help! My dog is chewing up my house

[jpap]

Please someone have solution for my dog chewing up my house. He just chewed my curtains. I know it sounds materialistic but I spent alot of time and money to have these made. He also chewed custom made pillows and a persian rug I am at my wits end, please help! I am in tears over the latest , my Dh says it is only fabric, oh yeah? I love our fellow but can't take much more. The kids(3) will never forgive me if we give him up, but my investments can't take this much longer. Heeeeeeelp! Janet

[Grace]

Is he a puppy? Do you keep him in a crate? I would suggest keeping him in a crate RIGHT AWAY, and only allowing him out for potty breaks, eating, lots of walks and a few supervised breaks throughout the day. My 4 yr old lab had to remain in her crate when we weren't home until she was 1-1/2 years old (she was a terror, but is absolutely fine now). My now 1-1/2 year old was trustworthy out of the crate at 8 months. It all depends on each dog (just like kids), but there's no way I could have any puppy without having them in a crate until they learn proper behavior.

Also, make sure your puppy/dog has something appropriate for him to chew. When you catch him chewing something he's not supposed to, a sharp "NO" and a tap under his chin (not real soft, but definitely not real hard either) will send the right message. Then give him something he CAN chew and praise the heck out of him. He'll get the idea. Believe in the idea that he wants to do the right thing, but he's a dog, not a human and cannot distinguish among objects using reason. You have to help him figure out what things are his, and which are not.

Chewing is also a HUGE sign of boredom. What kind of puppy is he? If he is a medium/larger breed, he needs to RUN. Not just walk on the end of a leash. Take him somewhere every day where he can chase a stick, a ball, a frisbee, whatever safely (no danger of running in the street, etc.). You will be absolutely amazed at the difference in a dog's behavior when they have had a good run. It's like a miracle cure. Really. I guarantee that one.

Just those few suggestions should give you a whole new dog that will be a pleasure to have around. Good luck, and let us know how he is doing. I do hope you won't give up on him. It will require extra work on your part, but that will be short lived and once he learns, you won't have to deal with it anymore.

[beejayw1]

I second everything Grace said. When you find him chewing something inappropriate, say [b]NO!!![/b[ and give him something better to chew.

I'm pretending your dog is a puppy (under 2 years old) and in the chewing stage for the following:

Use some management: you know your dog is a chewer, so get what you don't want chewed out of reach.

Get some repellent spray, if only habanero tabasco, slightly diluted, and spray it on things you want him to stay away from.

Set up an arsenal of good things to chew:

Go to Petco or wherever and pick up a bunch of their large knuckle bones. They should be around $2.50. (I don't mean the entire cow femurs) Give these to the dog. In addition to helping with the teething, they serve to exercise him.
Various chew toys (do not get Nylabones: they are having problems with them)
Large carrots, cut to manageable size and put in the freezer


Is your dog socialized? Can you get him to a play group? That can get the energy worn off him, a little, and teach him a bit about inappropriate chewing.

Hope these suggestions help! (I'm the owner of a 6 month old Labrador, who is a champion chewer. I was able to minimize the damage.)

[BlueMoose]

If the dog is alone in the house a lot he's probably really lonely and bored, like Grace said. The people who had our dog before us said he was chewing the siding off of their house. Well, DUH! They had him chained outside all day.:rolleyes: He has chewed up one thing in the 4 years we have had him. I don't know what got into him that day!(It was DH's slipper, and he will never let me forget it.)

[cookinator]

I can't help but say to myself "must be a lab"??? I went through that with a lab puppy, she ate the legs off the chairs we were sitting in. Put her outside and she chewed the rose bushes TO THE GROUND thorns and all. I agree with Grace about crate training. It's a place they feel safe in, but also training classes helped us. We had to repeat puppy school twice with such a wild dog. Don't worry..at exactly 2 years she mellowed out completely and I never missed those fingers after a while...;) .

[Jasmine-Rose]

My basenji drove me nuts when I first got her. She was three years old and would destroy anything in sight at the first opportunity. I had never crated a dog before but I learned my lesson with this one. The woman I got her from tried to convince me to crate her but I was sure it wouldn't be necessary - the woman smiled knowingly and said to call her when I wanted to know what size crate to get:D :D :D. I called her in a couple of days!

Basenjis get bored easily so they get mischievous. It took a long time before I could relax when she was out of my sight. I agree with the suggestion to get things out of range for the pup. I still have one room with a child-gate in the doorway so I always have one place where I can put things down and know she can't get to them!

My 'senji is still crated whenever I leave the house, and sometimes even if I'll be in the yard for a while to shovel snow or mow the lawn. She needs to be able to see me and if I'm out of sight she finds something to shew on to soothe her anxiety - like my slippers, or the paperwork on the desk, or the towels in the bathroom. I urge you to crate train the pup. I resisted, but saw the light. And my pup always comes running when it's time for her to get in the crate in the morning. She has never given me a hard time about getting in there.

For all the havoc she can wreak when she gets that mischievous look in her eyes, I love her and can't imagine not having her with me.

Best of luck!

[MrsReber]

I had the same problem with my Bichon- chewed everything. She'll still chew the carpet right off the floor! I totally agree with Grace- crate the dog. I desperately tried to let my dog roam the house, but she proved that she is unable to do so. Everyone told me how "cruel" it is to crate a dog. The truth is, dogs like having their own little den and my dog goes in willingly. Best thing I ever did for her. Now I can enjoy her company instead of coming home to a big mess and wanting to kill her! Good luck!

[SusanPC]

I second all said. They need to know who is boss and a crate is key when you are not around to keep a close eye. My Beagle is currently angry b/c I have been working a lot and shredded mail that was on the counter the other day (inlcuding a $50 Ann Taylor gift certificate!)......and started to use the restroom in the house....guess what....he is locked in the kitchen all day now and is behaving. I will keep him in there for about 6 weeks until I can trust him again. I am definately a push over to my babies but you have to be firm or else they will never obey!

[Don]

I had the same problem with one of my corgis when they were little. I found that Bitter Apple (available at any pet store) worked beautifully. It comes in an alcohol spray and in a cream for furniture or similar items. One taste of Bitter Apple, and Talbot wouldn't think of chewing on the item again. Also, you might want to check with your vet to determine if your dog has separation anxiety. A friend of mine had a dog that suffered from terrible separation anxiety and tore up the house every time she left. She now gives the dog a "happy pill" provided by the vet, and the problems have resolved.

[jpap]

Thanks everyone for your advice, My dog is a little over a year old, we don't know for sure someone dropped him off in our neighborhood. we are also uncertain of his bred he is medium sized with black and white fur, white only on neck, nose and feet. He does have a playmate he runs with but not everyday. I will get to the pet store for some spray. This curtain incident happened while the whole family was in the next room. I guess it will be up to me to make sure he gets excersized, oh well, I could use a good run!!!!