Taggart is chewing wood!

[Giselle]

When he's outside, can you keep him in an ex-pen? That way, he can't reinforce this bad behavior. Remember, wood-chewing is self-reinforcing. Everytime he gets the chance to chew on wood, he rewards himself and he'll do it even more.

So you really have to nip it in the bud: 1) Prevent him from chewing wood at all 2) Provide him with alternatives. You can get creative and stuff with #2 (i.e. I know folks who hang stuffed Kongs from tree branches - talk about FUN!). Just make sure that #1 is met ALL the time, and the behavior will soon disappear

[Cinder & Smoke]

Provide him with alternatives.

Alternative: Give him a big bowl of Cedar Shavings. (Breath otta smell good, too.)

Or, maybe he's Part Beaver?

[Taz_Zoee]

Thanks for the suggestions, but unfortunately they won't work for us.
I'm sure Bruce doesn't want to put metal on his deck. And we do not have an ex-pen large enough, besides he'd probably jump over it anyway.
I did think about somehow blocking off the deck, but that would require more fencing (meaning $$) and someone to do it. I know Bruce wouldn't want to or probably even know how to do it. LOL
It's just going to have to be more supervision, PERIOD. He's going to have to check on them more often while they are out there. Honestly, I haven't caught him too many times chewing. So I think there may be hope yet. And I'm still going to get more outside toys.

Thanks again everyone. I was hoping there would be something I could put on the wood to deter him.

Oh, some Taggart stats: He is 8 months old today (approx) and he weighs 40.7 lbs.

[joycenalex]

chicken or rabbit fence as a temporary deterrant? angel alex would chew on wood and chance he got, and yes, i'd find it in his stool too.

[lvpets2002]

How about some chew bones or some raw hides for the baby.. A new couple moved in across the street from me about 6 months ago.. They have just got the most adorable new bloodhound puppy.. Well two days ago I saw he was chewing & distroying their young peach tree.. Of course the puppy looked at me like please dont tell on me..

[Taz_Zoee]

chicken or rabbit fence as a temporary deterrant? angel alex would chew on wood and chance he got, and yes, i'd find it in his stool too.

That's something I'll have to discuss with Bruce. We shall see.

How about some chew bones or some raw hides for the baby.. A new couple moved in across the street from me about 6 months ago.. They have just got the most adorable new bloodhound puppy.. Well two days ago I saw he was chewing & distroying their young peach tree.. Of course the puppy looked at me like please dont tell on me..

I bought a small cuz for him today. And Bruce got rawhide bones (which I am not a fan of) for them for Xmas. But we haven't given them any. And I usually don't let Zoee outside with treasures like that. Also, that's something I would require to be highly supervised. I'm paranoid of them choking on the rawhide.
I also have the green knuckle bones that Zoee chewed on as a puppy. He's not very interested in them, but I should just throw one outside for him. I just need to find the second one first.

Thanks guys!!

[Giselle]

Frozen Kong? Sort of Dog Chewing 101 and you may have already tried it, but it doesn't hurt to have a couple lying around in the yard. Plus, it's completely safe to leave them with unsupervised, provided you don't stick something like a cooked chicken bone in it

I was also thinking about just using chicken fencing to blockade the wood. If nothing else, you could lay it over the parts that he likes to chew. That would make it more difficult (but not impossible) for him to chew the wood itself. What I'm thinking is: if you give him the option of a frozen Kong vs. wood with chicken wire over it, I'd be willing to bet that he'd choose the Kong over the wood. But who knows! Puppies are a different kind!