I have learned the hard way how to protect my house and its contents from the sharp puppy teeth. While our children can be reasoned with, puppies only understand that they need to chew. This may be difficult for some but it was what saved my household's shoes, clothes and walls.
My Border Collie took to chewing shoes, the corners of the walls, taking quilts, clothes, and sheets off the outside clothes line, and generally making a nuisance of herself. It was my husband who came up with this bright idea after seeing our dog's reaction to spicy leftover food.
On the walls, where she was chewing we applied splashes of Tabasco and chili, on the clothes line we stuffed stockings with rags that had been soaked in Tabasco sauce and chili powder.
On all of our shoes we applied a thin spray of the same solution, the stronger the better. It only smelled for a little while and the results were that we had shoes that lasted more than 5 minutes after we got them home from the store.
She was most unimpressed and only came back a second time to try it again. The walls were the worst as she used to love chewing them. Something about the ingredients in plaster are tasty for dogs apparently.
Amazingly, almost overnight the problem with the items disappearing from the clothes stopped. We only had to put another stocking on the line for her to put her tail between her legs and disappear into her kennel. It really works, unless of course you have a chili loving dog. If that's the case you're in real trouble.
Cheers!
By Bev
This page contains the following solutions.
New puppies (even some older dogs) like to chew. If you are having this problem, use "Vicks Vapor Rub". Rubbing a small amount on the surface or object you want your pet to avoid will keep them away; therefore breaking the habit.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have a 7 month old puppy who likes to chew holes in the carpet and eat the carpet. She will not stop. We have done everything that we know of and nothing works. Please help.
Crate training is a must for this. Look up crate training on the internet. It is the only way to keep puppy's out of trouble without constantly yelling at them. When they come out, watch them like a hawk, little at a time, and make sure any experience with chewing is met with a canful of coins shaking making a loud noise and a firm no.
I had a puppy who would chew everything in sight, then a friend suggested it might be because the dog was bored or teething and recommended I gave it old cardboard boxes to chew for its boredom and an old metal frying pan to soothe its gums. Both worked and my dog never chewed anything it shouldn't again.
My vet told me that the reason pets chew on carpets, lick the glue off envelopes, and eat plastic bags, etc. is that they are all made from petroleum products & pets like the taste. Apparently it is like candy to them. He said that to get them to stop chewing the carpet, you have to make it taste bad, without making it harmful or smelly.
I trained my chihuahua from her bad chewing using a little cage. As soon as she was doing something wrong I scolded her and put her in her cage for a while. I also used this method potty training her. I only let her out to eat and go potty, then right back in she would go. Using this method doesnt take them long to learn. ~Janette~
Our guy Ralphie actually chewed a hole in a wall. Ok.. the wall was thin and under the snack bar, but still.
He also began chewing EVERYTHING in sight.
We have three dogs, one mastiff and two mid-sized (65 pounds each.) All three had the habit of chewing the carpet until we invested $2 or $3 for a small, densely-woven rope toy. We try to keep three on hand, but they still argue over one and always try to sneak out to the yard with them, lol! We also use the "voice" when we catch anyone chomping the carpet - or anything else they shouldn't.
One last thing: our Princess, 18 months old now, knows she has to go into the "dog room" whenever both hubby and I go anywhere. She still begs not to go most times, but Mama's firm and she's learning she can't win with me. It keeps her from shredding our stuff out of pique. To make a long story short, pick any solution or combination that works for you. Best to you!
Above all, get that puppy tired out. Wear him out with so much exercise, he will not have any vices and will be a happy healthy doggie. Half of the things they do are just because they are cooped up!
Caging a problem will only frustrate the dog more and worsen the problem. You need to provide enough exercise, training time, playtime and affection to tire the dog out. Tired dogs are happy and they sleep. Bored, frustrated dogs are destructive pests.
Walk as fast as you can comfortably go if you aren't in shape enough to jog. Do the runs in the morning and evening after their meals so they'll also go potty (which you should scoop) along the way and be empty for the night when they will sleep like beautiful babes.
Combine training on your long jaunts and you will ensure the dog will obey your commands under any circumstances. It's a win-win.
Dogs also need ample toys to chew. Again, you have to be interactive here. You can use a Kong type toy to distract the dog a little but they're arent a substitute for playing with you.
Dog parks are great for relaxing AFTER you have exercised your dog thoroughly. Good luck.
