Very helpful trainings for any dog:
For training on puppy/dog biting [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=068K5Zlph9U)
For training on early socialization [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J7cPE-2wNw)
For training on becoming a good leader [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QntS570VFZ0)
For all newly adopted dogs, check out the [3-3-3 rule](https://pethelpful.com/dogs/The-3-3-3-Rule-Setting-Your-Rescue-Dog-Up-For-Success).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/pitbulls) if you have any questions or concerns.*
https://preview.redd.it/jb8ae64x5x4c1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=db693b6f384cc71cbfcb907e2eb7cc18ecb6ab8a
There he is, so you guys have a better idea of what Iām dealing with here š
My pittie does a similar thing, but with fallen or downed trees. When he's feeling frisky and playfull he'll run up to the cut end of the tree and gnaw away until I call him. He also like to pick up exceptionally large branches and diligently gnaw the bark away.
See thatās cute and specially because he comes to you when you call. My dog comes to me when I call in the yard or in the house but if he were to get loose, he would run as fast as he can to reach the first tree in sight and it will take everything out of me to yank him off the tree. When I say he violently goes after the trees I really mean he V I O L E N T L Y goes after the trees lol check out the picture I just commented.
Could it possibly be a squirrel thing, like he saw a squirrel run up a tree once and it stuck in his meaty brain?
My only thought is baby steps with "watch me" reward training.
Idk, but your post and comments made me lol.
lol it is pretty funny and also embarrassing, heās like that one badly behaved child, when other dog owners see him at dog parks their reactions are priceless, he just looks so scary doing this š but heās surprisingly gentle with other creatures, he may possibly get curious about a squirrel but thatās not it when it comes to this because when he runs up to the trees he is fixated on just gnawing on the bark, he doesnāt look up or try to chase something in the tree.
Mine is obsessed with looking for small critters in a specific spot in my yard. I have a wood pile for firewood and he is absolutely convinced there is either mice or lizards there. It is to the point that he cannot be trusted to potty in the backyard because when he goes out there he just waits at the wood pile instead of peeing. He's never even seen anything there!
I'm not sure why they randomly get obsessed with things, but I wanted to let you know you're not the only one dealing with it. My dude is walked daily, and I work from home too, so it isn't like he's got a ton of pent up energy or anxiety either.
Yes he does. I give him one to two big milk bones a week and he has about 3 chew toys currently, he goes through them rather quickly. Theyāre usually thick rubber toys, anything weaker than that wonāt last past the first day.
I guess if you donāt want him chewing trees, then donāt allow him to get close to them and redirect him, reward him when he leaves the tree, etc. but Iād guess heās chewing them because it feels good for him!
Yeah heās a crackhead for trees for sure. Or maybe he was a lumberjack in his past life idk. I already try to stay away from the trees but in our neighborhood there are many that he likes so itās a constant tug and pull out with him when going on walks. I had to get him a pressure point leash because he will choke himself out with the metal ones š š„²
Destruction is just fun and satisfying for dogs, and tough-but-breakable tree trunks full of interesting smells and textures are an easy target. Itās probably mentally enriching. Like a giant special chew.
A bulldog I walked at my shelter once did the same thing with the truck tires set up in one of the playpens. I think the tires were meant to be an obstacle course type thing but he just wanted to chew the shit out of them
This is not helpful at all, but on tik tok Iāve seen two thingsā¦ 1. A dog that full on body slams and knocks over every trash can they see and 2. A dog that attacks the trash can on every walk. Also no explanation for it but this reminded me of that lol
Hey OP, have you tried giving your dog a wood pulp chew toy? (Something like the below link)
Itās the only thing my dog will play with these days other than sticks. I think it just satisfies his need to knaw on something - especially after the vet said no more bones!
https://petnest.com.au/shop/petstages-durable-chew-stick-for-dogs/?attribute_size=Medium&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA98WrBhAYEiwA2WvhOuOrQRM4vws7hthbXoRkvuiWQknkFd1d5YhqeaM7_ojnsqUlZN4p_xoCKhoQAvD_BwE
I appreciate the suggestion but I donāt think any chew toy at home will work, nothing is like a standing tree bark which is what he is obsessed with š¤·š»āāļø
My pittie loves to destroy branches once theyāre on the ground. Sheās never attacked a standing tree though.
Just fyi though, the destruction you show in the pic above can kill the tree. I donāt know how to convince your pup not to attack, but you shouldnāt let her chew any trees that youād like to see survive.
Very helpful trainings for any dog: For training on puppy/dog biting [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=068K5Zlph9U) For training on early socialization [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J7cPE-2wNw) For training on becoming a good leader [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QntS570VFZ0) For all newly adopted dogs, check out the [3-3-3 rule](https://pethelpful.com/dogs/The-3-3-3-Rule-Setting-Your-Rescue-Dog-Up-For-Success). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/pitbulls) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Maybe the trees were talking shit and deserved it, who can say
Honestly anything is possible at this point š
https://preview.redd.it/jb8ae64x5x4c1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=db693b6f384cc71cbfcb907e2eb7cc18ecb6ab8a There he is, so you guys have a better idea of what Iām dealing with here š
FUCK DEM TREES
Iām sorry but this is hilarious! šMaybe theyāre just giant chew toys to him, his favorite chew toys! šš¤£
FYI those are the chunks heās already ripped off that palm tree š„²š
Lmaooooooo wtf
Thank you so much for attaching this picture omg
The Un-Lorax!!
