NWR: Puppy started to chew!

MattsPenguin

So we got our dog (a 14 month old white German shepherd / corgi mix) on Sunday.  She's house trained and her foster mom thought she would be okay in the whole apartment.  However, she's never been alone for long periods of time, so she might "get naughty".

We left her on the first day for 4 hours at a time (while we were at work), and everything seemed okay.  The past two days she's been at day care.  Today we left her alone again, and she has chewed the DVD remote, a basket of fake flowers, and a pair of pants.

We'd like to not crate her, but we'll see how she does this afternoon (as long as we move things up a level away from her).  Any other suggestions?    I knew it was too good to be true.

(And we initially wanted to keep her in the kitchen, but our baby gates won't work with our out-of-alignment doorways).

laurenclaire1386

When my dog was a puppy, I coudln't break her of it. Eventually, she just grew out of it. I'm sorry I'm zero help.

temerityjane

I am pretty sure the only way to stop chewing is either by crating or with the intense supervision method.

Youre dog may just not be up to being left alone for long periods of time. Our new dog hasn't destroyed or chewed anything yet, and he's absolutely fine spending all day with me. When Buddy lets him outside alone for 20 minutes or so every morning, he digs. He doesn't like to be left alone. It's just how it is.

You can dog-proof so that there's nothing she can get, but you'll either have to figure out her seperation anxiety/boredom or crate or train it with intense supervision methods.

MattsPenguin

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-puppy-started-chew?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:0c705ea9-a62b-4823-b54f-14fdd6080e17Post:8f669423-06fa-430b-abfa-f55c751f0906">Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew!</a>:
[QUOTE]When my dog was a puppy, I coudln't break her of it. Eventually, she just grew out of it. I'm sorry I'm zero help.
Posted by laurenclaire1386[/QUOTE]

That's okay, I'm more venting.  (and trying to figure out how to get a new dvd player remote . ..)

Thanks!  Let's hope she gets over it.

PetraStonegirl

Play her to exhaustion before you leave. Tired puppies sleep.

But, really, I'd suggest crate training. Once properly trained (don't just toss her in and leave), many dogs prefer the safety of their crate when left alone. In fact, when we put on our shoes and get ready to go, Tele runs into the kennel and waits for us to close the door. We've recorded him in the crate, and he just naps all day. No stress, no whining, we come home to a happy, relaxed dog.

karbar42

The only thing I can suggest is try keep as much out of reach as possible, and leave a lot of chew toys out for her to chew on, but if this doesn't help, crating her might be the best option for her own safety while she's in the big chewing phase.

What if she were to chew the batteries in the remote, or get ahold of something else that is dangerous to her.

pooh8402

bitter apple--spray it on everything

walk/exercise your dog--this will tire her out so she doesn't have the energy to chew. she chews partially because she's bored.

and definitely try crating. it is actually humane and dogs like having their own personal space. dogs are den animals, they like caves and crates and the like. put some chew toys in the crate.

other than that, they eventually grow out of it. my 3 y ear old golden didn't grow out of chewing until about the 2 year mark.

MattsPenguin

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-puppy-started-chew?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:0c705ea9-a62b-4823-b54f-14fdd6080e17Post:f1001eef-0a8e-4332-8151-5f91431310e1">Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew!</a>:
[QUOTE]Play her to exhaustion before you leave. Tired puppies sleep. But, really, I'd suggest crate training. Once properly trained (don't just toss her in and leave), many dogs prefer the safety of their crate when left alone. In fact, when we put on our shoes and get ready to go, Tele runs into the kennel and waits for us to close the door. We've recorded him in the crate, and he just naps all day. No stress, no whining, we come home to a happy, relaxed dog.
Posted by PetraStonegirl[/QUOTE]

We haven't done much crate training.  I know to just put her in for a bit while you are home, and do it a few times to get her used to it.  I wish she would nap!  The silly girl was a day care all day, came home and slept for 2.5 hours, then 30 minute walk, then slept from 10:30-5:30am.  Why isn't she sleeping now?  HOW ARE YOU NOT TIRED!

I guess we'll start working more intensely on the crate training. 

And as karbar42 said, it would be a safety thing, too.  FI thinks she found a plastic bag (in a room that had a jammed shut door that she opened).

