Lear does something similar - he knows he's not supposed to take my hair scrunchies that I leave laying around the house sometimes (bad me). So when he grabs one when I'm out of sight, he'll put it all in his mouth and walk around me with his mouth closed and look at me with this rascally rascal look. For him I think it's an attention getter (how much attention can a dog want for heaven's sake?! ). (Mouth closed means something is in Lear's mouth, cause he's always walking around with his mouth open.)

I wouldn't use the word "devious" though; that somewhat implies a maliciousness. I just think they're being rascals, as smart as they are it's not hard for them to figure out how they can do what they want sometimes. But they do it with such an innocence, it can be doggone endearing.

I agree with Jennifer - somehow we let them get away with it. In Lear's case I think I sometimes can't help but grin at his rascally self and am sure he catches on to that. But it's so hard to resist when he gives me that "look".

The look that's kind of like a kid who takes a cookie from the cookie jar - walks past the mom with hands behind his back, saying "this is not a cookie I have behind my back".

How funny!
It does sound like he's trying to follow the rules. Maybe his bone is too hard and he really likes the softer cords, leash, and couch. Try finding a toy that matches the hardness/consistancy of cords and couches.

And also please correct when he does the "accidental" chewing on cords, etc.


Funny, but not safe, and not to be allowed (or even encouraged, if you laugh and comment in a fond voice).

(Sometimes it's very hard..... )

 Quote: connie sutherland

And also please correct when he does the "accidental" chewing on cords, etc.


Funny, but not safe, and not to be allowed (or even encouraged, if you laugh and comment in a fond voice).

(Sometimes it's very hard..... )

Ditto everything Connie said, absolutely!

I like Debbie's idea too - finding a safe replacement.

 Quote: connie sutherland

And also please correct when he does the "accidental" chewing on cords, etc.

Funny, but not safe, and not to be allowed (or even encouraged, if you laugh and comment in a fond voice).

A friends 9 month old weimeraner pup just started a fire in their kitchen by chewing on a cell phone charger that was plugged in - they came home to a smoldering linoleum tile and they're lucky none of it happened near the window curtains!!

~Natalya

Hey Jennifer, another thing to consider is that it is common for a male Rott to challenge or test you to see if you are the leader or not. Not necessarily by being aggresive or anything to that degree, but little things like going right back to what you told them not to do or picking which comands they will follow. If you havent read the articles here on the groundwork to establishing pack structure and dealing with dominant dogs you should. Even if your dog isnt exactly dominant the advice is still good.

I do know that he loves this bone undoubtedly. He will just about break down doors to get to it. If I'm holding the bone in front of him and give the command "sit" he will sit without hesitation. If I say "down," which has always been a difficult command for me to teach, he will lay down immediately. He'll do any and all tricks that I have taught him so far. I've had him in a sit/stay for a whole minute before giving him the bone. He doesn't give this much attention to food or treats, and he's a dog that loves to eat.

Also, I suddenly have his undivided attention when he knows I have the bone. It's very odd to see a dog that isn't distracted.

I definitely feel that he is motivated by the bone or toys (usually he has only two, one for chewing and the other for pulling). He has a cow bone, and in the last two weeks, he has very nearly chewed one "knob" off, or rather, chewed a hole through one end. Not too sure how he managed to do that.

But I do think I might've reinforced the behavior by accidentally praising him because I did not realize there was something under the toy. I do try to keep him away from furniture and cords. I'm thinking about getting a metal leash for inside, since he's chewing on the braided nylon leash he has now. I can usually tell when he's moving around on the leash, but all it takes is 5 seconds and he can literal chew through just about anything. It's unbelievable how much damage he has inflicted to this cow bone in such a short amount of time.

He's a sweet dog, and for the most part he does listen to me. He'll sit by himself when he wants out of the crate, and if the door won't open immediately, he'll sit---just to see if that does the trick. Whenever he's too excited or just choosing to ignore me, I remain calm and firmly say the command "sit," then after 2-3 seconds, I'll give a quick "check" with the leash and he'll reluctantly sit. No matter how wound up he is, I try my best to remain calm and to avoid yelling or having my voice raise up too high. I don't want him to think I'm praising him. He does respond to a low voice and calmness--may take a second or two though.

He's only been home for a few weeks since I got him back from my sister-in-laws. So, I'm happy with his progress so far.