chewing

Citrus007

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#1
Nike has a problem with chewing when I am gone. Everyday its something new. I try to block off everything I can but its impossible to block the living room which is the most important. Today she chewed expensive furniture. I give her chew toys and take her on a walk in the morning(its not long but I honestly can't make it longer) but she ignores the toys even though she likes them when I am home. I tried to spray stuff to keep them off but it didn't work either. Any other suggestions. Would a loose fitting muzzle work/ Please don't jump on me if thats me I have no idea about anything. If I can't come up with a really good solution my dad will make her go in the backyard during the day. He is willing to buy a gate and doghouse but not the expense it costs for a kennel. Since she is my dog mainly I try to pay for as much as I can but it would take me months and months to earn enough money. Any suggestions?
 

Brattina88

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#2
I would confine him to one room until he's reliable ;) you can buy baby gates at garage sales for example that would pretty well ;) I confine new fosters to the kitchen, but any room would work. Also, giving him a puzzle ball, or a Kong would keep him occupied so he's not chewing on something else.
HTH
 

Citrus007

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#3
Can you buy baby gates that go more than a doors length? I gabe her a kong but she never uses it unless im there, even though I praise her for using it.
 

Brattina88

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#4
It depends on the type of baby gate... there are many styles, but most can double their width...

what do you put in your kong? ;)
 

Herschel

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#6
We had this problem for a while: he chewed on everthing, shredded anything he could find, and ripped threads out of the carpet.

It was really bad for a week but we gave him some things to chew on (dehydrated sweet potatoes, edible bones, etc.) and it helped a lot.

We also put cayenne pepper on every place that he would chew or rip up the carpet. He's been pretty reliable lately! :)
 
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#7
We had a dog a couple years ago that chewed on everything. One time even chewed through a set of christmas lights and they were turned on! We would keep her in the kitchen at night blocked off with baby gates but she climbed right up them. My husband even Built a gate for the doorway that was twice as high as a baby gate hoping to keep her in but it didn't work. She'd climb right over that too. After that it was time for a crate.
 

Herschel

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#8
Can you buy baby gates that go more than a doors length? I gabe her a kong but she never uses it unless im there, even though I praise her for using it.
The max I've seen is 42 inches. We have one opening that is 51 inches--we bought an extension to a baby playpen but our dog kept finding ways to get around it. Then I used oak ply and made a door, but my girlfriend left it open too long and it ripped piece of the wall off on its way down!
 

Gillian

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#9
I read on another forum about someone who sprayed cheap perfume on a hanky and popped it into her dog's mouth. He hated the taste of the (dried) perfume and she sprayed it on everything he tried to chew. Apparantly it worked!

I have a baby gate that expands to 2.5 metres. I know it comes from the States but can't remember who makes them. Sorry if this doesn't help, but at least you will know that they are available.

Gillian
 

moxiegrl

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#10
I read on another forum about someone who sprayed cheap perfume on a hanky and popped it into her dog's mouth. He hated the taste of the (dried) perfume and she sprayed it on everything he tried to chew. Apparantly it worked!

I have a baby gate that expands to 2.5 metres. I know it comes from the States but can't remember who makes them. Sorry if this doesn't help, but at least you will know that they are available.

Gillian
I wouldnt do the perfume thing...JMO....
 

Roo92

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#11
I would go with a crate-If you check around you might be able to get one fairly cheap. Crates are a good way of keeping your dog out of trouble while your gone. The idea may sound mean but most dogs actually like their crates because they feel safe and secure in them. You can add pillows, blankets and busy toys to keep your dog content while your gone. I leave the doors open to my two dogs crates when I'm home and they love to go in there and just nap. It's also a good place for me to give them their bones that they chew on so they don't stain or get anything on the carpets. Never give your dog a bone though when your not home to supervise them. It would also be much better than having the dog outside where it might rain or the dog might get lose and get hurt. good luck :)
 

Citrus007

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#12
My dog absoloutly hates crates, I used one this summer but it didn't go over well. Besides my mom doesn't understand that they are good, she thinks its like caging the dog up. I tried to explain it to her but...
 

