Dog Cjewing Mail!

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi folks, just a quickie, has anyone any ideas to stop a dog chewing the mail? Our rescued Great Dane / Alsation crossbreed (Bella Donna) has recently started chewing the post, normally only letters, but Mr Dobby ordered me 2 Blackmore's Night Limited Edition CD's for my birthday at the weekend, and she's managed to open the package and rip the cover to shreds of the one in a special book bound fabric cover! Fortunately the discs are ok, but I know Mr D is going to be upset when he gets in tonight!

Normally Bella is a lovely dog, very loving, loves to play, she's only 15 months old so still very much a pup, but just recently she's started to eat the mail and I think we need to nip the problem in the bud! I definitely dont want rid of her, she came into our lives after we had lost 2 dogs in a month (sad story that I will recount if folks want to hear it, but it is deffo a hanky alert type post!), and has proven to be a very loving hound and a definite part of the family!

[yoanbob]

mrs dobby sorry to hear about your present.
we had a dog that did this, dont think theres much you can do if your not there when the post is delivered.
try one of those cage things for the back of your letter box.

[Mrs Dobby]

Thanks for the quick reply yoanbob! I'd thought of getting one, only problem is the front door is one of them PVC type thingies, so not sure if it is possible to mount one on it! Anyone else with any suggestions?

[valmarg]

Our next-door neighbours have a post box mounted on an outside wall, It looks big enough to take most items, and it is 'lockable' so that, if you are not around it cannot be accessed.

valmarg

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi Mrs D - Dexter went through a stage of doing this, so invested in a basket thingy that hooks on the inside of the door to catch the mail. Fortunately, he them seemed to loose interest so I took it off. Actually, still got it in the garage - you could have it if you wanted! All you need are a couple of screws to fix it on. DDL

[monkeybum]

If you don't want to fix screws to your upvc door you can get those self adhesive hooks that would probably do or my OH's favourite no nails. I swear that when it gets to the sell by date on the no nails tin, half my house will fall down!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Didnt know about no nails when we screwed it on, monkeybum! good idea! DDL

[nick the grief]

Pull the dogs teeth out Ok bit extreme how about you create some fake envelope of your own & lace them with something foul tasting, bearing in mind most dogs lick there own bottoms you could be struggling

[dexterdoglancashire]

That wasn't nice Nick! trust you to get to the "bottom" of the issue! DDL PS Dexter is growling and showing his teeth! (and a very nice, sharp set they are as well! LOL!)

[Mrs Dobby]

Pull the dogs teeth out Ok bit extreme how about you create some fake envelope of your own & lace them with something foul tasting, bearing in mind most dogs lick there own bottoms you could be struggling

Good suggestion as to the fake mail, but not sure what to put into it, Bella loves chilli's and curries, so dont think spices would work, so any suggestions anyone?

As to pulling her teeth, Nooooo way Nick! The previous dog we had, Willow, another rescue had a broken tooth when we got her, and an abcess, wouldnt want to inflict that on anyone, let alone our dog!

[nick the grief]

how about some chilli pepper seeds you never know it may work. The only other way would be to stop here getting to the letters some how.

[Shortie]

Don't bother with mustard... we had a puppy for a while who we were trying to house train and in an attempt to stop him nabbing food he could reach we purposely left bread etc out smothered in hot mustard with the idea he's be repulsed and think twic about taking anything else. Problem was, he loved it

Mind you, this house has two cats who between them like salt and vinegar Prinlges, Salted Cashew Nuts, peanut butter and raisins

[Snadger]

Pull the dogs teeth out Ok bit extreme how about you create some fake envelope of your own & lace them with something foul tasting, bearing in mind most dogs lick there own bottoms you could be struggling

Nic, are you volunteering to pull the teeth on a Great Dane / German Shepherd cross? Just let me know which hospital to send the flowers to! Lol

[dexterdoglancashire]

Nick and Snadger I'm disappointed with you! DDL PS you try cleaning Dexters teeth! I don't think so! LOL!

[nick the grief]

I ws only joking with the teeth pulling bit. Great dane x german Shepherd - wasn't that in the Hound of the Baskervilles or was it Tess of the durbervilles