Help, Dogs Chewing!!!

Please help. I have a 4 year old Boxer, 1 year old Am Staff, and a new 10 month old Pitt/Lab mix. The Am Staff, and Pit/Lab were strays so I got them when they were both about 8 months old. They are chewing us out of our not even a year old house. What do I need to do? They are now stuck in the kitchen with a dog door that goes outside. I wish I could Kennel them till I have more time to train but we can be gone between 8-14 hours and I would hate to do that. The mix is in the kennel at night because she hasn't learned not to potty in the house at night. What are somethings I can do that will stop them from chewing? They have chewed our spa cover, actual spa, couches, pillow, walls, cabinets, wood, grill, shoes, cloths, you name it. We put up a door thing so that they can only be in the kitchen and back yard when we are gone but they like our cabinets, spa, grill, wood, and everything else that is outside and in the kitchen. I have bitter apple and use it on my cabinets, but what can I do that will actully make them stop chewing on everything, and only chew on there toys. They have a lot of toys, but nothing soft or made of cotton. They eat the cotton and I don't want to teach them that cotton stuff is okay. I have kongs, bones and anything that is more indestructable. I can't put food in the k ong though because my Am Staff would prob start something over the treat. What should I do??? Please help. :( :( :(

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Originally Posted by beyond_me

I wish I could Kennel them till I have more time to train but we can be gone between 8-14 hours and I would hate to do that. The mix is in the kennel at night because she hasn't learned not to potty in the house at night. What are somethings I can do that will stop them from chewing?

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I'm sorry you are having this problem but until you make more time for the dogs, you will continue to have the problem. The two that are being destructive sound like they are doing it out of boredom and frustration. They do not sound like they are exercised properly for the breeds of dogs that they are and they are definitely not stimulated enough mentally.

Both of these dogs are just doing something to entertain themselves in your lengthy delays of not being home with them. If you want to see improvements in their behavior you are going to have to make the time to exercise them (even if it's just a brisk walk) for atleast 30 - 40 minutes before you leave them alone. Then you are going to have to stimulate them with some sort of job. By this I mean they need to learn they have to work for their keep. Obedience classes can be a benifit for helping you learn how to make them work for their rewards.

In my honest opinion, it is the trainers fault if a 10 month old dog is not housebroken. This does lead me to believe these dogs do not have enough of your time. Until you make more time to be with them and exercise them more, you will continue to be frustrated. Bitter Apple was not meant to be the substitute for lack of daily and thorough excercise.

You need to give your animals plenty time. And you also have breeds that especially need this.

I found Chilli was a good way to help in training my Holly not to chew, I would mix it in Petroleum jelly and stick it to my reticulation (she had a particular fancy for this), but the true solution was to keep her routine regular with plenty of excercise and alternative chewing exercise. I kept plenty of bones on standby. Excerise is the key, take them out before you go to work and let them burn some fuel, it'll be good for you too! Can you arrange for a dog walker or someone to give them some play time if you really are stuck?

Given that they are strays you haven't had the chance to train them since the were young but they are still at the perfect age to train them, you'll need to be patient and persistant. They're going through some tough times with not being able to be with you, cos your the top dog.

Good Luck with it all. I'm sure you'll get through it. Give them plenty of love and time and all will be well.

I also have a couple of active dogs (the Setter/Blue Heeler mix especially) and am gone a lot for work (also 12-15 hours a day). What works for me is putting them in a large dog lot during the day when I am not home, and bringing them in when I am home so we can play, etc. They have all day to play together and run around in the pen, and they still love to play with me, since it is then a special treat to get to spend time with the 'pack leader', (which authority I established when they were very young by methods described in most positive-reinforcement training books, etc). This is very important to the way my dogs relate to me. If I don't have them thinking I'm the boss, they would never be obedient or trainable.

When it's bad weather, they get to stay in the house alone, and are not usually destructive, since they haven't gotten too pent up. Unfortunately, if we have a week of bad weather or something, by the 4th or 5th day, we may have some minor destruction (pillow stuffing on the floor, etc). I just try to keep anything valuable away from them if I know they're starting to get pent up and bored.