Roo92

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#13
It can take a dog a little while to get use to one-when mine use to cry at first, I would cover their crate with a blanket and they would stop and just go to sleep. When you tried the crate did you do crate training at all? Give the dog treats when it went in the crate or feed the dog in the crate? Another reason it helps to crate is safety for the dog-what if it gets into something serious and no one is home or ends up choking on something that it's chewing on? I love my dogs but they don't understand when it comes to not chewing on expensive furniture or not eating something that's harmful to them-that's why I crate. So that while I'm gone I know that they are safe and being good at the same time and then I don't have to worry.
 

Citrus007

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#14
She won't go in. I gave her treats, I didn't do crate training perfectly buty I did some. She won't go in all the way for a treat. At first she would and so I would keep feeding her as she was in then slowly built up to shutting the door for a minute with me still beside but after some of this I left her for 2hours and she wouldn't go back in again.
 

Roo92

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#15
Hmmm try feeding her meals inside her crate and give her treats that are really worth it (real meat). What about bones? Do you ever give her raw recreational bones like marrow bones to chew on? You can try giving her the raw bone (frozen last longer) don't leave, just try to get her use to getting special things inside the crate. You want positive association as much as possible. Maybe mine were easier because both of my dogs are part beagle and are very food driven :). Covering it with a blanket might make it feel less like a cage and more like a secure, safe place too. All else fails maybe even try talking to a trainer about some more helpful tips. Don't give up just keep trying :)
 

Herschel

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#16
Roo--my dog loves his crate and he definitely goes in it when he needs it. However, I can't really justify keeping him locked in there all day. It really is like caging an animal.

If he isn't in there, he will play and take a nap when he is ready. If he is stuck in the crate he's forced to sit still and chew on something or go to sleep. For some reason, I feel like the mental stimulation isn't nearly the same as a dog that is free.
 

Roo92

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#17
For me it's not about mental stimulation, it's about safety and knowing that my dogs aren't destroying anything while I'm gone. I give them kongs to chew on while they are in their pens and play with them when I get home. I'm glad that you have a dog that you can trust that doesn't get into things while you’re gone or chews anything of value. However I don't, I have a puppy that just turned 1 yr old and still loves to chew and my beagle mix would be fine out of his pen but since he is dog aggressive and I never know what could happen, I'd rather know he's ok and safe in his pen. It's a matter of responsibility as a dog owner to make sure that I keep them from getting into trouble while I'm not around to watch them.
 

George10

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#18
We have 2 golden's and we have always used crates. We have never had problems with the dogs not going in there, only when puppies of course. My 4 month old is stubborn at times, but with repeated commands, she goes in her kennel everytime (kennel is our command). Both dogs have blankets, pillows, bones, etc....My 7yr old golden actually had an area rug I customer fit for his carpet. To him, it is home, as if he in the family room with us. He loves it!
 

moxiegrl

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#19
Katie loves her crate. She is sleeping in it now w/ the cat. lol. We crated her when we werent home for the first few months we had her, now she's all good.

Just a few things to try if you do crate train: Leave the door open when your home, and put some goodies in it. Let them go in on their own time.

When you do leave them in it, leave them w/ a yummy treat.

Keep a blanket that smells like you in it. We also have her dog bed in there, and toys that she likes.

We only keep the crate out now because she likes it so much, like I said shes no longer locked in while we're gone. I have a feeling she stays in it anyway when we arent here.
 

silverpawz

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#20
She won't go in. I gave her treats, I didn't do crate training perfectly buty I did some. She won't go in all the way for a treat. At first she would and so I would keep feeding her as she was in then slowly built up to shutting the door for a minute with me still beside but after some of this I left her for 2hours and she wouldn't go back in again.
Put her in.
Is there a reason you can't do that? Would she snap or growl if you simply placed her in the crate? Having a dog go in on their own is ideal, but if that's not an option for your pooch, then just put her rump in the crate anyway. She'll get used to it. Praise and reward her a ton while she's in.

Here's a good exercise for getting a dog to want to go in the crate:

Take one bowl with a few kibble pieces inside and one hungry dog
Place the bowl in the crate, toward the back.
Close crate door
Allow the dog to sniff at the crate and get interested.
Wait untill the dog is trying to get into the crate for the food and THEN open the door.
This makes going in the crate her idea.
wash, rinse, repeat.
 

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