r/Catahoula

His thought: “If this POS doesn’t come on this bed right now so I can snuggle him to death..”

Looking for some advice on cleaning our girls teeth! We’ve tried dental chews but they last about 5 seconds. We’ve tried different toothbrushes but she absolutely hates it and runs as soon as we pull it out, now matter how enticing the toothpaste is. Anyone have non-traditional methods for keeping these powerful chompers clean?

I adopted my dog just 2 months ago, we’re following the 3-3-3 method for adopted dogs. He’s been doing well so far, he’s learning quickly that the bathroom is outside, he’s meal times, how to walk calmly in the park and is adjusting well to his new home. I started noticing that he’s getting bored, he destroyed his travel bowl (the rubber one that you take on trips) and I took him to the vet because I was scared he swallowed something, he also chewed a small notebook and today he reassembled the couch. I think he’s bored because he didn’t do that before, he has toys and loves to play with them, but I’m a dentist and I can’t always take him with me to the office (my office has a yard and he loves being there, but some patients don’t like the barking so I can’t always have him there). I was thinking of getting him the kong puzzles, or maybe taking him in the morning to the park and running with him. He starts school and training in 2 weeks but I don’t want him to hurt himself because he gets bored. Any tips on how you got your dogs to not chew on things that aren’t toys or how to keep him entertained while I’m working ?

EDIT: Everyone has given such wonderful advice and pointers. Thank you everyone!!

Puppy, 6 months old. I’ve had him for 3 months.

My experience is with black labs, German shepherds, and Dobermans. I came to the “rescue” of a lab/shepherd mutt. Immediately upon the puppy being handed to me, I knew he was not tending towards lab or shepherd. The coat wasn’t right. I was a soft touch and took him anyway. I thought he was probably pit mix. Researched training for that breed and Failed (uppercase F).

My neighbor suggested doing DNA testing…

It seems that I have a 20% black lab, 10% various bully breeds, and 70% Southern hound dogs with the majority being Catahoula Leopard Dog with some Plot Hound. His head/ears/body are a carbon copy of online photos of Catahoula Leopard Dog.

I think he wants to be a good dog but we just aren’t jiving (of course he wants to be a good dog, I don’t know how to make that happen). The biggest issue is that he doesn’t seem to have any compassion. He tramples any human/plant/obstacle that is in his path without a care. He is completely unconcerned about being destructive. The whole family has bruising from him - playful, not aggressive. Like clockwork, he turns into a snuggle bug at 8:00pm every night.

I ask you that are experienced with this breed: is this normal for the age? Perhaps it is normal for someone who didn’t know what they were getting into and trained wrong? Training tips for this bread/behavior are welcome.

Also, is being timid around new people and dogs normal? He warms up within seconds and loves both, but not right off the bat. I don’t know if this is the breed or his troubled history.

Puppy wants to thank you all in advance. :)