why did my dog chew this?
my husband has a breathing machine for sleep apnea and our dog keeps on chewing on his mask. does any one know why she could be doing this or has had this happened??? this has become a very expensive chew toy for her!!!! HELP!!!!!!
she only chews the head gear that goes around his head and not the part that goes over his nose and mouth
we keep the bedroom door closed when we are not at home and keep the mask in a trash can that we got for keeping it up off the floor
when she did it this time I was in bed next to where she was doing this (my husband had already left for work)
Tagged with: breathing machine • mask • sleep • sleep apnea • trash
Filed under: Sleep Apnea Machine Questions
she probably likes the texture of it.
I dont know if Id reccommend putting bitter apple on it, since its used for breathing. I dont think it would be good for his breathing to breath in bitter apple!
You husband may have to remove the mask from the machine when its not in use and put it away somewhere so the dog cant chew on it.
Your husband’s breath smells like what he has eaten because microscopic particles of food are in his breath. When he breathes into this mask all night long, these particles are deposited on the inside of the mask. The mask smells like a smorgasboard of food to your dog, since dogs have senses of smell that are thousands of times more powerful than those of humans.
Keep it in an enclosed place when not in use.
Oh I know…I totally understand your frustration. I have learned over the years of owning dogs that puppies love to chew things that are soft enough to sink their teeth into! I have had two puppies in the last 3 years and they have both loved to chew on my leather shoes (grrr), my youngest boys action figures, cords (phone, charger, lamp…again…grrrr) and things made of plastic. The best thing to do is "think" like a dog. Either keep your door to your bedroom closed or put the machine up so the dog can’t get to it. I share your frustration!! I have had to throw many things away because of my dogs chewing! Also remember that some things they find to chew could be harmful to them. So, every time you leave the house…"think" like your dog and make sure either doors to rooms are closed or everything it picked up out of your dogs reach! Good luck!
well if she is a puppy she might be getting in new teeth but if she isn’t a puppy well then she might want a bone to chew on
It has his scent all over it and it is also plastic. Plastics are make with a small quanity of fish oil to release it from the mold. Higher quality, in your case medical grade plastics are basically "nose candy" to your pup.
Try the recycle bin. Let your pup chew on food grade plastics; milk jugs, water bottles, etc. Keep an eye on her of course. I have Bloodhounds. With 4 Billion receptors in the snout, they find it all. Biggies are remote controls and cellphones.
Plastics can hold a specific scent depending upon what it was made from…if your dog was attracted to the scent, the mask is history. Personally, my dog loves to chew anything at all that is plastic – we’ve literally got to puppy proof our home before leaving. I guess some dogs are just more attracted to plastic than others.
An article by Jeanneane Kutsukos
First, always keep in mind that it is natural for a puppy to chew. The puppy is not doing this to annoy you, but because it is a normal function of a puppy, just as it is in a human baby. Keep this in mind, and be sure not to ever hit or strongly punish the puppy for doing what is natural to it. Everything goes into the mouth, and everything is chewed.
Chew Toys!
What we need to do is to teach the puppy what is correct to chew on, and what is not. Be sure to supply your puppy with a variety of toys that are permissible for it to chew. Nylabones are excellent, but stay away from the ones with the sharp points on them. Watch carefully! When the knobs on the end are gone, you have to throw it away. There is also a Nylaring that costs a little more but lasts a lot longer.
Another good item is the Kong, which is made of hard rubber and lasts a long time. Please keep in mind that cheap toys are not worth the money, the puppy can destroy them too easily and can choke on the pieces that it chews. Chew ropes are also good, but again, watch to see if it starts coming apart. Take it away immediately at that point. Squeaky toys are also handy, but again, you must be careful to throw it away when it starts to get a hole. The squeaker can choke the puppy.
Teach Your Puppy What it CAN Chew!
Always have one of his chew toys handy. Each time the puppy chews on something other than one of the toys, firmly tell the puppy "no" and give the puppy one of his own chew toys. When the puppy starts chewing on the proper item, say "Good Puppy" (Good boy or good girl is fine also.) This teaches it what is acceptable to chew on and what is not.
The “Ouch” Method
Anytime the puppy is biting, and especially during a play session, say "ouch" and immediately stop playing. This lets the puppy know that the biting is unacceptable. This method is called "ouching" and everyone in the family should do it.
The Puppy-Proof Method
Use your intelligence to help keep the puppy away from unwanted chewing. If the pup chews on shoes, keep them in your closet with the door closed. Keep books and other chewables out of the pup’s reach. Go through your home (on your hands and knees if necessary) and look to see what is tempting for your puppy to chew on. Eliminate any unsafe or inappropriate items.
The Bitter Apple Method
Another handy aide to help prevent chewing — is a product called Bitter Apple. It can be purchased at pet stores and through pet catalogs. Be sure to test spot it prior to spraying on a good piece of furniture. It must be reapplied daily, as it wears off in approximately 24 hours. There is also available a Bitter Apple for furniture that lasts longer.
Puppy’s Toy Box
You can have a toy box for your puppy and have all the toys kept in it. Then they are handy and you also know where to get one when you need one. The pup will eventually learn where they are and get a toy out by itself. Every once in a while, put a little treat (milk bones are great!) in the toy box to get the pup used to looking in it.
Be sure to use lots of praise anytime the pup is doing something right, whether it is chewing on the right toy, eliminating outside, sitting when told, etc.
Written and Contributed by Jeanneane Kutsukos,
Pro Dog Training, Inc.,
Springfield, VA, 10/2/97
Sprinkle some pepper on the part the dog chews.
Could be several things, perhaps she thinks its hurting your hubby, maybe it scares her somehow, or perhaps she likes the taste of it. Yep U read right. Silly I know, I once had a cat that liked to lick plastic! The only other thing I can think of is that perhaps if she is a older dog, she has a tooth bothering her and feels relief form the discomfort by crewing on the plastic. Try putting it in the closet or in a dresser drawn when hubby is not using it. Makes it way to hard for the dog to get to. Good luck.
she likes the way the material feels or smells.. or tastes.
,make her stop it.