Advice to stop a puppy chewing?

1. 76

   IzzyMposted 14 years ago

   Anyone got any? Patchy, not content with chewing my plant pots in the yard (I had several hundred)has taken to chewing the settee throws in the night while we are sleeping. He's almost 7 months old. We know he is teething. What can we give him to stop him from chewing things he isn't supposed to chew?

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      recommend1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I used those hide bones - dried strips of cow or pig skin that take them all night to chew.  They turn into a soggy mess if the dog can't completely get through them - but that better than the furniture slowly disappearing.  Then you can reinforce the telling off with the offer of an alternative.

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      1. 76

         IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks I was wondering if something like that would work. I know the hide bones you mean. Will get some as soon as.

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   2. 60

      Vivian Gomezposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      ice cubes! it will numb the pain. good luck!

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      1. 76

         IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Vivien, but he is really  a happy little dog who never complains. He only chews when we are sleeping, apart from his taste for plant pots.

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      pylos26posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Chop its tail off...right behind the ears. just kidding.

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2. 41

   Mikeydoesposted 14 years ago

   Catching them in the act is always good. Act really crazy, put on a show if you want. You might not even have to act depending on whats being chewed!
   
   I'd say bones are a great idea. My dogs pictured never chewed(just realized this).. But my oldest one (not pictured) used to chew everything up, but bones quickly fixed it. Not only that, it keeps their teeth clean and the breath kind of in check.

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   1. 76

      IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I am usually up until at least 4am and he is sleeping when I go to bed. My partner gets up at 9am and the damage is done. I think I should stay up till 6am and the day shift should take over!

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3. 61

   ediggityposted 14 years ago

   Bitter Apple.
   
   http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j … Id=2754400

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   1. 76

      IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That's a product to spray on the furniture to deter him? Hmmm...sound ground up black pepper, or even better some chilli seeds scattered around, might do the job cheaper. The poor wee soul needs something to chew. Bones or chews sound a better idea!

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      1. 67

         Sarah Griffithposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Where is he during the night? At 7 months he's probably not old enough to have free range in a room unsupervised. If he's chewing than he's obviously not sleeping, do you think his sleep schedule could be off? He could be sleeping too much during the day. It really helps if he has the same schedule every night. If he's only chewing at night, he might just be bored.
         I've used bitter apple on wood furniture and it worked great but not so well on fabric. For the chewing, try getting marrow bones, stuff them with wet dog food and freeze them. The cold helps sooth his gums and it takes a while to eat so it's a good activity.

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4. 76

   IzzyMposted 14 years ago

   Thanks Sarah, sounds like a good idea

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5. 59

   Annie Emposted 14 years ago

   We have a year old Black Lab and he chews incessantly.
   
   One of the best things we found are the 'plastic' bones you can get from pet shops, (not the rubber ones - he just chews those into little pieces)They are virtually indestructible and come either beef or chicken flavoured. In the UK, they are around the £5 - £10 mark, depending on the size that would be right for your puppy. Murphy has a sensitive tummy and the rawhide type chews used to upset him (not pleasant!).
   
   I think he is still a little bit too young to be trusted on his own at night. Try introducing a crate for nightime. Murphy loves his - we turned it into a kind of den, with his bed inside and a cover over the top etc. It did take him a little while to settle in there happily,  but we found an old unwashed t-shirt comforted him. He gets crated at night, with at least one chew bone to keep him amused - which saves the table legs etc!
   
   In the meantime, a very firm "no!" Good luck.

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6. 70

   Aiden Robertsposted 14 years ago

   Hi Izzy
   
   Drives you mad doesn't it.
   
   Ice cubes were a favourite if mine, Kong dog toys with a taste of something nice inside usually keep them busy for hours. You could try a cage if you haven't already or maybe a goos run before bed and pray he sleeps right through.
   
   Good luck it should pass.

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7. 65

   Greek Oneposted 14 years ago

   i'm not a vet.. but how about removing teeth?
   
   My grandpa can't even eat soup without his dentures on

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   1. 76

      IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      

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8. 70

   Hugh Williamsonposted 14 years ago

   Puppy chewing isn't really a behavioral problem -- it's just what they do at that age, esp. when they're teething.
   
   As was suggested, you should begin crate training and it's best started at night, when the puppy's tired anyway.
   
   Good Luck.

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9. 76

   IzzyMposted 14 years ago

   Thanks for the advice everyone. It'll pass as he gets older, and ice cubes are a great idea.
   I found the best way to stop it is to kick the other half out of bed at 6am to keep an eye on him!

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10. 74

    chirlsposted 14 years ago

    Sounds like you have received some good advice. My puppy is around the same age, and he's not a big chewer now although he used to be worse. When he was teething really badly we used to fill one of those rubber Kongs with peanut butter and stick it in the freezer for a few hours or overnight then give it to him. He loved it and would chew on it for ages. Even though he's a bit less of a chewer now, we still make sure he always has some rawhide or other chew toy to gnaw on.
    Getting your other half to keep an eye on him is a good strategy, too!

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11. 49

    Purple Perlposted 14 years ago

    Just get him some chewsticks from the pharmacy. Mine stopped chewing slippers and all else once he got to play with chew toys and nibbled on his edible chewsticks,chicken and beef flavored.

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    1. 60

       Friendlywordposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       You don't know teething till you have a pit bull puppy. Chew toys! HA HA! They disappear in minutes. She has a foot long, brick hard beef bone now; she stays occupied for hours trying to eat it up. She is so happy and healthy with her bone. But, she still has a taste for my new shoes. The only thing I can do is keep everything I want to keep, out of her sight and reach.

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