Dog chews through gas pipe

A dog with a biting habit was lucky she didn't blow up her owner's home after munching through a gas line.

Oops!

Kathleen O'Hare arrived home in Plimmerton about 3pm on Monday to find the house filled with the smell of gas. "It was a really strong smell. I just thought, 'Oh my God'."

She checked on Jura, a 10-month-old labrador boxer cross, who was tied up outside. "She'd broken the gas line, and was kind of wrapped up in it."

(...)

She was only out for 2 1/2 hours, but the high-spirited dog got bored when left alone. "She's a lovely dog, very happy, very friendly."

Jura had also chewed a computer keyboard, the garden hose, and her own bed, said Ms O'Hare's daughter, Maia O'Hare Quirk, 7. "Sometimes she's good and sometimes she's bad."

You mean... sometimes her behaviour is bad, not the dog... very important distinction.

Jura had just started behaviour classes, Ms O'Hare said. "She's not at the top of the class, but she's not at the bottom either."

As much as those classes are good, it will not help with boredom. You need a bit more advice on how to keep a dog entertained when home alone.

It was hard to stop dogs chewing, but owners could provide other biting options, such as cardboard boxes, a rolled-up newspaper with food inside, and toys.

The only problem I have with a newspaper being used as a toy is that ALL newspapers will be perceived by the dog to be fair-game, and when your Saturday newspaper is chewed up, the one that you made a nice coffee and was just going to settle down to have a quiet 2 hour read... please don't blame the dog when he chews it.

Much better if you moisten some kibbles and stuff a kong and let them 'go for it'.