MattsPenguin

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-puppy-started-chew?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:0c705ea9-a62b-4823-b54f-14fdd6080e17Post:bcea78a9-d689-47a8-9004-ffdcea44b1c3">Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew!</a>:
[QUOTE]bitter apple--spray it on everything walk/exercise your dog--this will tire her out so she doesn't have the energy to chew. she chews partially because he's bored. and definitely try crating. it is actually humane and dogs like having their own personal space. dogs are den animals, they like caves and crates and the like. put some chew toys in the crate. other than that, they eventually grow out of it. my 3 y ear old golden didn't grow out of chewing until about the 2 year mark.
Posted by pooh8402[/QUOTE]

I think we exercise her a lot.  She goes on an hour long run/walk in the morning before we leave.  She just has lots of energy.

LesPaul

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-puppy-started-chew?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:0c705ea9-a62b-4823-b54f-14fdd6080e17Post:63b27d9d-59a9-42ab-a0e6-484e128be1c9">Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew! : That's okay, I'm more venting.  (and trying to figure out<strong> how to get a new dvd player remote</strong> . ..) Thanks!  Let's hope she gets over it.
Posted by MattsPenguin[/QUOTE]

I replaced my DIshTV remotes on Amazon.com after my Lab ate two of them (among other things).

missy68

Bitter apple spray doesn't always work if the animal is clever. When we were in obedience class, the trainer tried it on all of the dogs with a quick squirt in the mouth to see who would respond. There were a couple who really didn't, but Max drooled and foamed like he had rabies. Well, we bought some and took it home, and tried to set him up with some things (magazines, subscription cards, shoes) he kept getting - and the dog figured it out. He could smell it, and once it dried (and he couldn't smell it), he could have at it.
The only way we've been able to use it is to do one squirt in his mouth. Usually the bottle alone stops the behavior.

I am a firm believer in the crate, too. I never did it to my first dog, and she got into lots of trouble as a puppy - she quickly learned how to climb over the baby gate. Max grew too fast, and we couldn't keep stuff out of his reach to match his growth spurts. So we crated. And within a week, we also had a housetrained dog, once we took the towel off the floor and taught him the bell system.

MattsPenguin

Crating it will be.  Project for the evening (and next week or so).

Thanks ladies!

pooh8402

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-puppy-started-chew?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0c705ea9-a62b-4823-b54f-14fdd6080e17Post:23367bc6-b44a-4903-9768-a195fc776d93">Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew! : I think we exercise her a lot.  She goes on an hour long run/walk in the morning before we leave.  She just has lots of energy.
Posted by MattsPenguin[/QUOTE]
then she might need an hour long run/walk in the evenings as well.

MattsPenguin

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-puppy-started-chew?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:0c705ea9-a62b-4823-b54f-14fdd6080e17Post:32047749-3dfb-4575-958c-b7249e5db4b7">Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew! : then she might need an hour long run/walk in the evenings as well.
Posted by pooh8402[/QUOTE]

On days that she doesn't have day care we have done that as well. 

glam70s

I have a german shepherd/corgi too! For the record, he's almost 7 years old and still chews more than his vet has ever seen for a dog his age, so your girl may not ever grow out of it. Some dogs just never do.

For us, Nylabones are the key. They're very hard plastic bones that the dog just gradually chews down to a stump, get them at any pet store. If your girl is anything like mine, she'll have an extremely strong jaw! As long as he has at least one that he can get to, we can guarantee he won't chew on anything else. If he doesn't have one, he's a terror.

I agree with exhaustion. I also take my dog on a run every day so he just sleeps while we're at work. Otherwise he barks and whines all day.

I also agree with crate training - if your dog takes to it. We tried training my dog for well over 6 months (I was a pro dog trainer in a former life) and he just was never able to get used to it, so we got rid of it. He would bark and cry ALL night, no matter what we did - it just wasn't worth it. We got him at 8 months old - who knows what he went through in a crate before he came to us.