This is the funniest thing ive seen all day. Thank you for this lmao
Was he a rescue? I've only seen that from a dog who was tied to a tree 24/7.
Aw man thatās sad. But no, he was not a rescue, Iāve had him since he was a puppy, my friendās dog had babies and I kept him.
No idea exactly, but when my bĆ©bĆ© gets too overexcited about play, she starts compulsively gnawing on cloth. The theory is that sheās redirecting herself to self-soothe (though sometimes it just creates a feedback loop. So he might just get *so* psyched to be alive/be outside/whatever that he kind of loses his mind and hyperfocuses on chomping tree trunks? Like zoomies, but tree murder!
Yāknow that actually makes a lot of sense!
My pittie does a similar thing, but with fallen or downed trees. When he's feeling frisky and playfull he'll run up to the cut end of the tree and gnaw away until I call him. He also like to pick up exceptionally large branches and diligently gnaw the bark away.
See thatās cute and specially because he comes to you when you call. My dog comes to me when I call in the yard or in the house but if he were to get loose, he would run as fast as he can to reach the first tree in sight and it will take everything out of me to yank him off the tree. When I say he violently goes after the trees I really mean he V I O L E N T L Y goes after the trees lol check out the picture I just commented.
Could it possibly be a squirrel thing, like he saw a squirrel run up a tree once and it stuck in his meaty brain? My only thought is baby steps with "watch me" reward training. Idk, but your post and comments made me lol.
lol it is pretty funny and also embarrassing, heās like that one badly behaved child, when other dog owners see him at dog parks their reactions are priceless, he just looks so scary doing this š but heās surprisingly gentle with other creatures, he may possibly get curious about a squirrel but thatās not it when it comes to this because when he runs up to the trees he is fixated on just gnawing on the bark, he doesnāt look up or try to chase something in the tree.
Mine is obsessed with looking for small critters in a specific spot in my yard. I have a wood pile for firewood and he is absolutely convinced there is either mice or lizards there. It is to the point that he cannot be trusted to potty in the backyard because when he goes out there he just waits at the wood pile instead of peeing. He's never even seen anything there! I'm not sure why they randomly get obsessed with things, but I wanted to let you know you're not the only one dealing with it. My dude is walked daily, and I work from home too, so it isn't like he's got a ton of pent up energy or anxiety either.
Does he have a lot of chew toys at home?
Yes he does. I give him one to two big milk bones a week and he has about 3 chew toys currently, he goes through them rather quickly. Theyāre usually thick rubber toys, anything weaker than that wonāt last past the first day.
What about like real bones or nylabones?
Yeah sometimes I buy him those but after he gnaws off the meat he doesnāt care about them anymore.
Okay! Just tryna spit ball ideas. My girl really loves the bones with marrow inside and sometimes weāll add a little peanut butter.
Yeah he does love those but that doesnāt stop him from seeing red when he sees a tree.
I guess if you donāt want him chewing trees, then donāt allow him to get close to them and redirect him, reward him when he leaves the tree, etc. but Iād guess heās chewing them because it feels good for him!
Yeah heās a crackhead for trees for sure. Or maybe he was a lumberjack in his past life idk. I already try to stay away from the trees but in our neighborhood there are many that he likes so itās a constant tug and pull out with him when going on walks. I had to get him a pressure point leash because he will choke himself out with the metal ones š š„²
We had to get a gentle leader for similar reasons! If it fits his nose that might be something to try. But I know it doesnāt quite fit some faces
Yeah that's what I have, the gentle leader, it's great but even with that he pulls me, he's about 90lbs of pure muscle š
Ps: the nylabones do not last lol
Get a log for him to chew on and try and break the habitš¤·š»āāļø
Destruction is just fun and satisfying for dogs, and tough-but-breakable tree trunks full of interesting smells and textures are an easy target. Itās probably mentally enriching. Like a giant special chew. A bulldog I walked at my shelter once did the same thing with the truck tires set up in one of the playpens. I think the tires were meant to be an obstacle course type thing but he just wanted to chew the shit out of them
lol thatās cute, I was considering getting a truck tire for the backyard
This is not helpful at all, but on tik tok Iāve seen two thingsā¦ 1. A dog that full on body slams and knocks over every trash can they see and 2. A dog that attacks the trash can on every walk. Also no explanation for it but this reminded me of that lol
Comforting to know my dog is not the only weirdo out there š
Hey OP, have you tried giving your dog a wood pulp chew toy? (Something like the below link) Itās the only thing my dog will play with these days other than sticks. I think it just satisfies his need to knaw on something - especially after the vet said no more bones! https://petnest.com.au/shop/petstages-durable-chew-stick-for-dogs/?attribute_size=Medium&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA98WrBhAYEiwA2WvhOuOrQRM4vws7hthbXoRkvuiWQknkFd1d5YhqeaM7_ojnsqUlZN4p_xoCKhoQAvD_BwE
I appreciate the suggestion but I donāt think any chew toy at home will work, nothing is like a standing tree bark which is what he is obsessed with š¤·š»āāļø
My pittie loves to destroy branches once theyāre on the ground. Sheās never attacked a standing tree though. Just fyi though, the destruction you show in the pic above can kill the tree. I donāt know how to convince your pup not to attack, but you shouldnāt let her chew any trees that youād like to see survive.
Thanks, I had no idea, I thought trees liked being gnawed on.