Help, Dogs Chewing!!!

What an interesting idea.... ok guys, have the dishes clean and the rugs vacumned before I get home! Nope, I don't think it's gonna happen! :(

I used a round buster cube for mine when they were teething and filled with energy. I filled it with their morning ration of kibble with the opening rather small and then I would put them in their crate. They would push it around getting all the food out and it took them a good 1/2 hour or so. I actually did this even when I was home. That's about the only job they had when I was away other than sleeping! I'm interested to see what other jobs people give their dogs when their home alone. :D

I think this has to be a chore that doesn't involve food. I think I remember beyond_me mentioning something about being nervous with the other dog and food when they weren't home. Besides, with these breeds, food really shouldn't be given when they are not supervised.

The idea of a chore sounds great, I will have to think on this.

Dixieland Dancer, I am curious, as a trainer, how often do you run into people who don't have the time all the time to train there dogs perfectly?? What do you suggest to them??

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Originally Posted by beyond_me

not everyone can afford a trainer!!! :(

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Sooo.... its cheaper to replace all the items they broke and destroyed from chewing and jumping than to pay for a trainer?

I'm going today to get my dog training certificate. I've worked hard the past few months and let me tell you, training is NOT as expensive as people initially think. Get past the fee for the class and realize that this could help you save your sanity and you'll come to enjoy living with your dogs again. If that happens, how can you put a price on that?

As for the tips... honestly I didn't read through this whole hoopla. There are dozens of ideas and theories as to how to get your dog to stop jumping up. All require the same thing: consistency, consistency, consistency.

And DD is right -- give them something in the crate to keep them busy. They need to be mentally stimulated, and something like a Kong (you don't load it with food, just a spoonful is plenty) is awesome to keep them entertained while you're not there. A dog that is mentally active instead of bored all the time will be less likely to have severe beahvioral issues

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Originally Posted by howlyip

Dixieland Dancer, I am curious, as a trainer, how often do you run into people who don't have the time all the time to train there dogs perfectly?? What do you suggest to them??

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Personally, I find there are those who will make the time, no matter what time they have to invest, because they have their dogs best interest at heart. We are only talking about a minimal amount of time a day. Then there are those who will find every excuse possible on why they can't train their dogs or why their dogs are not learning. Every dog is trainable if the handler makes the committment. I work with anyone who is willing to invest the time to learn. I also work with the handlers who don't make the effort as long as they at least make the attempt to show up for class even though it sometimes gets frustrating because I can see the dogs potential. The effort I'm referring to is working with their dogs in out of class situations or in other words, homework.

I never expect a handler to have a "perfect" dog. Even those who have been training for years and know what they are doing seldom have a perfect dog. However, it is not unrealistic to expect a dog who understands the pack heirarchy and will listen to the pack leaders basic commands (even if they are not performed perfectly) instead of the dog being out of control. I always place safety for the dog and the handler at a top priority. In some instances, I have even taken the dogs and trained them personally. This is usually only in extreme cases where the handler just isn't able to grasp the pack leader concept even though they are trying and it is a matter of the dogs life and safety.

Some people should not be dog owners. In those circumstances, I go out of my way to work for the dogs well being, even if it means rehoming it. I do rescue and have helped place many dogs in new homes. Even online, I have given suggestions to many people but this is a harder forum to work with since I can't give one on one demonstrations to get some points across. However, I still try as time permits.

In this threads instance, I have given my opinions that I believe the dogs are bored and unstimulated. It is a safety issue but I have done all I can by providing information (along with others). The rest is up to the owner. Now, it comes down to how much she wants the dogs safety. If she has further questions, I am willing to answer if possible. I hope this answered your question. ;)

It's been my experience that less time training, but with more frequency is a better approach, then long periods of training time at one shot. When teaching a new command, I've never spent more then 5 mins at a time, but I do train every day. That way they're getting the repetition to learn something, but we're stopping before either one of us can get frustrated or bored. Training always ends on a high that way and becomes fun.

Once they have a command, I just integrate that into everyday life. So for example, once they know what "Sit" means, I'll have them "Sit" before they go outside or "Sit" before they get their dinner. This just takes consistency, not time. It only takes a couple of seconds to say "Sit" and have them do it, before you place their dinner down.

I've been working with my Collie, Gull to learn to weave through weave poles. It's a complex behavior for a dog to learn. I've been in agility classes, where I've found that quite a few ppl train this like 30 mins at a time and they were quite surprised to learn that I only trained this task for around minute a day.

