Originally posted by clara4457
How old is she? If she is around 6-9 months, she could be teething. If she is older, you are probably correct in assuming she is bored.

Here is how I would (and did) combat the chewing issue in my house.

Step 1 - Dog proof the house - put things that they like to chew away - shoes in the closet, covered trash cans, taller laundry bins, etc.

Step 2 - Go out and buy appropriate chew items. Kongs( which can be stuffed, or even stuffed and frozen), sterilized bones (which can be stuffed), all natural rawhide (supervised only), etc.

Step 3 - Buy some bitter apple spray and spray in on areas that you cannot pick up (i.e. the furniture).

Step 4 - Train them to "leave it". If the dog gets something in his mouth you do not want - tell him "leave it" and when he gives the item up, praise and treat (you might have to tempt him with a treat to get him to "leave it") then give him an appropriate chew toy and praise him for chewing the correct thing.

Step 5 - Confine him in a safe area when you are not able to supervise him - a crate or a baby gated area. If he is not crate trained, you are going to have to introduce it slowly.

Step 6 - Exercise - Exercise - Exercise. Go for long walks, play fetch in the yard, take him to a doggie park. A tired dog is a well behaved dog.

Here are a couple of articles that should be helpful:



Article on destructive chewing

Article on Crate Training

Just like you have to teach kids appropriate behavior, you have to teach your dogs appropriate behavior. The good news is that it is an extremely fixable problem.

Good Luck

I DEFINATELY support everything you just said! I have a one year old beagle who LOVES to chew EVERYTHING! We got some of that bitter spray and put it on our furniture- that finally got her to stop that- and we now take her on AT LEAST one walk a day. By the time we get home, she's so tired, she just goes to sleep!