Dogs who chew things...

[EsmeraldaX]

I have a 10 month old Jack Russel Terrier. I love him dearly, but he is in serious need of training. We have been trying to get him to stop chewing on things, using every method in the book. He gets excercise, has a million chew toys, and is yelled at and told NO! when he chews things he's not supposed to. Then we give him a chew toy and praise him.

But it's just not working. We've also tried Bitter Apple spray. That , he seems to LIKE.

He will pretty much take and destroy anything within his reach and it's quite annoying. Shoes, plush toys, bedspreads, you name it...

We don't know what else to do.

Will he ever grow out of this? Or will we forever have to keep EVERYTHING out of his reach. We can't even let him sleep with us at night, because he chomps holes through our blankets (thus far he's destroyed two $100 blankets)

Any advice?

 

[arminnie]

Try tabasco sauce - if he likes that then try stepping up to a habanero sauce. It worked like a charm on my two dogs. My first dog even chewed a hole in the wall above my bed. He would chew anything.

The bitter apple doesn't taste good but it is not as unpleasant as the pepper sauce. They really seem to hate the hot burning taste but it doesn't hurt them.

I know you can't douse your entire house in tabasco but when you see him starting to chew on something put it on there or if you know he goes back to a certain spot - mine like to chew the window sills. After awhile all I had to do was get the bottle out.

They do outgrow a lot of this but it can take a long time.

 

[nativetxn]

YIKES! No advice.

I have a dog that ate a sofa once but she only did things like that when I was either away from the house or had my bedroom door closed (away from her)

She outgrew this <i>or</i> I learned not to leave her unattended. One or the other.

Sorry you are having to experience this frustration.

 

[mickeymost]

Sorry I don't have any advise, but I feel your pain. I have a 10- month old German Shepherd who also likes to chew. I know my last dog also a Germ Shep liked to chew too, but grew out of it around 2 years old. I'm hoping this one will not take as long.

I'm all ears for any good suggestions also!

 

[mommytotwo]

We have a dog that is like that. No matter what we do, she still chews on things and rips things off. Our dog is from a line of hunters, so that may have something to do in her genes. I hope your dog listens to you.

 

[airhead]

Are you using a crate? When you can't supervise your dog,he should be in his crate with toys he can chew but not destroy,like a kong. No bedding,just him and his toy! Pack it with raw carrots and let him have it. Please don't use hot sauce or pepper! They usually don't work and if these things get in your dog's eyes,its very painful and cruel. I can't stress enough using a crate for your dog!!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Hi! We do use a crate for him and he has a lot of hard rubber toys (some of the best ones we've found were from Disney Pets actually, the Mickey Radial and these solid rubber bones...on par with Kong but much less $$).

We hate having to put him in his crate when we are home. I'd like it to be where he only goes in his crate during our dinner (he jumps up on the table and steals our food if not). But it seems like we are going to have to continue doing this, maybe for at least another year.

He's a sweet, good puppy, he really is. We love him and he is a member of the family. We would never even think of getting rid of him. We're just trying to get him to stop stealing/destroying things so he can have more free run of the house.

I thought I read somewhere once that washing your bedding with a bit of vanilla extract can help prevent pets from chewing on it. Does anyone know if this is true?? My mind is cloudy. I vaugely recall this from back when I had ferrets...

 

[goofy4tink]

My first question would be has he been to any training class yet? If not, you might want to look into it.
Secondly, crate him! Freedom is something to be earned. Our philosophy at our house is our dog earns everything. He has to sit/stay in order to get fed. He has to lie down in order to get cuddles. Nothing is 'free'. And yes, he is a very happy dog.
Something you could try, when he is not crated, is to attach a lead from him to you. Wherever you are, so is he. It should be longish, about 6'. That way, if he starts chewing, you are right there. I actually carried a water bottle with 1/2 water, 1/2 vinegar in it and sprayed it in his mouth when he was 'in the wrong'.
Just be sure not to crate him in anger. His crate should be a safe-place for him, not a place of punishment. Keep everything picked up. My dd used to scream that the dog had her doll, stuffed animal etc., but I told her it was fair game if it was in reach. Our pup is much better now. But it is a lot of work and attention to get there!! Good luck.

