As the owner of a overly curious and very hyper Jack Russell, I have learned how to deal with a obsessive chewer. My dog, Abby, was six weeks old when we got her. I wanted her to be an inside dog, so she pretty much had the run of the house. When we would leave the house and even when we went to bed, we would leave her out.
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Jack Russells have a LOT of energy and need to know whose boss.
A lot of wrecking and and chewing problems even in adult dogs is caused by lack of exercise and mental stimulation.
I dont know how old your dog is now or the size of her kennell but you should be aware that when she is in the kennell she knows that she does not have the option to run and hide if something frightening happens.
And as a Russell she is more prone to be aggressive anyway. So I am not telling you what to do, just wondering if you want to encourage that kind of behavior.
Perhaps a better solution might be to give her a ton of excercise and play just before you go out and then a chew toy stuffed with her favorite treat or something. Russells are also a lot more prone to anxiety issues.
You can also switch her toys around so she can rediscover them. If she hasnt see it in weeks she may realize how much fun sheused to have playing with it.
This page may help you and your dog as well:
www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/
Sheraone is right on the money about the exercise part.
The very best exercise for dogs, especially to calm them down, bond with their owners and reduce or eliminate obsessive behaviors is WALKING! It's not enough to put them outside to play or even vigorous indoor exercise with toys. Dogs are migratory critters and walking satisfies them in a way that chewing bones does.
Cesar Millan, aka the Dog Whisperer, recommends long walks (30 minutes plus for small dogs; twice as long for big dogs) twice a day.
When it comes to energetic dogs like terriers and dachshunds, it pays to work with Mother Nature. Both dog and person are much happier for it.
The lady who posted this article is my Daughter and I can tell you Abby(her dog )is certainly not lacking for exercise or mental stimulation.Dogs,as with children must be taught that there are boundaries.She is a VERY active dog and gets plenty of exercise outside.I personally think it is important to teach them that OUR bedtime is hers also.Bless her heart,she did all her damage when they were in bed or she was at work.Now she gets in without a fuss and goes to sleep and when you unzip the top in the morning she JUMPS out and heads straight for the door to be taken outside.The kennel definitely made the difference.
Worked for my ACD, too, and I'm told that some crate time is comforting for them, they feel like they are in their cave and can relax a while. Not to be in there too long for their tiny bladder of course, and not without lots of toys and things to do in there (I picture the wolf in his cave with bones all around from the kills he dragged in).
I have a Jack Russell and she LOVES her kennel sometimes in day she goes in there to nap and
stays in there with a toy or bone with her door open!
She gets LOTS of exercise running around the backyard. I go out there and she tears it up running
and we go for night walks on hot days. I think sometimes posters get a little quick to judge.
Heather my doggie would chew so we gave her LOTS of chew toys and praised her when she chewed on chew toys she got the idea real quick.
I think what people arent understanding about crate training, whether for chewing, house training habits or whatever that poeple, children and adults learn through trial and error.
So as long as the dog is in the crate, he does not have opportunity to do things that will please or displease his people. Apart from actually being IN the crate which is beyond his control. He is not given the choice.
We dont train our kids to do what they need to keep them safe and a harmonious household by caging them. We allow them to explore and socialize and learn while we take the time and care to watch them diligently. Small children may indeed have a playpen but they are still responsibly watched and have the company of another human being.
If you want your dog to be an active well adjusted and adequately socialized part of the whole family and feel that your home is his home how can you expect that to happen if he is not given access to it?
Dogs may come from wolves who den. Even wild dogs may find dens to sleep because it affords them more safety in the wild.
If someone's dog prefers his den/kennel to sleeping with people it is because he feels safest there. Think about that. Is that really what you want? How might he react then in places and situations where he isnt feeling entirely safe or confident?
Dogs, especially puppies prefer to sleep and be with their pack. Not banished from the pack in a crate.
I do certainly understand your concern about when you are not there. Your puppy is just a little kid and in the learning stages, accidents are bound to happen and things are bound to get wrecked. It comes with the territory while raising responsible and well adjusted dogs as well as kids.
Behavior problems are caused when the animals needs arent met. Given that they are so generous with their love isnt it fitting that we return that love by discovering what they do need and supplying that?
Puppies chew because their mouths are hurting. They are teething. Clearly there are better ways for all concerned to deal with this problem than confining the dog.
I dont mean to sound unkind, I just wish people would take steps to discover what their dogs need. And what the cause of behavioral problems are rather than just looking at ways to stop it. The only way to solve any problem without causing more problems is to discover the cause and solve it at it's source.
My sister has a dog that chews everything - including the kennels - wooden kennels , plastic kennels & of course cloth kennels - it now tears itself up on the indoor wire kennel which is about 3 meters long & 2 meters high! I think you are so lucky to have a dog that has learned to calm down.
Her dog, we think, is a Maltese/poodle cross - has passed the puppy stage as it is now 6 years old. So life gets pretty stressful at times for her as she works full time.
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