Speck .. he’s getting on my last nerve! As far as dachshunds go, he’s really a good dog. He wouldn’t dream of doing his business in the house. He’s 13 years old now. When he was a puppy, once he chewed the camera charger cord and the vacuum cord . . all in the same afternoon. That’s all I know that he’s chewed up that he wasn’t supposed to chew up, until recently.
He truly flips out when I leave him in the sewing room. I have no idea why but he doesn’t like it at all in there. He sometimes will “go sew” with me but almost as soon as we get there, he wants to leave.
A few months back, he chewed up the sewing room vacuum cleaner cord. Vince fixed it. I try not to leave him in the sewing room but sometimes I’ll run out to move a water hose or deal with a chicken and leave him in there.
This morning I was sewing and happened to look down.
Iron Cord
The iron by my sewing machine — cord chewed! I vacuumed this spot last night (OK . . I didn’t move the table but I vacuumed around the legs) and that cord was not chewed last night.
Vacuum cord
Then I looked over at the vacuum cord and there’s a new chunk missing out of it.
I’m a pretty nice person and I love my dog but some things I can’t put up with and him being destructive is one of those things I can’t deal with. I’m not going to move every cord every time I leave the room. When I can’t trust a dog . . that’s not good!
Sleeping Dachshund
Look at him sleeping. He looks so harmless . . looks are deceiving!
Where’s Mom?
He sleeps right here between my two sewing chairs so he knows where I am every minute. From here, he can see me at the computer, at the cutting table or at the ironing table. Look at him . . he’s realized I’m not in my chair and he’s fixing to come looking for me. Poor Speck! He definitely has some kind of detachment disorder. Unfortunately for him, I don’t suffer from the same disorder and I’ve about had my limit of his destructiveness.
Margie Campbell says
Do you have a mouse in the house? I think those bites are too small to be dog bites. Just my opinion….it may be Speck…but I’d try setting a trap in there at night & closing the door.
JudyL says
It’s definitely Speck. I’ve caught him in the act.
Judy H says
You could try rubbing something bitter or spicy on the cords, but that might make a mess on your floor.
I’m sorry, I think the best solution is to make sure you don’t leave him behind. Poor baby misses his mommy too much when you go!
Donna says
Now Judy……..that’s all IU’m going to say.
(we all get old and annoying in time lol).
Karen says
Have you considered doggie dementia-our dog was doing things she hadn’t done in years when they ran an article in the Parade section of the Sunday paper. Of the 5 signs of dog dementia, our poor baby had all 5! Ours was getting into the garbage and climbing onto the furniture when we weren’t home. She had always had the decency to get off before we came in the door. Then she just sat there like she belonged there -“n-o-o-o-o! “. Just a thought.
Rose says
I agree. Our daughter’s elderly dog did things like that and it was decided it was probably dementia. Is it possible for you to have a stake with a leash outdoors so that when you have to leave the room you can tie him outside where he can still see you? Elderly dogs do behave in strange ways sometimes that can be very challenging. If only they could talk to us.
Rose says
It’s all relative! While annoying, it’s on a much smaller scale with a smaller dog. I have a Weimaraner. Big dog, bigger destruction. He accidentally shut himself in the bathroom one day. The dog walker called my husband at work to tell him we needed new flooring in the bathroom. He said we’d been thinking about it. (As if she called him with decorating advice!) she said no, I mean now. We had linoleum on the floor and he panicked and tried to dig his way out. The chunks of linoleum were piled up and she couldn’t get him out!
On the bright side, I have a totally remodeled bathroom now!
Angie says
Apple Bitter on all the cords. Chew treats or something to chew on while you are not there. Check Specks teeth in case something is going wrong inside his mouth that makes him suddenly revert to chewing on things like cords. In the pics. the cord is right in front of Speck—move it if you can as it’s mighty tempting.
Darling Jill Quilts says
Poor Judy!! I can’t leave the dogs out of their cages when I leave the house for more than 5 minutes. Maisy will pee even if she had JUST been outside and then she starts barking and then she gets Lula howling. So they ALL go in the cage when I leave for more than a few minutes. Good luck!!
Judy H says
Just wanted to say I think Angie has some really good suggestions. 🙂
Angie says
Thanks Judy!
Kathy says
Maybe Speck does not appreciate that his Mom is telling the world that she has had it with him.. Perhaps there are scary things in that sewing room. Try to put yourself in his doggie paws and don’t leave him by himself.
Ranch Wife says
Send him to me! LOL .Just kidding. I know you would never part with him. Your post just made me laugh because I just came in from sitting outside for an hour in 104° heat with our 15 yr old dog Gus. He too wants to be with us all the time.He’s an outside dog, but when we’re inside, he has to be laying by the window where he can see us. And he digs to find a cool spot. I keep filling in holes. He’s a good cowdog who has earned his retirement. Speck may be getting senile. Sure hope I don’t start chewing on cords when that happens to me! 🙂 Wish I knew of a solution, but hugs to both of you.
AngieG9 says
I had a dachshumd once for about 2 weeks. I thought since he was 11 years old how much trouble could he be? I really misjudged the breed, thinking he would be like my Pekenese, very quiet and polite. NOT!!! First, when I took him walking I would sit on my walker while I cleaned up after him and he pulled me half way across the parking lot. Then I had to walk him while in my power chair. He ran across in front of me and got the leash tangled in the tires. It took 3 good samaritans to get it untangled. After 2 weeks I called my son and asked him if he wanted another dog on the farm. He came in the next day, and Jake is now a farm dog instead of a city dog. Happier all around. He also liked to chew cords. It could be an age thing. There are times I consider chewing a few myself.
Peggy says
I have a cat the chews on cords. She wants me to be with her all the time, just like Speck with you. I worry that she may someday chew on a cord and get an electric shock or worse. Most of our cords are behind furniture, but the lap top charger cord is exposed. I have caught her several times chewing on it. Can’t wait for your solution.
Sherrill says
Oh NO! Poor Speck! Maybe something traumatic happened to him in the sewing room that you’re unaware of! LOL
suzanne says
poor baby…..mine go through bouts of that too, won’t let me leave their side. I have no idea what you could do, but I feel for the little guy!
Linda Steller says
Ooo Speck, you naughty boy. Ozzie would chew things up if I left him for a long time. One of the first things he chewed? Three (count ’em) Three spools of silk thread I had bought for a whole cloth. Even at wholesale price, that was a very expensive lesson to learn. He has to go in his crate if I’m going to be gone for more than an hour or so. He usually can be trusted for about 2.5 hours.
Lorraine says
Maybe talk to your vet about some anti-anxiety medication?
Mary says
Every now and then Chesty starts gnawing on the legs of the coffee table …we’re all sitting right here and he just starts chewing – Bizarre! He doesnt chew on anything else so i have no clue why he decides to chew on the coffee table. He’s 12 now but acts like a 2 year old still, into everything. I always crate him when I leave the house. For some reason he’s not a fan of my longarm room. He’ll come up to the sewing room with me but doesn’t like the room the longarm is in. Who knows what goes through their tiny little minds!
Toby says
That is not detachment disorder – he’s not looking to see where you are, he’s looking at where you aren’t and calculating how much time he has to go after another cord!! lol.. ya gotta wonder what the heck they are thinking!!