How can I stop my pup from Chewing?

Question

I have a 20 week old German shorthaired pointer cross Rottweiller, he chew's absolutely everything in his path, he pulls my washing off the line and chews that, digs my plants and chews them, my Golden Retriever was never like this, although he did chew, as most puppies do, he was never this bad, Harley my cross Rotti is adorable but doing my head in, I need to try to stop him, please please can any body help me. I have tried all the conventional things, like telling him off and smacking his nose showing him what he has done at the time, I have tried puting him in the fruit garden away from Jamba my Retriever to try to teach him, but nothing seems to be working, although he is beggining to realise he is doing wrong now (1st step in the right direction) but he still does these things, and please dont tell me he will grow out of it, I know he will but there must be something I can do to try and get him out of it rather than wait for him to grow out of it, HELP!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

First, consider the breed you have. Your golden retriever has qui
te a different breed makeup than a pointer/rottie mix. German shorthairs are very high energy working dogs and need something to do (it's built into the genetic makeup). Rottweilers are, likewise, working dogs. These breeds are programmed to have a job, so they need extra help in handling their innate energy. They need to be challenged. He has a lot of energy and is frustrated because he has no acceptable outlet for it.

You have several good answers here already, but I will add a little information for you to consider. First, he is a puppy and is teething, so will chew. In addition to some of the other suggestions of items to chew, you might consider an empty plastic 2 liter soda bottle. Take the cap off and discard it. For some reason the large breed puppies especially seem to like them, maybe because they make such an interesting noise. Also, go to thrift shops (Goodwill, etc.) and buy stuffed animals.(Fairly good-sized ones) Take the eyes, noses, etc.(anything he can swallow) off and let him tear them up. I know it makes a mess, but having him tear them up beats tearing up something you care about. Satisfies some sort of natural instinct. Third, the person who suggested walking him is correct. Taking him for a long walk will give him the opportunity to burn off some excess puppy energy. HANG IN THERE, THIS TOO SHALL PASS.

Answer 2

The best advice I can give you is to keep him busy! Pups do chew because of their teeth (but you knew that) but they also chew as they like the feeling (why older dogs still enjoy chewy toys and edible chewy snacks) or because they are bored. Try to keep the dog outside as much as possible as he will do less damage there! Another good tip is to walk him as much as you can as if you can make him tired (very difficult with a pup!) he is less likely to chew when you get home. Apart from that all the usual things like toys , chews, firm "No" when he does something you dont want him to do and unfortunately time! My dog is a year and a half now and wonderful but I remember the times of chewing and house training very well although not fondly! Just think in a few months you can look back at his puppy photos and remember how adorable he was and be really proud of yourself as you have a really well behaved and beautiful dog and friend!

Answer 3

I understand how you feel, but you need to realise that you can't actually stop him from chewing. Its something he feels he needs to do and you can't police him 24/7.
If you have provided an good variety of toys and chews for him, teach him a positive action that you want him to do when he feels like picking something up, which leads to him chewing. This will be just as irritating because every 10 mins he will come up to you with another toy to show you but at least he won't be damaging so much. He needs a variety of toys; hard, soft, rope, fabric, towelling etc as he seems to like the stimulation.
Try to get one of those balls with holes in it that you put dry biscuit in, as he rolls it around another biscuit pops out.
He sounds very active and lively and I'd take him to puppy training classes now, he needs the work and stimulation. He is a cross between two working breeds and he's never going to be a layabout.

Answer 4

he's teething no doubt. Get some raw beef or lamb bones from the butcher and let him have a go at them. Its great for the teeth and they can't resist them. Another option would be to get a kong and stuff it with treats so the pup has to chew at it to get the treats out. he won't stop chewing until his new teeth are set in at 9 months. Never smack your dog(very naughty) reward him every time he chews something he is supposed to chew. He will learn quickly.

If its any consolation, we had this problem with our terrier but on a larger scale, eg shoes, cables,clothes,kids toys,furniture.Be grateful he's not that bad!