Good luck with yours

Thank you for your replys Dixieland Dancer, jojo and VTJess03. I do take them for a walk at night when I get home from work. I get up at 5:00 and leave at 6:00, so I don't have to much time to take them in the morning. The Am Staff "Calli" wouldn't want to go in the morning anyways. She isn't a morning girl. I know that they are very high strung dogs. Two of them were strays that I picked up, so I dodn't go out looking for them. But I totally fell in love with them. They are my babies. I know I don't have that much time, with house chores and everything I have to take care of, but I do try and make time whenever I can. I have a major fetish with having a clean house, and having 3 dogs and 2 cats and 1 husband you can imagine how much I clean. I think my main problem is that I'm not good at being top dog. I have grown up with dogs all my life with my family. But my papa was top dog. This is my first time with dogs that are all mine. So I am having a hard time. My first dog growing up was a wolf hybrid. I was never top dog with her, she was. So I think that is my main problem, but I am working on that. Spaz my 10 month old also has tick fever and demodex. So that has been fun. She had been getting dips but I stopped because it was really messing with her. She has been doing a lot better with potty training now. I'm just not good at training. I'm still learning. I like to play and have fun, not train and command. But they are learning and doing a little better. I just try to keep everything away from then and cover everything I can't keep away. But I was just wondering if you know of any tricks I can play with them that will help. Right now if they grab something of our's I say "no, bad" and then give them their toys and say "good girls"!!! I think it is helping a little. I just started though. Spaz is also a jumper, so I am trying to teach her to give ten when I want her to jump, but to stay down when I don't. That has helped to. But if you could give me anymore ideas about ways to make learning not to chew fun that would be much appreciated. :)

I think that the best tip I can offer on learning to be top dog and playing games that teach is to invest in a book or obedience classes.

I can recommend Gwen Bailey's book Adopt the Perfect Dog for your situation. I used this book's techniques with my bluetick coonhound who was about 6 or 8 months old when we adopted her and I have managed to housetrain her and get her to sit and sometimes lie down (it's incredibly difficult to get the attention of a dog that is so scent-oriented for verbal commands). Our other dog we got as a puppy, and I had used the same author's book The Perfect Puppy to train her. I had to look at Amazon to remember the author's name, and noticed that they have the first book on sale right now for about $14.

By reading and learning about dog behavior, pack behavior, etc. it really helps to understand what types of training work best for the different dog personalities. I have actually started to take Belle (our setter/heeler mix) to obedience class on my free time (what's that?) on Saturdays to work on some problems like pulling on the leash and not coming when called. I find that it is really helpful to have outside advice on things I have a hard time with. It seems like sometimes other people (with much more experience) have an easier time seeing the root of the behavioral problems for what they are and can help with solutions.

Thank you I'll have to look into getting those books!!! :)

Maybe a little help from your mate would give you more time with the dogs. Or you may need to lower your cleaning standards some until you can train the dogs better. Eventually you could go back to your usually standards.

I am a cleaning nut. (My daughter thinks I'm crazy). But some days I just overlook the dust and clutter and give the animals what they need.


(I live alone, have 3 dogs and 12 cats)

Husbands clean??? He helps sum but makes fun of me so not so much. I wish he would help with the animals a little more but right now he's not so happy with them. He wasn't sure her wanted any animals, so he is a little over whelmed and with Spaz being sick her vet bills are kinda high, so he's not to happy. He's trying to understand the bills and everything getting chewed up but it's hard. Right now I have to give Spaz a bath every 2-3days because of demodex and then I just spray down my other dogs, so that helps with dirt. But I'm learning how to do better with the dogs. I'm the type that always gives treats. My husband makes fun that the dogs are thinken "I pee on the floor get put outside, come back in and get a treat." That's not what I do, but close. So I'm working on how I need to do things. I just got a little to ahead of myself with my animals, but I'll make it work!!! :)

I am hoping this doesn't sound too harsh but I really think you are over committed and have too many dogs for your circumstances. First, you already realize you are not "top dog" in your pack. Second, you have a husband who doesn't help with the dogs and third, you have too many dogs for the long hours of work you put in. If you can't spend the time with them that they require, then perhaps they need to be rehomed into an environment that has the time to devote to their needs.