 

[DawnCt]

Jack Russels are a real challenge. They are little dogs who think that they are absolutely huge. They are smart and tenacious. They can jump over an 8 ft fence. They need training very early. Check out the Jack Russel web site and bb's for suggestions.

 

[TerriP]

First, get a couple of pieces of yesterday's Sunday paper....roll them up into a long hard cylinder...grasp it firmly in your dominant hand....say outloud "I forgot to watch my dog"...and *hit* yourself over the head!!! Repeat as necessary!

Seriously, if you can't watch your dog, he needs to be crated...for your sake, but more importantly, for his. The first time he chews something toxic or deadly (cords!) you'll wish like heck you'd crated him when you couldn't keep an eye on him.

One of our rescue dogs was a serious CHEWER, too. If I could not keep him in my sight, he was crated with a Kong full of frozen PB or yogurt. When I was home and available to him (which was pretty much whenever I was home...except sleeping or showering) I had him leashed to my belt loop on a 8 or 10 foot lead (can't remember what length it was). He was unable to go out of the room I was in, had to follow me around, never left my sight. I could correct each attempt he made to chew something naughty and give him something he could chew.

It probably took him about two weeks (I'm being generous...not sure exactly how long) to figure it out. He was a smart boy, as is your baby, I'm sure. Once they "get" what you're telling them, it won't take long to break the habit. I promise...

BTW, I second the advice to avoid tabasco or hot sauce. The result can be very painful and dangerous to your dog.

 

[stamper]

I had a JRT once.....very tough little dog that needs training! I would certainly find a really good class to get him into for starts. Also, the idea to attach him to you is a great one! One thing I might add to that is try a clicker. When he starts chewing something unaccepatable tell him "NO!" (quick, loud and sharp...to get his attention), offer something acceptable. The instant his attention is on the "good" object click and treat (either lots of praise or I would use a REALLY yummy treat at first so it really sinks in ...very tiny bits of hotdog or string cheese work well). Start clicking for just a sniff of the offered toyand ignoring the "bad" item, then work up to clicking for chewing it...keep uping the anty so to speak. Eventually he will make the connection that chewing the blanket, cupboard door, cutains, etc. make mom upset and she corrects me, but if I chew this toy, I get a yummy treat and she tells me how smart I am....duh, tough choice!

There are some great books and websites about Clicker Training and how to start. It is a wonderful tool!!!!!!! The books mostly are by Karen Pryor. Our puppy is very shy and we just this weekend took him to a puppy play group where he didn't want to go in the door! We started slow and clicked/treated for him taking a treat from a stranger, then for sniffing a stranger with no food, then for allowing the stranger to briefly touch him and finally for allowing himself to get a full body petting!!!! All this in only one hour! We will go agian next Sat. and work on him being ok right "off the bat" as we enter the shop and also with strangers just walking up to him with no "intro" time. He is a show pup and he needs to allow the judge to just walk up and touch him with out tucking tail and hiding. Oh....I used a hot dog, small bits....only used 3/4 of a hotdog in the hour.

Hope that helps some....good luck!

 

[airhead]

Hi,just wondering how your dog is doing? It will get better and some gave great advice(keeping a long lead on your dog while you're home gives you all the power!).
Hope he's doing better!

 

[JoNo]

a little off-topic but I was at old navy the other week and they had their dog toys like 75% off! I bought about 10 for my dog (she's a hardcore chewer too.... she chewed INTO A WALL once) and as she goes through them I give her a new one. I ALSO have a mickey Radial & A KONG. She loves both of them and they've lasted her forever!

I agree with everyone else, crate crate crate!