Feb
18
Why does my dog (an 15 yr old border collie) chew the branches on bushes and trees?
ByShe is 15 years old, and has been chewing on lower branches (more like twigs), and then spitting them out. She will stay in one spot while doing it, and has done it to multiple trees and shrubs. She will be nochalant about it and then other times visciously shake her head from side to side trying to tear it off the tree.
We have plenty of trees and shrubs and have never seen a pattern of it (like after meals or before meals, or before bed.) She does it randomly, when she feels like it. She will stop if you tell her to. Obviously, she is a border collie so she is smart and is doing this for a reason. She has never liked chew toys or even toys– just her soccer ball to chase.
So why is she doing this?
3 Comments
February 19th, 2011 at 12:10 AM
I have an 11 year old chocolate Lab. who is doing the same thing. Probably has something to do with age. Maybe soothing of the gums or something. Otherwise there’s nothing wrong with her health wise. I wouldn’t worry about it, she’s made it 15 years which is pretty good considering most dogs don’t live that long.
February 19th, 2011 at 12:46 AM
Your Dog just likes to play and chew. There’s nothing wrong with her. Some dogs just like to play and chew sticks.(In this case, branches). Don’t be worried about your dog. You might try tossing a small branch or stick and see if she goes after it.
She just likes to play.
February 19th, 2011 at 1:10 AM
i have a five year old border collie and she does the same exact thing except shes more obsessed with tennis balls. if there are no balls around, she will desperately rip branches and limbs and has even literally ripped small trees out of the ground. the best reason i can guess is that she is maybe slightly neurotic because many border collies are too smart for their own good but also because i think she is trying to find something to play with because a lot of the time she will bring the branch to me for fetch. also i notice she does it when there are a lot of people around like she is so happy she must find something for all of those people to use to play with her. thats my own guess anyway.