Ooops! Forgot something. You don't say what breed your dog is but if it's one created to hunt or chase small animals; the dog could just be following its instincts. You can provide a small sandbox in the yard and hide toys in there for the dog to seek. Make sure it's clean sand and a covered box so it stays clean and wandering cats to use the box for other purposes!
Try sprinkling red pepper on it. It does hurt them but it stings the nose so they stay away from it.
It looks like you have plenty of suggestions. Here are two ideas. One is to spray apple bitter on the carpet (it tastes so bad they don't want to chew it). The other is to use a watter spray bottle with a direct spray and everytime she chews something she is not supposed to, you spray her and it will startle her. She learns that when she chews the carpet she will get startled. Eventually, she quits. Hope these help.
Hi,
I have a beagle and she did this as a puppy along with chewing up our coffee tables, the bottom of a sitting chair, the venetian blinds, and wooden chair arms to name just a few of the things she destroyed. The bitter apple spray didn't work, she just chewed on the places where I sprayed more. She only chewed carpet holes in a few spots so we ended up having to cover the spots with stuff she couldn't move or block things off. She eventually grew out of that and is now a well behaved dog so hopefully your dog will grow out of it as well. :)
I have a new Bichon/Shih Tzu puppy names Mieko. He is the cutest thing ever. I have puppy proofed my house, but some times somethings will fall on the floor and I have been taking things away from him when he finds them. Now when he finds something he knows is not something that is he is suppose to have, he runs from me. When I finally catch him. I have started to tell him to drop it. And I try to claim it as the pack leader.
It's only my opinion but it sounds to me like you're being too aggressive with the little guy and especially since you mentions he pees. That means he's scared. He's not peeing because he knows he shouldn't have it but because he knows you're upset and that makes him frightened and upset. Give him some okay things to chew on and praise him for chewing on them and if he chews on something that's not okay just gently say no, no and slowly take it away and put it where he can't get to it.
Don't forget you are much, much larger than that small dog so playing pack leader isn't necessary when it comes to puppies doing what puppies do which is chew and is something they all will outgrow doing. And I hope the only time you are putting him in his crate is for car travel or for very short periods of time when you aren't home for potty training reasons.
We took dog training classes and it was suggested for dogs who were "counter surfing" to set a mousetrap and put it next to the things you don't want them to take and the sound of it is startling and causes them to shy away from the obstacle. Also, they taught to carry a water gun and whenever the dog does something you don't want them to, squirt them repeatedly until the unwanted behavior subsides. We use a spray bottle marked "water" and squirt the dog when she is, for example, taking ornaments off the tree. It didn't take more than 2 times for her to stop going for the tree. I hope this helps.
These are slos called teddy bear puppies and are adorable we saw 2 in Florida. We gave our dogs rawhide chews regularly and plenty of puppy toys.
When my puppy gets something that she shouldn't have but she doesn't know that, I say in the sweetest tone, "Oh, what did you find? Bring it to me." I then go over and in a more firm tone say, "Drop It." Sometimes it is hard for a puppy to drop something because their teeth are small and depending on the object they can't. When that happens, I gently remove the item, praise them for giving it up and always hand them a toy that they are allowed to chew on.
Chewing is how they lose their baby teeth. This is a natural behavior that can be dealt with in a positive way. Please get some dog training books and read the suggestions. Puppy Preschool by John Ross and Barbara McKinney is excellent. The crate should never be used as punishment. Puppies will outgrow some of the behavior you are describing. Be patient in the process. If you shower him with praise, he will want to please you. If he feels afraid of you, he will become more sneaky and defiant. I would stop trying to test him at this point because it is confusing for him.
When you tell him he can't have something and then you put it near you he thinks he can have it. Just calmly put it out of sight. I have a 7 month old puppy so I can understand your frustration. She is doing very well now thanks to me following the guidance in the book. Best of luck to you and your adorable little fellow.
He's adorable. I can see he could easily be spoiled because he's so cute. I'd give him a chewie toy to play with, the kind you put kibble in and the dog will keep busy for hours getting the kibble out. It will keep him from being bored, which is a main reason for dogs getting into trouble in the house.
I have a Pit Bull puppy named Ginger. She is nearly 2 months old. When she plays or gets excited she bites. She doesn't sleep when she needs to at night. I will wake up because she is crying or is chewing things she shouldn't like blanket fluff, hair, and pillows.