Good luck! I'd love to see photos if you can post them.. Shepherd/corgis aren't that common

PetraStonegirl

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-puppy-started-chew?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0c705ea9-a62b-4823-b54f-14fdd6080e17Post:a7f2ed39-5c41-44e5-95be-6c8bf37aa7d6">Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew!</a>:
[QUOTE]Crating it will be.  Project for the evening (and next week or so). Thanks ladies!
Posted by MattsPenguin[/QUOTE]

<div>I'm glad you are going to try this. Another note, pick up a crating guide from your local PetSmart (or equivalent), they give good ideas about crate training do's and don'ts. Use the crate as a reward, when possible. Have your puppy sleep in the crate at night, when they get older they will sleep there with the door open. Use toys that are ok for unsupervised use, like a Kong with a spray of ____ (I can't think of the name, it's like EZ-cheese for dogs) inside when you leave. </div><div>
</div><div>Also, leave your puppy in the crate alone for very short time to begin with, and work up to 4 hours very slowly. If your dog has an accident in the crate, never punish them for it! Trust that it was an accident and remember they've been laying in it all day, not you. Just clean them up, and shorten the length of time you keep them crated. Always take them outside before they get crated. Never let them out of the crate immediately after coming home. Ignore them for 5-10 minutes, then let them out quietly, and ignore them for another 5 minutes, before playing with them.</div><div>
</div><div>Edit: I forgot to say that I crate in my bedroom. Dogs are social, and even if they sleep in their crates, they still like the company.</div>

MattsPenguin

Here's two pics of her:





It's so funny that you have the same mix!  She has a long body and German shepherd face, but short little legs.   She weighed 41 lbs at the Vet.

She LOVES to play and exercise, so we're both aware just how much she needs.  Like I said an hour in the morning, 15-30 minutes at lunch, and another hour in the evening (plus fetch in the house).  And three days per week she's going to day care.  Maybe they taught her about chewing . . . silly puppies!

Our vet recommends against Nylabones for her teeth.  She's been given rawhide. 

She sleeps through the night in our room very well.  I guess this is all just an adjustment period.

MattsPenguin

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-puppy-started-chew?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:0c705ea9-a62b-4823-b54f-14fdd6080e17Post:37085109-0475-445c-98d7-79792a1cc381">Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew! : I'm glad you are going to try this. Another note, pick up a crating guide from your local PetSmart (or equivalent), they give good ideas about crate training do's and don'ts. Use the crate as a reward, when possible. Have your puppy sleep in the crate at night, when they get older they will sleep there with the door open. Use toys that are ok for unsupervised use, like a Kong with a spray of ____ (I can't think of the name, it's like EZ-cheese for dogs) inside when you leave.  Also, leave your puppy in the crate alone for very short time to begin with, and work up to 4 hours very slowly. If your dog has an accident in the crate, never punish them for it! Trust that it was an accident and remember they've been laying in it all day, not you. Just clean them up, and shorten the length of time you keep them crated. Always take them outside before they get crated. Never let them out of the crate immediately after coming home. Ignore them for 5-10 minutes, then let them out quietly, and ignore them for another 5 minutes, before playing with them. Edit: I forgot to say that I crate in my bedroom. Dogs are social, and even if they sleep in their crates, they still like the company.
Posted by PetraStonegirl[/QUOTE]

Thanks for all of the tips!  I know that we're supposed to ignore her (we did this morning when she woke up at 5:30 for the third day in a row).  But it's so hard.  She's so cute. 

I wanna go home and see my puppy!  (can you hear me whining?)

PetraStonegirl

You bet! Yeah, I get all whiny when I start missing my puppy. All 70 lbs of him.

glam70s

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-puppy-started-chew?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:0c705ea9-a62b-4823-b54f-14fdd6080e17Post:5ee3e59f-d1ae-4cbe-9e8e-3bd4111e1311">Re: NWR: Puppy started to chew!</a>:
[QUOTE]Here's two pics of her: It's so funny that you have the same mix!  She has a long body and German shepherd face, but short little legs.   She weighed 41 lbs at the Vet. She LOVES to play and exercise, so we're both aware just how much she needs.  Like I said an hour in the morning, 15-30 minutes at lunch, and another hour in the evening (plus fetch in the house).  And three days per week she's going to day care.  Maybe they taught her about chewing . . . silly puppies! Our vet recommends against Nylabones for her teeth.  She's been given rawhide.  She sleeps through the night in our room very well.  I guess this is all just an adjustment period.
Posted by MattsPenguin[/QUOTE]

Aww, she's very cute :) My dog is exactly the same - looks the same but darker, and weighs 40lbs..

That's interesting about the Nylabones.. My vet recommends to avoid rawhide at all costs.. Interesting!