Hi All,

Just wondering if other puppy owners find their dog loves nothing more than to rag a broom/mop when you are trying to use it for cleaning! It must be the most exciting thing for a young puppy to see all those parts of a mop moving about back and forth.

I have tried distracting him, moving him for a time out, giving him a 'more fun' toy to play with, however to Nando a mop or broom seems to be the 'highest value' thing he can get his teeth on!

I have had to put him in his crate every time I mop the floor (Quite often with a 11 week old puppy with very house proud owners) however he just barks and barks and barks because he feels he is missing out on all the fun.

What techniques should I use to convince him that the mop and broom are boring? Even his kong won't distract him when there is mopping to be done! The only time I can get it done is if he's sleeping, and even then sometimes he wakes up and wants to play 'tug the mop!'

Josh

At the moment I have a litter of 7 in the kitchen. That puts 'tug the mop' into a whole new league lol
I do usually put them into the playpen to get it done , but they have so much fun helping me that I have to let them play sometimes

I think I'd take a litter of 7 over one Nando! He is a big lad for 11 weeks (10.5kg) so he has some strength behind him!

ohhh my Rottie loves the hoover, my poor Henry has had 3 new heads in a year lol,

Bentley adores Henry but not to chase whilst I hoover just goes all silly and puppylike with it!  His reaction when I bring Henry in is soo funny I keep meaning to video it !

And he never chased brooms/mops but does love to go and fetch and run off with as soon as I put down!  Has never chewed or ruined any of them funny enough - I like to think he wants to help with the chores - at nearly 11m he still hasn't grown out of it!

Yep me too brooke is beginning to ignore the broom but for mopping she still needs to go in thecrate when I am really trying to clean and not play. Whispa and my other dogs have always done it too

problem is if you allow them to do it now as a young puppy they will always do it , of which I speak from experience will drive you mad. Its funny when a little puppy is playing but a full on adult its not very amusing.
I have a 8 yr old bitch who chases the brush , mop , hose  and has done since a puppy as my brother when visiting thought it was fun to play this game with.. I have had to put up with it ever since ..so for every dog I have had since I 'never' allow  this 'game' they go out of the room I am cleaning or into the crates until I have finished ..my other dogs dog bother ..thankfully.

So my adivce would be knock it in the head..now!

I have hence baby gate or crate for b when I am cleaning.  Can't be playing that game for the resytt of her life not cute when your busy ;)

Josh, if your pup wants to play those sort of games then use toys to encourage him and join in.   Bits of rope and soft toys skid nicely along the floor and you can tie some of his favourites together so he can drag them about if he wants to.  It's useful for Nando to learn WHAT he is allowed to play with and that it is YOU that STARTS the game and you that STOPS the game when you're ready.  Playing carefully with him will enable him to learn lots of really useful lessons including the fact that YOU are the source of lots of fun - perfect when you need a snappy recall !

I would not allow him to play with unsuitable items or when you are trying to do other things.  Put him to bed, behind a door, baby gate etc or this game will turn into a complete nuisance later :)

I really like the idea of making him a 'mop-like' toy to play with so he knows what he can and can't play with. I think I will get my thinking cap on and construct something. I remember our last dog liked tea-towels so one day we bought some cheap tea-towels and made a 'braid' out of them. He absolutely loved it and he stopped taking ours when he had his own!

He has just been out for his first walk. I walked him to my Sister's house (about 5 minutes away) so that he could have a rest and then walked him back. I think all the new sights and sounds have tired him out as he is completely flat out!