Answer 5

You need to get him some chew toys and bones. Pups at that age start to teeth, and they love to chew on stuff to relax the pain. Just get him some chew toys, and some bones. But do NOT get him rawhide bones, a pup can break their teeth on one of those. Now, if you have a particular item/items that you don't want him to get ahold of, then buy some sour apple spray meant for dogs that will stop them from biting the things. When he stops teething, he'll stop chewing, but still give him toys and bones.

Answer 6

Well first of all puppies will be puppies. They chew because they are outgrowing their puppy teeth and getting their adult canines. The best thing to do is crate train them and put a nice chew toy they will like in their with them. When you take them out make sure that they have chew toys with them to play with. Never leave around shoes, socks, or other household items they can get into. If you do catch them chewing on items other then their own toys grab a spray bottle with cold water, you can even add ad a little vinegar if you like and spray their face as you catch them chewing. Say "NO" in a deep serious voice. Don't feel bad right away and praise them. That is wrong. Send them straight to their crate withouth their chew toy for a few minutes 10-15 minutes. Then put their chew toys back in the crate and leave them in there for 10-15 minutes more. After that you can take them out and try again. Make sure you stick to the dicipline or they will try and get away with it. Also, you can buy products like "Sour Apple" from your local pet store and spray down furniture, shoes, and other things with it so that it will help prevent chewage. Good luck!

Answer 7

I have a black lab puppy and a pit mix puppy they chew and chew and chew. WE've gone thru lots of toys, The best items i've found so far are the ones that you can stick a treat inside of it. They will take hours working on it. They need to chew, Also, getting him for a walk each day is important.

Answer 8

German shorthaired pointers are hunters by nature, they need to be kept active and "working". A Rottweiler is the same, it needs to be kept busy, they are fairly hyperactive. It sound as if your dog is bored, and needs more stimulation. Try simulating games that take advantage of his need to hunt, and his overactive nature, like games of fetch or "find the toy". He'll love it! Take him for more frequent walks, and obedience train him, enrol him in a local class that deals with big dogs. Smacking and telling off will only make him more rebellious and less likely to listen to you, which is definitely not what you want :) .
Don't forget that he is still a baby, and doesn't have all that much of a long term memory. You wouldn't spank a toddler and expect them to remember mistakes they've made long term, you gently train them out of bad behaviours and reward good ones, and create sociable, people friendly habits in them over time. Take it slowly, and always remember to positively reward him when he does what you want. Don't compare him to your Retriever because Retrievers are more subdued by nature. They are more oriented towards people than most other breeds of dogs, and are natural pleasers. They're totally different types of dogs.

I really hope this helps and that your boy grows up to be a lovely member of your family :)

Answer 9

Dogs do not learn by punishment - it just teaches them to distrust how you behave. Dogs learn through motivation - which means if he wants something, he will learn how to get it. This could mean getting your plants and such, or it could mean that if he sits nicely you will give him a nice thing to chew. You can get some XL Kongs and stuff them w/ his dinner, along w/ some peanut butter, cream cheese, canned chicken or turkey, hot dogs, etc. - you can freeze it so it will last longer. You can get him some marrow bones from the butcher to give him (raw, not cooked). Pig ears, bully sticks - (no rawhide though). He needs to chew so provide him with the appropriate things so he'll be happy and so will you.

Answer 10

he needs more of his own toys to chew also edible chews like ones that are good for his teeth so you can clean his teeth and stop him chewing your things at the same time also with him being so young, dogs explore everything with their mouths just like babies he should grow out of it also it could be if you leave him for long periods at a time he could be bored so a konk would be a good idea that's a food ball you put food in and over the day the dog has to play with hate ball to get the food out. or you could use a ball with a bell in it or a toy with a squeak cus they love it, it resembles a living animal they would hunt in the wild like a rat. dogs never get rid of instincts they will have them forever these instincts are things they would if they lived in the wild and not as a pet.