Help, Dogs Chewing!!!

[howlyip]

So far from what I have read in this forum is some ideas to help beyond_me with some chewing isues, but everybody has agreed that she needs to work on becoming the alpha in her dogs pack.

How about some ideas and tricks and training that she can do to become alpha first, rolled into some ideas on stopping chewing.

I myself understand not being able to afford a trainer, I had 4 dogs (3 rescues), worked 12 hours a day, and my husband wasn't fond of the dogs in the first place, just because one was potty training, one was digging and the other two barked.
How in the world would I be able to convince him we needed a trainer? I couldn't, so I joined up on a board like this and started getting tips. NOT ONCE, was I told to get rid of them. When someone is asking for help, help them, find the real issue, which in the case for beyond_me seems to be becoming the alpha, and from there learning some tricks.

There was someone who helped, saying that she goes through the door first, eat firsts, etc. All these are great but there has to other things to help speed this process along. I do agree that beyond_me needs to work on knowing that some things she may just need to suck up and do to get this to start working. Dogs are the most forgiving creatures I know, they also adapt extremely well if given the chance. They will love you no matter what. They desire to have someone be in charge, therefore making the rules set before them easier to follow. They won't have to worry if what they do is wrong, because they will learn exactly what is wrong and what is right.

Beyond_me, I suggest some reading that was brought up earlier, start to change your way of thinking on what dogs truly need to do it right. My dogs have had to learn some rules set forth by my husband, and they have adapted, even my 10 year old at the time. She stills loves me uncontrollably and always will.

So please, I think the question asked is, what are some tricks that will help beyond_me become alpha, and while this is going on, besides exercise what else can be done to help stop the chewing???

With these dogs being rescues, and so young, who knows what there life was like before. You are starting from scratch. It will happen, just become open to a few ideas, try them and see what happens.

[howlyip]

[URL=http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/nothingfree.htm]

[URL=http://www.sspca.org/Dogs_TANSTAAFL.html]

This shows the basics of NILIF "Nothing in life is free" It works, but it's a big change from where you are, but it works. I will try to find some more web sites on this to give you more information.

[bckrazy]

Hrm. Howlyip, I never said she should re-home them. But, she should ABSOLUTELY do something, soon. If it's really straining her marriage and her life, she wants to go forward in baby steps, and the dogs are unhappy/in danger, this should be taken pretty seriously.

I think that, since more exercise and time spent playing with the dogs is not do-able, they really need to be safe first and foremost. Chewing up wood and spa covers isn't safe!!! It'll result in painful chipped teeth or blockages, easily. I think the dogs should be in a secure, dog-proofed zone when not supervised. A dog run/pen or a secure area in the house with NOTHING there to chew on.

Honestly, a behaviorist costs about $75-100 per hour. Just one hour giving the behaviorist your history and situation, and him/her giving you advice for your personal situation, could help a LOT! Otherwise, read up on everything you can, get and plan, and DO IT. Could your husband run with the dogs in the morning before he leaves? Could you take them in the yard and play with them for 20-30 minutes and tire them out? Could you hire a private dog-walker, who charges reasonable fees for a number of dogs (I've seen some that charge $10 for a jog/walk, and small fees for each additional dog)? There are lots of things you can do to eliminate the strain on you and the strain on your dogs right now.

[Dixieland Dancer]

I DID mention that I though she should consider rehoming the one dog earlier in this thread if she was not able to spend more time with it. This was said because she stated she didn't have the time for the dog and was spending long hours away from home. The dog is 10 months old and still not housebroken! But that's not my primary concern. The dog being so destructive is. It is not a safe environment for the dog and she may come home to a seriously sick dog or worse, some day.

This is not a case where learning tricks is going to make the dog safe. This is a case of a dog being bored and finding something to do with it's time while the owner is away. The only solution is to stimulate the dog physically and mentally so that when she is gone, the dog will rest instead of destroy. Several people have given suggestions but I have heard many excuses on why these suggestions can not be done. She would find a way, no matter what, if it was a top priority. I have also made my comments knowing that this is a big enough subject to cause friction in her marriage. So I stand by if she doesn't exercise and mentally stimulate the dog more, the problem will not go away and may become a serious issue. If it was my dog and I knew I was not able to give the dog what it needed, I would find it a home where someone could. I did not say take it to the shelter.... I said actually find a loving home for it! I am a dog trainer and know that this situation would require a lot of my time and committment but foremost would be exercise and mental stimulation. Learning obedience is the mental stimulation and there is tons of information on how to do that available. Only she can exercise the dog properly and she admits she doesn't have the time to do that.

There are ample suggestions for improvement in the situation. She now has to take action!

[beyond_me]

Spaz is 10 months old but I've only had her about a month and a half, and she has been on antibiotics and she had 2 dips for mange that really set her back. She had been doing good but everytime I did a dip she got really messed up, depressed, sick and started peeing again, but I have stopped the dips and am doing other things that are a lot better, so she is a lot better now. Also I understand that I'm not hore as much as I would like to be, but I try to do my shopping during my break, and try not to do anything after work so that I am home with my dogs. I even try and stay home all weekends and hang out with them.
Also finding a good home is hard. Everyone who loves dogs already has enough. I would rather try and work with her then to find home after home for her. If the first home I gave her to didn't work, then she would just keep going different places and get stressed out which is bad for her demodex. She has Tick Fever which is why she has demodex but stress makes it worst. I know she can tell that we have been stressed with them chewing and I know that stresses her out, but lately they have been doing really good and we are doing better with them also. She is very happy where she is at. I would hate to make her go from home to home till she found 1 that would keep her. She's a lover and very smart. She has an awesome nose. But with her breed it is asking for the wrong person to want her. I know chewing is dangerous, they haven't been doing that for the last week. That is when we really started to wear them out walking, not just going for a walk, it has helped. I love all my dogs, and I only want is best for them, and I am working on that!

[Dixieland Dancer]

I'm glad things are working out. Please note, I only suggested rehoming her if you didn't or couldn't find more time to exercise her. If you can manage, I would never want to you get rid of her. It's just that I've seen first hand the stress a dog who is bored can put on a family and the danger it poses to itself. Exercise and mental stimulation are this particular dogs greatest needs. As long as you address these two needs, she will turn out to be a great dog!

[beyond_me]

Thank you. I understand now what you were saying, and I totally know how much stress it can be on a marriage. Lucky for me and my hubby we are working things out, and it's teaching us even to be better at talking and explainging what we are thinken, so in the end I think it will be a good thing. I just need to get her to stop chewing for her sake and ours, and it seems like things are getting better!!!
I think she will be awesome also. I think the main problem was I hadn't gotten Cali to totally stop chewing before I got Spaz. Now I'm having to work with two dogs, but they are getting better.
I am wondering, is there anyway to give a dog a chore to do when you are gone? I know they have kongs and you can fill those up with treats and peanut butter to have them do that, but I don't want to do that when I am gone. It might be a dumb question but can they know that they need to do something before you get home, kinda like I know I have to do so much at work before I can go home?
Anyway if anyone has a cool idea or game that I can do to teach my dogs to only chew on their toys that would be great!!!