Dogs: "Bone" trance!

Just curious, does any one have a dog who does this?

Occasionally, I "treat" Ozzy to a bone (dental health/just be a blooming dog (!) thing)

Now, since we were his 4th owners before his first birthday, I have been a believer that there are times where a dog needs to be ... just a dog! (No commands/interference/"me time") So, from the off, he has been given the occasional treat of a good old bone to chew on. In our last home, that meant he could have it in his crate, completely undisturbed, at his leisure. I don't have a problem with that per se. He has never shown aggression over it, just possessiveness. Which is sort of why he gets it: it is his to own. Yet, I can move it and he will simply follow without challenge, but, at the same time, is loathe to relinquish it (which I'm not expecting him to do ... just wish he would relinquish it to answer to the call of "nature"!)

But: what does occur to me is ... he goes into a sort of "trance" like state. He won't move away from it (which is fine by me .. but, he surely needs to go for a wee? ). He doesn't interact with anyone while it is still "new". He isn't constantly mithering the bone, but, because it is "there" - nothing in the world matters. That bone will rule supreme (for a good 48hrs non stop!). The temptation of a walk, kibble, doesn't bring any response at all The bone rules!

Now, to be fair, because it is only an occasional treat, this is not a big issue! But it *is* curious!

Do you have a dog which goes into a bone "trance"? How long does it last for? But, more importantly .. how on earth do you entice the dog to "relieve" itself when it is in a "bone trance"

 

We had a labrador when I was a kid and occasionally she would get a marrow bone from the butchers.

It was only out side though, never allowed to bring it in.

As I remember she always growled at me if I pretended to take it away, which I never did.

When the bone was fresh it was an all day thing.
But often the next day also.

Until she buried it, yuck.

 

Oz wouldn't even *dare* growl at me - but then, he knows who's boss - or, more likely, I'm too wise to give him cause to be anxious over it

Hmm, that is really helpful, thank you! "All day thing" is a good yardstick ... Reassuring to know he isn't some kind of bone freak

 

We had a Border Collie that would always growl if you touched her food bowl while she was eating.
But she never would go further, even if you took the food away.

I think sometimes its just a reaction, nothing really meant, just part of their way of communicating.

 

Agreed!
So: how the heck do you entice them out to do their "business" while they are entranced by that ruddy bone!

 

Have you thought about a treat which only lasts a couple of hours and give it to him after he has been the toilet ? I give Megan, Paddy Wack from Sainsburys, she gets through a piece in a couple of hours.

 

You give him the bone outside.
In doors is a no no.

 

How long has he been with you?

 

I've only ever had border collies. One had no interest at all. All but one of the others would spend a couple of days getting as much off and out of them as they could. But when the food bowl or the lead was produced they left the bone in a flash.

The worst was Candy. Two or three o'clock in the morning she would mither to go out - nine times out of ten it was because she had remembered a toy she had left outside. You can guess what happened the one time that I dug my heels in and ignored her.

Funny animals.

 

Two and a half years now (crikey, that time went fast!)

 

Can you take the bone off him and put it out of sight until he refocuses on you and what you want him to do? Then give him it back as a reward after he's done what you want. Or would he obsess as to where it was?

 

Good idea Eve - I shall have to attempt that

 

we don't give raw bones to our boys but they do get pigs ears & of course kongs stuffed with all manner of yummyness regularly, neither go into a "trance" but they do have their own quirks of course i definitely wouldn't be leaving the bone down all the time if he gets that fixated on it (we cant anyway as there would be handbags...ours need watching ) our boys only get their pigs ears/kongs for a few hours at a time, once they've finished chewing and are tired we take them away.....perhaps you could try the same and see how Ozzie responds?