She has tons of toys and I am not sure how to get her to stop. Can some one please tell me how to fix this?Interrupt her when she is chewing with a loud noise, and give her something appropriate to chew. Praise her when she chews something appropriate.
I would crate her until she is trained so I could get a good night's sleep.
My Pit Bull puppy is good most of the time, but he likes to destroy things. I try to get him out the habit, but it doesn't work. What do I do?
By nacole from Seattle, WA
All puppies chew ... it's like a baby teething. I mean NO disrespect, but have you given him something like a rawhide bone? I just recently heard of someone that hadn't done that for their pup and was surprised at their pup's chewing. Just do NOT ever give them something of yours to chew! That signals that what smells like you is okay to gnosh on! Good luck!
The operational word is puppy. It does pass, but put up anything you might be upset about being chewed, such as legs of a nice coffee table.
Get large bone now and then, roast it and then give it to him for 1-2 days. They do get nasty. Rawhide chews helped our lab/b.collie mix.
Your "puppy" is teething. Make sure he/she has some chew toys and gets plenty of exercise.
I have a 7 month old female Boxer/Pit mix who is chewing everything. We have 3 other dogs in small and large breeds who do not chew on anything. I have tried crating her as well as giving her toys and correcting her on what not to chew and what is allowed, but she still chews everything she can get a hold of. She only chews on things after we have left the house. For a while she was behaving greatly, not a chewed up thing in sight, but for the last two days she has gone back to her old habits. I really need some help. My parents said that if I don't stop her from chewing then I have to get rid of her and I can't. She is my baby and she is all I have so if anyone has any advice that will help me I would greatly appreciate it.
Your dog may be chewing because of stress.
The breed of dog you have requires an hour walk EVERY day. It can be split up into two half hour walks. This will help remove pent up energy.
The puppy also requires training and discipline. Never allow this type of dog to walk on a flexi-leash. It needs to learn to walk directly beside you, facing forward.
As far as chewing is concerned: You need to learn to claim your things and the family's things. Start by learning "drop it." When your puppy picks up a thing, stand straight up to your full height, point with your arm straight, and say "drop it!" in a firm voice. He'll know if you don't mean it. Once he drops it, take the item. NEVER take something directly from the dog's mouth, even if he lets you.
You're going to have to learn dog training- that means studying. DVDs and books are available. Your dog must learn not to jump up on people, not to chase cats or squirrels on a walk, and many other things. Large breeds can become dangerous when they get older if not properly trained.
Now you have to be very honest with yourself- are you going to be able to do all this? Not just in summer but all year round? If you feel you may not be able to find the time to put in the extra hours per week, the dog would be best rehomed when young. A large breed dog that gets bad habits or isn't trained properly when young is often destroyed as an adult because no one can control him. So be sure you can really commit to this, or find someone with experience with large breeds to adopt your pet.
40+years experience raising AKC Boxers and doing breed rescue plus what I learned over the years from my American Staffordshire Terrier (correct name for 'pit' bull type dogs, aka 'Staffies'; the AKC has recently recognised a specific and distinct breed as American Pit Bull but they are very rare at this point and most 'pit' bulls are really Staffies) raising cousin taught me the following about chewing puppies of these breeds and their crosses:
They will chew until around aged three - anything including wood and bricks and metal and anything else they can get between their teeth, and will enjoy a nice safe vet approved chewy all of their lives. After around three years old, they do back off the constant need to be chewing something.
Best thing to do is invest in vet approved stout rope toys, good quality chewy toys, and those dental chew treats. A constant ready supply of top grade treats helps a lot in keeping your pup from choosing your furniture and clothing - Boxers especially are food-motivated (and love, they are very sensitive and want love and treats in near equal measure - scolding only makes them feel hard done by, btw) and diverting/rewarding them is the only way to protect your property.
Boxers are also prone to 'separation anxiety' and will gnaw your sofa if not crated when you're away from the house. I had one who ate the sofa while his mum was hard at work on the love-seat!
These dogs are a lot of work but well worth the effort - you cannot ask for a better, more loyal canine companion than a Boxer or Boxer-Staffie cross. But they do come with some challenging personality traits, chewing is only one.