Your dog(s) being destructive is a sign that they are not being exercised and trained properly and unless you can devote more time to exercise and training, your problem will not go away and it could become a stumbling block in your marriage. From my own experience of training dogs there are certain dogs that are more high maintenance than others and it sounds like you have at least one. I own two and know that with everything else going on in my life, it would not be fair to bring another one into our house even though I would love to. I say that knowing that I am top dog in my house and that I do know how to train dogs. I can imagine someone who is just learning and has three, at least one who is very high maintenance.

Please know that I am not saying this to be critical. I am just stating the obvious and thinking of not only the dogs well being but also yours. It is very hard to worry about what you are going to find when you come home when there is a destructive dog in the house. It would be different if your husband was more active with the dogs and could help out but I also come from that environment and know that it probably won't change.

Maybe you could point out to your husband that there would be less chewing, etc. if he could spend time with the dogs. Besides, the dogs need to know that he's alpha to them, just as you are.

In the meantime, and under your breath, keep saying "and this too shall pass!" over and over and over......... :D

You are right. I know I prob bit off more than I could chew, that is why I am asking for idea's on what to do. My husband does help, he's just not as as much of a push over as me, but he does love them. The dogs do know that he is alpha. They listen to him and do really good with him. I'm the one that deals with them the most though so I need to start being alpha. It has caused some problems with our relationship, but we are working though it and doing a lot better!!! :) I didn't want 3 dogs. I was happy with two and working with Cali. Then I saw a stray that was a sweet heart and had to stop. I have seen to many dead dogs on the road that I couldn't drive by. She didn't have a micro-chip and I never saw any signs for anyone looking for her so I tried to get her a home but the girl who took her was wanting to breed her (which I am against because there are already to many dogs that don't have homes) and she didn't have money to pay her apartment bill for having an animal but could get her a $25 collar that said (b*tch). I know that I'm not the best home,but I love them, and where I live it is hard to find a loving home with her breed!!! Everyone breeds them, fights them, or just leaves them in the back yard in 120 degree weather!!! I don't think so. And every one that I know that are good to there dogs already have 3-5 dogs. I love all my dogs and I'm going to make it work. I am working with them and learning what works best for teaching them. I was just looking for idea's from people that have gone through it. No body wants a dog with tick fever and mange, but I do because I love her, and I don't want to worry about her being taken care of. With me I know that she is getting her medication, vitamins and baths. She's learning, and so am I!!!
oh "and this too shall pass" is my fav saying!!! :)

Remember firmness is they key in disciplining your dogs. Use a Low "BAH" (keep your tone low) when you catch them in the act doing something you don't like, and use a high pitch praise when they respond to your commands and appropriate behaviour.

For jumpers it can be of benefit to ignore that behaviour and wait for the animal to become more settled before you give them special attention, especially if it is in greeting (visitors, or you've come home from work etc), ask your guests to abide by this as well. Give them the appropriate commands. Teach your animal by rewarding the best behaviour, with treats and praise, and though you may think you are not the top dog, if you are persistant, you will realise that it is so much easier than you originally thought. ;). Remember they're still young and full of energy!

I personally had to raise a staffordshire bull terrior with a heart defect, as well as my weimeraner, so I understand the time and attention this requires, as well as the cost. But you have made the committment to these animals, so my belief is to follow through. I know you will try your hardest, but you need to be realistic as well, don't compromise your family and your animals sanity if you really cannot cope well enough. Do try and get assistance, but know your limits.

Good luck.

Thank you jojo!!! :)

I hasve a very active 7 month old Shep/Chow and even the walks are not enough I take about an hour severasl times a day and have time w/him working from home makes it that way at times it is not easy. When we started that he was chewing all the time I got some hooves and he loves them to the poing he knows when it's our time and he will bring it to me where ever I am, correct and direct is the way to go .. if he has toys use them as well

rennie