how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

ava is about 7 months now and her chewing is getting worse... now she's eating our sofas apart and i am at my wits end. everytime she does it, she gets a smack and put in a cage out in the garage by herself for some time but it doesn't bother her in the least. what do i do?

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

I don't think putting her out in the garage in her alone will do it either, it sounds little cruel, I'm sorry to say! I wish I had a solution for you, my dog is 18 months, a Bullmastiff, and he chews when we are out only. When he was really young he destroyed a few shoes, and gnawed my kitchen chair leg a little. When he started to get older and bigger we tried going to work and leaving him loose, out of his crate. Well , he chewed mail, shoes, remotes, digital camera, cordless phone, clothing, one of my sofa cushions, all 3 of his beds, etc....I tried leaving him with his own toys, but he still chewed our stuff. When we are home he is fine. My DH and I did scold him and give him a spank, but they say when you scold them after the fact, they really don't associate it with what they did wrong. And they say never banish them to the crate or they will associate it with negative things.
HELP US!!

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

Have you tried Bitter Apple?
It's a taste deterrent. You spray it on the surface of what you don't want them to chew or what-have-you... it will keep them away.




BITTER APPLE

Message edited 5/14/2008 1:44:44 PM.

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

I agree with I would not punish her in that way, she might even rebel more.

Do you have plenty of chew toys and other things to keep her occupied?

Try these, they work like a charm.

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

Katie chewed out of boredum when she was a pup. Several things helped us out. One was to spray biter apple on things that she chewed, the other was to give her things to chew one. The best thing we ever did was give her a Kong. Everytime we leave the house we stuff a treat in it and it keeps her occupied.

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

I def recommend the Bitter Apple, we use it and it really works!!

You need to reprimand her for chewing on your things, but then introduce something that she CAN chew on like one of her toys or a kong. Then you praise her for doing the right thing. She wants to please you but doesn't understand what it is that you want.

As for crating her, this is why we still crate Kasey (she's almost 1 and a half). We know she'll get anxious when we leave the house and we'd come home to a mess, it's best for all of us. Get a larger crate if the one you have now is too small, the $$ is worth all of those things that will be saved.

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

Posted by dilb712

Posted by Mrs-D-Girl


Try these, they work like a charm.

IMAGE

Here IS the answer.. They come in all sizes.. Get the big giant ones if your dog is big... But it doesn't help when your out... I would never leave my dog alone with these. Paranoid she will choke and if I am not there Well... I dont even want to think about it...

This bully stick is so enjoyable that they wont find any pleasure in chewing all of the other stuff... I think!

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

Posted by Mrs-D-Girl

Posted by dilb712

Posted by Mrs-D-Girl


Try these, they work like a charm.

IMAGE

Give her one of these to keep her occupied and I am telling you, next time you go to the petstore, you will buy the shelf of them

Yup!!!

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

I call it doggie crack!!

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

We used the bitter apple spray too. However, we would spray the item that she attempted to chew and we would spray a tiny at towards her snout area (avod eyes) and sternly state "NO!" She learned within a week or so what was acceptable and not, and she sticks to chewing her kong, nylabones, etc.

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

bitter apple or.... what works even better is when my 7 months old chews something he is not supposed to i spray him with a gentle water gun. it works like a charm. TRY IT!
Be careful w/ nylabones etc, they can get stuck in throat/tunny/intestine if they bite off too big of pieces. try and stick w/ a kong w/ a ziggie shoved in it.

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

Most dogs chew out of boredom. I out this together a few weeks ago for a friend of mine

Inappropriate Chewing


1.What you should be doing– constantly directing the dog to what she is allowed to chew. It is your job to show her what is appropriate and inappropriate.

2.Your dog may chew because she is bored, teething or simply because it is fun

3.Praise her EVERYTIME she is chewing her toys. This can be a simple pat on her back and a “good girl” so that you do not interrupt her chewing.

4.If she is chewing something she should not be chewing, tell her “no” remove the item from her and give her a toy. DO NOT CHASE HER – this will simply make it a game, which is fun for her !!

5.If she is running away from you , you may need to keep a short leash on her to be able to get control of her right away. Once you have to chase her, it becomes a game, almost rewarding her for grabbing that item and running. With the leash, you can grab it and reel her in right away. You may need to spray some bitter apple on the leash to keep her from chewing it

6.If she starts chewing or mouthing on you – (your hands, feet, etc) tell her no and remove your attention from her – put your hands behind your back, look away from her or leave the room for a minute. Let her realize that chewing on you just lost your affection towards her.



Some good chew toys (Be sure not to give her toys that resemble household items. Ex: If you give her an old sneaker to chew on, she cannot tell the difference between the new one and the old one):

- Nylabones
- Gumbabones
- Chew sticks
- Kong
- You can soak the nylabone or gumbabone in chicken broth for 15 min if she starts to get bored of it
- Rotate her toys every couple of days

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

Keep 'em busy and give them ALOT of chew toys.

Also be sure to repremand as it's happening and not after the fact. Most likely they won't really understand why they're getting in trouble.

And after you repremand, be sure to give your dog a chew toy to show he/she what they SHOULD be chewing.

I wouldn't, however, crate them in the garage alone. This could be causing your dog anxiety and that will make the chewing worse. Is there any possibility of bringing the crate into your home in a room somewhere?

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

Message edited 11/18/2011 7:02:32 PM.

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

okay here is my problem...
she does not get crated or caged or gated when we are out; she hasn't in MONTHS. which is why we caged her in the garage for 20min after we catch her destroying something. it worked with our other dog so we thought it would work with her as well. how do you go back to caging a dog while you aren't home, who hasn't been caged in 3 or 4 months? when the other dog is roaming free?
she has PLENTY of toys and i don't care if she rips them to shreds... she has "keys" that are meant for strong chewers, nylabones, kongs, among other toys - you name it. she always has her toys and the other dog to keep her company; and he doesn't chew anything. i don't know what to do. she has ruined both of our couches (den couch and formal living room couch), countless shoes, our comforter, weather stripping around the front door, a step. i fear she will never grow out of this. i can't spray bitter apple through my entire house...
if i'm not supposed to punish her after the fact, what do i do when i get home to find my sofa torn apart? i'm at a loss.

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

Re: how do you get dogs to stop chewing?!

Message edited 5/16/2008 7:21:59 PM.