tearing up wee weepad

Question
I have had my shitzpoo since 7 weeks old and she is now 14 weeks old.  She stays in a puppy playpen when I go to work.  She has toys  and a wee wee pad which she is great at using.  Last week she started chewing up her wee wee pad.  Any suggestions?

Answer
It sounds as if she's bored, Amanda. It's also about time for her to begin teething. You need to make sure she has lots of safe toys to keep her entertained while you're away, and also some good teething toys like nylabones and kong toys. I do not recommend rawhide because it can be deadly if a piece too large to pass through the intestines is swallowed. Rawhide should ONLY be given under strict supervision, and the dog should get the absolute largest rawhide he or she can handle, to reduce the chances of chewing off and swallowing a too large piece. Also, stay away from the cutesy rawhide booties, candy canes, and such. These items are not digestible and can be even more dangerous than the regular rawhide bones. Also, make sure the rawhide that you buy (if you choose to give your dog rawhide) is made in the United States and does not contain chemicals like formaldehyde and bleach. I believe Beefeaters is one of the brands that is okay. Old Mother Hubbard is another.

There is also a 'wee wee pad holder' that you may consider purchasing. It is made of plastic and holds all four sides down to make it harder for the puppy to chew on. The following page has a picture of one: http://www.lucy-the-dog.com/weeweepadho.html

Good luck and please don't hesitate to ask if there's anything else you need!

Kristen