Gull did not pick up this behavior as quickly as my first Collie, Oz and I have to admit I had momentary thoughts that he's just not going to get this. But I stuck to my training philosophy, practice everyday, but only 1 minute. After about a week, out of nowhere, I noticed the lightbulb went on for him. He got the concept. We still have a ways to go to fade out the lure, but I've no doubt he'll get there. And on the plus side, he does it with joy and speed, because of short training times, it's viewed as fun vs a chore.

Anywho, I think people have this wrong view that you have to train for excruciately long periods to get anywhere and I think that actually has the opposite effect. Train everyday, keep it short and fun. You'll be amazed at the results.

Par...

Thank you ParNone!!! I can totally see how that would work. If you sit ther and keep trying to get them to do something and they don't get it, it gets very fustrating.
Also I do spend all my time that I can with my dogs. I do have to work to make money to keep them though. This weekend they were not left home alone at all. I swear the weekend was all about them. And that is what I try to do all the time I can. I work an hour aways from home so that is 2hours and then usullay we work 9-11 hours, but when we come home I spend most of my time with them. I have to give Spaz her meds, give her a bath every other day, and give my other dogs their attention, cook dinner, and try to keep things organized. I know everyone has things to do, but I don't know where you got that I don't want to spend time with my dogs. I just work a lot, but other then that I am with them most of the time!!! Also I don't want them to clean the house (even though I tell them that if they wanted to they could:)) I mean just something that doesn't have to do with food that will keep them busy. Just a question, doesn't have to be something that can have an answer, just something I am wondering.
I worked at a dog day care and I have met many dogs that have had training and are worst them my dogs will ever be. Also I haven't really had any good reason to get a behaviorist. A family rescued a golden and took it to day care a couple of times, then over the weekend I guess the dog nipped on of the kids. The first thing the behaviorist told them was to put the dog down. Not try to find a home with out kids, not work with the dog. So they put it down before they even told us (people at the day care that could have helped to find a home). So I'm not ready to go spend money and have nothing change. I know trained aren't only traing there dog but also the owner, so I just need some advice and I can do it myself.
Also DD what makes a person not fit to have a dog?

I can totally relate to the time at work thing. I am working 1-1/2 hours from home right now, 5 days/week, and my Saturdays are being taken up with 4-H leadership, (new) obedience class, and trying to catch up on housework. Sundays are for church, and Sunday afternoons are for my husband and my critters. I do the 5-10 minute approach at least 2 or 3 times each evening, and at least 1 or 2 times in the mornings before I leave. Pretty much any time I'm home, I work my dogs in.

For example, I'm fixing dinner and my dogs are at the other end of the house...I call them with my recall command, and treat them if they come like they're supposed to.

If it's bad weather, I'm usually home with them because my job is an outdoor job (construction-related) and I don't have work if it's raining, etc. This does allow me to work with my dogs more often than some people who also keep 12 hour days. (actually, last week, I logged 17 hours on one day).

I just want to encourage you that you can have obedient, loving dogs that behave when you're away, even if your job keeps you gone most of the time. ;)

Also, I find that if I leave them with something to do (rawhide chews or something) they usually leave them alone until I get home again, then take them out to finish the activity...it's strange, but that's the way they act.

I just got them 10 Hooves, and gave them 5 last night. They haven't chewed anything up so far this week!!! :) My husband was determined to leave things in the back yard, so he had to work on Sunday so I went through everything and dog proofed everything that I could.
Also they have been doing a lot better with manners. My husband has been working with them and it is working really well. The thing though is they listen to him, not so much me, but I'm working with them to. I just can't get the voice right that gets them to listen like my husband can. They are use to me cheering them on when they are good, not really getting them to stop doing things that they shouldn't, but they are a lot better. Thanks for everything!!! :)

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Originally Posted by howlyip

Dixieland Dancer, I am curious, as a trainer, how often do you run into people who don't have the time all the time to train there dogs perfectly?? What do you suggest to them??

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My husband and I both work full time, and I do a lot of volunteer work outside of the house. We MADE time. We don't have a lot of money so we saved up the $85.00 fee for Roscoe's obedience class. We also drove 35 minutes to get to his class. No, it's not always possible to train your dog 'perfectly' but it certainly is possible to work a lot with them if you love them.


I don't know if I can really give any advice other than what has already been said. Roscoe has never really had problem with chewing (at least not since we got him, but he was already 3 1/2 so maybe he was past that). Roscoe does have seperation anxiety though, and I tried giving him a kong, but he's not interested in it. I have heard that kongs work great with other people though, so it might be worth it to give it a shot. Have you considered crating your dog also? That might help. Good luck! :D