Help Me Not to Kill My Dog

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I was away for about three hours and when I came back one of my puppies had ripped up part of my carpet and had obviously eaten and regurgitated some of it. Right now the damage appears minimal, but this cannot happen again.

I am going to spray some bitter apple on it to keep him from doing so again. Any other suggestions? I may have to start crating him when I am away. The crate is actually my bigger dogs crate so he's got room that he can have food and water in there and move around a bit, but I really want to avoid that option if possible. I would like him to be able to continue to have the run of the hallway and to be able to play with the other dog when I'm not home. Help!

 

[Oreo Cookie]

When my yellow lab was a puppy I crate trained him. It I wasn't home, or not able to watch him, he was in the crate. Now, at first, if I would go out, it would be for short periods, then gradually increase them.

I want to say, he got the run of the house at when her was 1.5 years old.

He loves his crate. He'll often go there and just go to sleep. It becomes like their own little secluded cave and they feel safe. He just goes in out of it whenever he feels like it, and we no longer close the door.

Remember, he/she is just a puppy. They have a ton of energy and get bored and anxious. Plus their teething.

Best of luck, I hope it all works out!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

No help here. Kill it... (I kid)

 

[Dax]

I am having dog issues as well..

Honestly, the only way may be to crate...At least yours isnt peeing all over everything, like your DH's pillow!

 

[WDWBarb]

Putting him in a crate isn't cruel unless it's excessive. It may be some time before a puppy is able to remain home alone without being in a crate. My German Shepherd ate a hole in the carpet when she was about 6 months old - I just ran down the road and was gone less than 30 minutes. So she started going into the crate any time we were gone.

She's almost 7 years old now and she still goes into the crate when we leave. We don't close the door - she just prefers being in there. She feels safe there.

 

[christineann]

I feel your pain. Our 6 month old black lab chewed the edge of a carpeted step down to the wood.....I put bitter apple on it, and ten minutes later, he had licked it all off. I am open to suggestions!!!!!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

When my yellow lab was a puppy I crate trained him. It I wasn't home, or not able to watch him, he was in the crate. Now, at first, if I would go out, it would be for short periods, then gradually increase them.

I want to say, he got the run of the house at when her was 1.5 years old.

He loves his crate. He'll often go there and just go to sleep. It becomes like their own little secluded cave and they feel safe. He just goes in out of it whenever he feels like it, and we no longer close the door.

Remember, he/she is just a puppy. They have a ton of energy and get bored and anxious. Plus their teething.

Best of luck, I hope it all works out!

I suppose when I say puppy I should clarify that he is at least a year and a half now. I did crate him originally. They have both had the run of the hallways for several months now, and this just started today. i give them food and water, and several toys including rawhide bones to chew on.

I am having dog issues as well..

Honestly, the only way may be to crate...At least yours isnt peeing all over everything, like your DH's pillow!

Oh, they have both peed on my bed before. I have learned to not procrastinate on doing laundry when I switch my sheets so that I always have a clean set handy. Thankfully I think I have cured them of that bad habit.

 

[dimimi]

We still crate ours. Even when we don't, she still runs into her crate. Now...every once in a while we don't lock her up and every once in a while...she has an accident. Then...she is back in the crate!

 

[Disney Doll]

Crate training.

They are dogs, not people. They aren't doing things to be spiteful or mean or to "get back" at you for some reason.

They pretty much go with their thought of the moment for the most part. If chewing the carpet seems good, then have at it!

Really, as long as you don't leave a dog in a crate for hours at a time, they are fine.

My dog was crate-trained and we would leave the door to it open all the time and sometimes we'd just find him in there of his own volition...it was like his little bedroom.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Crates are the only way to go with puppies.

Personally, I'd be more worried about him having eaten carpet (his poor little tummy) than the carpet. Although I'd be fuming over that, too. Hey, I have a nice view of the cement floor under the carpeting thanks to our former boxer/lab mix.

 

[goofy!]

The crate is your friend. It is not cruel at all .

Our dogs are 7 and 11 and still go in their crates occasionally and they are still always fed in them. It is safe for them there and they love their "dens".

Your dog could get very ill eating something like carpet. For their safety and your peace of mind, it is much better to crate them when you cannot watch them. Much better than to come home and have to make an emergency trip to the vet because the dog is bloating (usually fatal) due to foreign materials in their stomach.

 

[chager]

Personally I would crate him. Our Aussie was 18months before we could trust her for short periods out of a crate. She is 2 1/2 now and isn't crated anymore. Try to think of him as a small child. Would you leave a 2 yr old on his own in the house? Of course crating is not an option for children, but it is how I always thought of Gabby as a puppy. She is a teenager now so she gets a little more freedom in the house. When I do overnight care or short term doggy sitting the visitor stays in a crate over night and if I have to leave the house. That way I know our visitor is safe and my other animals are safe too.
We have an older dog to, Gabby survived being crated even when Sasha wasn't. Good luck!

 

[crz4mm2]

Another crate fan here.
Ours are 4 and 3 years old. They still go in their crates when we are gone.
Safety for them and safety for our home!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

If that dog is chewing, even if its 10 years old, it needs to be in a crate.

When teaching obedience class, we had a family who didn't show up for a while, they didn't believe in crating. The other instructor called the family, and while the family was gone , the dog chewed a wire behind the dryer and electricuted itself.

Please crate your dogs.

 

[Vexorg]

My parents' two Beagles were crated for a couple of years when the people were away, but they've "outgrown" it now, and are just fine staying out when nobody is around now. It is still necessary to put one of the two in the crate when we eat to keep her from constantly trying to steal food (the other one is usually OK) but other than that we haven't had any problems with them in quite a while.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dogs were crated until they were 2 years old whenever we left.

They were both the same age and would get into mischief otherwise.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[christineann]

Our pup is crate trained - he chews when we are home and aren't looking. He has lots of toys, chewy bones, etc. He's just mischievous.....very cute, and very mischievous

 

[Oreo Cookie]

I suppose when I say puppy I should clarify that he is at least a year and a half now. I did crate him originally. They have both had the run of the hallways for several months now, and this just started today. i give them food and water, and several toys including rawhide bones to chew on.

Oh, they have both peed on my bed before. I have learned to not procrastinate on doing laundry when I switch my sheets so that I always have a clean set handy. Thankfully I think I have cured them of that bad habit.

Maybe he's still to young to be out of the crate. How long are you leaving them home by themselves? If they've had the run of the house for several months now, it's surprising that he would be destructive. Hopefully, this was just a one time issue.

 

[Tinijocaro]

since it seems the only two options are killing or crating, I'd go with crating the dog. We crated ours when we were away for the first year, then we limited the rooms he had access to after that for the next year. now, he has full run and hasn't been in a crate since his first year.