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.
Our 1 year old Lab has a bad habit that he started about 3 months ago. Whenever we leave him to himself he would bite the window sill. Sometimes it happens when we are home too. Usually there is at least 1 person home, but that person doesn't pay attention to our dog, so our dog would go to the window and start to chew on it.
For the past three months it has been bite, fix, bite, fix, bite, fix... We started to wonder if we aren't fit to have a dog. We are deciding to find a better home for him, but I'm trying to hold on to the last bit of hope. I really want him to say with us, but I'm probably being selfish. He might have a better life with a better family. Please help. Thanks.
It does sound like he's super bored.
A lab needs up to an hour walk per day. You can split this into two half-hours per day. If you're only doing a half hour three days a week or similar it is not enough.
When you get home can you play fetch or another similar game for 20 minutes? Then 20 more minutes later? Labs love water play as well.
The dog should visit and play with other dogs, like at the dog park, about once a week so he doesn't lose his dog social skills.
It's great that you recognize your limitations with your dog. You can do one of two things: Step up your game and really spend the time with him, or, if this is not possible, find a home for him with someone active.
My dog is an 80 pound pit at 8 months. Yes I know he has mastiff in him to. The only thing he tears apart is his bedding.
This is a different situation.
Chewing on windowsills/doorframes is an obsessive behavior often caused by boredom.
Many normal dogs, however, rip open soft toys or bedding and pull the stuffing out. It's an instinctive hunting related behavior.
This is kind of gross, but- in the wild, a dog pack takes down an animal and opens the abdomen, then removes the internal organs.
You may want to just use old blankets from Goodwill for your dog. No expensive beds or cushions.
Many dogs go through life sleeping on the ground, so they don't really need beds anyway.
I have a 1 year old Jack Russell. He chews glasses and through electronic wires. We've bought him chew toys. The problem is we have 2 other dogs that play with the toys.
I don't know what to do, my family is ready to send him to the pound. I don't want this to happen I love this dog, but I'm frustrated.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.
I have a Dachshund Chihuahua Pug mix puppy with chewing and issues of running off when let out or getting out of the house without a leash. How can I get her to stop these bad behaviors?
I have a 6 year old female Staffy that has only just started to chew. She has decided to start chewing through the plaster wall in my house.
I have no idea why and nothing has changed around the house. She has never chewed before.Staffy may have a medical problem that needs treatment immediately. She may need nutrients she does not get in her diet, may have a medical problem in not absorbing nutrients, etc. Much like children in poor areas who eat non-food items because they are not eating a good diet.
She will not improve so delay will just make her problem worse.
How do I break my 6 year dog, that I just adopted 5 months ago, from tearing holes in comforters. I have tried time out, making her wear the blanket around her neck because the hole fit over her head for 20 minutes, and not allowing her on the bed. Help me this is getting expensive.
By Linda
I doubt your dog understands that what he has done, in your world, is wrong. Dogs chew for many reasons-anxiety, boredom etc. He may have a problem and chewing is a result of his anxiety. He does not connect your "time outs or hanging the comforter around his neck" as a penalty for his chewing. He does not understand your frustration and is probably upset by your treatment.
www.aspca.org/
Our great Dane is 7 months. She stays outside during the day in a wooden kennel. She goes in the garden and chews our sprinkler pipes. How can we make her stop? We tried to close it up with a fence about a meter high. She still goes through.
By Wanda from Worcester
All dogs naturally need to chew. What they chew on can be a problem. This site from WebMD will explain chewing behavior and provide help for your puppy.
pets.webmd.com/
My 3 year old Yorkie chews his bed and blankets. He does not do this when left in the house alone, but will start when I return home, especially if I am on the phone.
By Mary J
Sounds like a form of separation anxiety. He handles your being away because he can't see what you're doing. When you're back, and on the phone, he sees that is what is taking attention away from him.
Why do outside dogs on a leash chew up on anything that it gets to and how can I stop it?
By L.H.
How often does he get off the leash? If he is tied up all the time, the poor dog is bored to tears and is chewing out of frustration. Dogs are social animals and need attention and exercise. Take him for walks and play with him - you might find that solves the problem.
I have a two year old male Pit Bull that chews on my furniture. I had bought a large cage to keep him in all day while I was at work. Then I had felt sorry for him and kept him out during the day while at work, leaving a radio on in one room and a TV in another room. He was fine for a while, but then reverted back to his destructive pattern. Then I would put him back in the cage again, then felt sorry for him, kept him out, then same pattern started all over again.
I purposely have kept one piece of furniture in the house that he keeps destroying, but when I came back home today it was destroyed and I have to throw it out. Honestly I am over it! I can not take this anymore and I am torn about giving him up. Are there any meds I can give him during the day while I am out to keep him chilled and calm? Maybe I need to take some meds to deal with this!By C.V.W.
They are social creatures. He is bored. We all would be too left in a cage all day and home by ourselves. Get a companion for him or give him to a home with multiple dogs or where someone is home all day. Good luck to you and him. :)
Are you walking this dog on a regular basis? He needs one good walk, or a trip to the dog park every day. Do you take time to play with him when you are home on a regular basis? You need to be channeling the energy a energetic young dog has. If you don't have time to do so, the pattern you describe may continue.
A dog requires a consistent commitment of your time on a daily basis. If you don't have the time, look for a home for the dog that does have the time. It may take a while to find the right home, but you will be able to feel like you did the right thing by your dog. Good luck.