You do need to be aware of other breed specific traits (they don't really fully mature until around 3 although sexually at around six months and that's just for starters), and any legislation in your area - many locales either have very strictly enforced rules around how you keep your dog, or outright ban them. Your vet should be your number one go-to for this info, the AKC website next (for breed specific traits), your local library and the Internet for training tips.
A part German Shepherd puppy (about 1 year old, he is pretty big) has shown up and decided he lives with us. The only problem is that he is chewing up everything! I can't stay home and watch him 24/7. We live in the country, so he is free to roam. So far his biggest "meals" have been the wicker bench he sleeps on on my front porch, the rugs, and my flowers. I would like to keep him around, but not at the expense of my things. Now he is trying to chew the screen off my patio door. Help!
By Debbie F
Try to get him some chew toys and there is a spray you can buy to make the no-no things taste bad. put some coins or beans in a can & tape it closed when you catch him chewing something he shouldn't shake or throw the can down & say no. he will associate the sound with the chewing. Then give him his chew thing & say good boy. He'll get it eventually, maybe crate him when you are out so you don't have to worry. GL
I agree with crating him when he's unsupervised and yes, he needs his own things to chew on. They have a very strong chewing urge at this time and need to satiate it. Get some soup bones from the butcher at your store. They love them and will chew on them for hours. It's what saved me and my dog.
How do I get my Minpin Sugar Bear to stop chewing everything up?
By sharon kramka from Mangum, OK
Hello there. Congratulations on your new addition! You're in for years of lots of love, devotion and, well, yes, a bit of training to do. However the good news is, dogs are very easy to train, especially at such a young age :o) The first thing you want to do with your puppy is remember to that he is just that, a puppy! Be sure to have plenty of appropriate chew things available for him to chew on at all times. And never, ever scold him or hit your puppy when he does anything wrong. I suggest you tell him "No" in a firm and stern voice when he does anything you do not want him to do and then direct him to the appropriate alternative and offer him lots of praise & petting as your puppy is chewing his chew toy. Tell him, in a high voice "Good boy!" and pet him, and give him tons of affection!
My theory is enforce the good behavior & ignore the negative. A great product I used to use when I was training my puppy several years ago, was called 'Bitter Apple', its sold in most any pet center. I sprayed it on the edges of sofa, the edges of the coffee table (I applied it to a paper towel 1st then wiped it along the perimeter of the tables). He really disliked the taste! It doesn't take long for a dog to get "the hint", your puppy wants nothing more than to please you & make you happy!
Good Luck!
I second that. Perfect answer from chickey boom boom.
I have a 12 week old male, Toy Poodle that chews everything. How do I keep him from chewing things that he should not chew?
By Kelly from AL
When my youngest dog was a pup he used to want to chew on everything too, especially when he was teething. I had tried yelling, swatting, putting nasty tasting stuff where he'd chew, nothing worked. Then I decided to try shock treatment! Not electric but shock as in startle. I gathered up a whole bunch of spray bottles that would spray a stream for as far as I could get them to spray. I filled them all up with water and set them everywhere where they'd be handy for me to grab real quick.
I also put a few milk bones and rawhides next to each bottle so they'd be handy too. Every time I'd catch him chewing, I didn't bother yelling or anything. I simply grabbed the bottle and gave him a good squirt! It startled him enough to get him to back off for a second. I took that second to offer him a milk bone or rawhide to chew on. It didn't take long at all before he was asking for his chew treats instead of chewing on the furniture and shoes, etc.
I have a little silky terrier. He is 8 and still chewing. He has spoiled some of my good rugs. I find when I am on the phone, he does it for attention. I have put some fluffy toys and a blanket in his bed. I always bring it to his attention when he chews. He knows when I say "bad dog." He got my sprinkler connection the other day and chewed it. When I told him off he put it back where he got it from. Be firm and persistent, but always show a lot of love.
I have a German Shepherd that is 6 months old and I have flowers that he ate, solar lights that he chewed up, and rocks and wood everything he sees! So then today he ate my patio screen sliding door, the net.
I don't know what to do. So I give him a little smack on the nose everytime he does anything bad. Is that dangerous?You are creating the possibility of turning your dog aggressive and a biter by smacking them on the nose not to mention making them head shy. Quick loud corrections either by voice or clapping your hands to stop the behavior instantly. Also giving them something else to chew on and keep them from getting bored is key. Redirecting their attention is a must. I use cow hooves for all my dogs. Safe and natural product that keeps all my dogs safe and my belongings.
