Dumb question about raw beef bones

[Brandie&Maggie]

We tried letting Maggie have raw beef marrow bones a couple of months after we got her, but she ended up guarding them and growling at us. We decided to hold off until she was settled.

Now 3 years later, we finally remembered we should reintroduce them, especially since she's now showing more interest in chewing on stuff.

My dumb question is this....We don't have a fenced yard, and its too cold for me to sit outside while she eats it. She only wants to eat special things on her bed or on the living room carpet. Yuck!

Where on earth do I let her chew the bones? Do I need to take all the rugs/beds out of kitchen, block her in there, and mop the whole floor after?

She does not use her crate (terrified of it...we tried everything...) so that isn't an option.

Ideas? What do you do?

 

[Peter Maniate]

For indoors I suggest using smoked beef bones instead of raw. They are much less messy and smelly as well as more sanitary.

 

[nowhavethreebears]

Will she stay in one spot?
Try putting a rug or mat down for her, whatever is acceptable for her to eat on. Even put it on top of her bed if that's where she prefers to eat. Put her treat on it. Put her on it in a down if you can.
If she wanders off the mat tell her "uh huh" and direct her back to it. It shouldn't take long for her to learn that this is her spot to eat and she should stay on it.
Pretty soon I'll bet she will even learn to watch for her mat and will go to it as soon as it's down.

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

Ever since we bought Snuffles a bed, or had "his" couch (no longer here), we have kept them covered with cheap mattress pads from Wal-Mart. So messy treats, he has to go to his bed (or couch back then) to eat them. Works for us.

 

[Puppypeoplenj]

I feed raw on a laminate floor, in his crate (which I understand doesn't work for you) and, with big items, on the deck. I have read that beef marrow bones are a hazard for teeth and that they can cause tooth fractures over time. Not sure if it's true, but I thought it's pass it on. About the floor, you could wipe it down with a vinegar/water mix, but I wouldn't stress about it too much.
Guarding is a problem because bones are a very high-value item for dogs. Google "trading up" for some videos about how to safely take those items away from her without confrontation.

 

[R Taft]

I feed RAW bones inside.we have a place.five places (LOL), now 6...it is a hessian bag that they have to stay on, If they get off they know they loose the item. I prsonally only feed the heads of the large bones.Marrow bones as i do not like the hardness of the shafts. i prefer the ribs and spines.And my fave is the brisket. Start with small briskets that only take a short time to chew and they will be gone quickly, up-grade to the ones that take longer. I also give another "better" bone to them when I go near to my new rescues..so that they learn, i do not take, without giving better. this will soon make them more confident and reduce or get rid of aggression. my brand new Rescue Harry is supposed to be food aggressive.i have given him small bones and walked past him and even given him a better bigger juicier bone.done this a few times and now he just looks up and lets us near. i do not believe a dog with an unknown history needs to "give-up" a bone to us.so I swap. he is quite happy with that.....we can now give him bones withthe pack as we just throw a few extras around and everyone know when I am around they have to stay in place..........

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

Thanks guys! I knew I was over thinking this. I'm pretty sure I can get her to stay in one place in the kitchen and just put something down or clean after. In the summer she can go outside!

Thanks for the advice on the guarding too. That incident was 3 years ago, and the bone was the only thing she ever did it with. Since then she's gotten SO much better and we've given her other very high value items and are able to take them when necessary with no issues. We'll obviously be careful and prepared to deal with it on this one, but I'm feeling confident that she will be much better this time.

 

[Cutiemus Maximus]

At what age is it appropriate to introduce raw bones? My girl is still a pup, 16 months, and I don't want to push the calcium level in her diet to an unhealthy level.

 

[victoria1140]

My log get chicken carcasses and lamb bones generally even from a very young age. Supervised them while puppies but leave them to it now. Its surprising how little mess is left.

 

[R Taft]

Our dogs get bones from about 4 weeks from our Breeder and we just keep it up. ...it is natural calcium. And we have been doing this since the eighties with all our newfies.

 

[Cutiemus Maximus]

Thanks guys, I'll grab some this week.

 

[Lisa@Caeles Hills]

My newfs get raw bones all the time. I keep them in their outside kennels while I'm at work but they bring their bones in the house and, yes, up on the couch. I gave up and now I keep the couch covered in a blanket that I wash every week. I also usually wash their bed coverings every week too because they will lay on their beds and chew also.

 

[R Taft]

My newfs get raw bones all the time. I keep them in their outside kennels while I'm at work but they bring their bones in the house and, yes, up on the couch. I gave up and now I keep the couch covered in a blanket that I wash every week. I also usually wash their bed coverings every week too because they will lay on their beds and chew also.

Good to know someone else covers their couches up...i cannot remember what ours look like LOL..even covers on top of covers. I have a friend who tells me it is a bohemian look

 

[Lisa@Caeles Hills]

LOL my friend that is also my Gabe's breeder told me my house was just a huge dog kennel. Not sure if that was a compliment or not......