Dogs do the darnest things

 

Yesterday, I read a story on Beeld.com about a Rottweiler that grabbed a teaspoon from her owner’s hand and swallowed it whole. While Google recommended it be flushed out by peroxide, bread and marshmallows, she took the dog to the vet – they found the spoon and a small rubber ball.

People started commenting on the story about the funny things their dogs had swallowed – a dishtowel, charcoal, shaver blades, and a potted plant – along with the pot. I also searched other weird and wonderful things that dogs have chewed and swallowed:

According to this website X-rays have shown that man’s best friend also has a liking for rocks, rubber duckies, an engagement ring and a 15-inch serrated knife! {Check the link for other items that were found! Shocking!}

This made me think of my own pup Mila and the strange things this dog likes to consume. The first – and most popular one – is a coke bottle. Mila has developed a whole routine on how to come by and eat the coke bottle – the remnants of which can be seen a day or two later {think red and brown}.

Firstly, she will bump the coke bottle with her nose – if it doesn’t fall over, or takes a little time to fall over, she knows that there is still coke in it, and will leave the bottle alone. If the bottle is out of her reach though, she will sit and whimper for hours, or at least until the bottle is empty and we give it to her. When she realises that the bottle is empty, after bumping it, the biggest noise known to man ensues.

With raucous flair, this dog of mine will chew the bottle top off – I always try and leave a little bit of coke in the bottle so that she has something sweet as a ‘reward’. When this ritual is done, she and Jethro will start playing tug of war with the bottle, or throw it – yes, it is thrown – down the hallway, which has wooden floors. This usually happens after dinner, when Flip and I are trying to watch a bit of television. Loudest noise ever!

She also has knack for eating juice boxes, my clothes – underwear, jeans, shoes, my freaking NUMBERPLATE!, and well, basically anything that you leave in her reach. Luckily, this has not extended to furniture – but that’s her holy grail, so I don’t think she would even try.

FUN FACT: Did you know that Staffies cannot swim? I always thought it was just Mila, but recently read on a breeder’s site that Staffies in fact have to be taught how to swim. Unlike other dogs, it is the only breed that cannot swim naturally and sinks when you put them in a swimming pool. Even when taught how to swim, they can only do this for short distances before they start to sink again. Crazy isn’t it?

What are some of the weird, wacky and wonderful things your dog/s have chewed or swallowed?