How can I stop my 1.5 year old female boxer from chewing everything around our house?

Question

She is particularly bad about chewing on things when she is put outside. She eats our plants (prefers flowers) and just today she ripped up a cushion on one of our patio furniture chairs. I purchased some bitter spray (rosemary) from PetsSmart but it doesn't seem to work. We give her chew toys but it seems she would rather chew other things. She seems to exhibit this behavior when she is left alone outside in our yard. When I bring her inside she is less likely to chew on things but I can't have a dog that lives inside exclusively.

Answer 1

You would need to spend time on teaching her what's ok to chew. Dogs like to chew stuff(and come on, you have a boxer); it's their way of releasing stress. The best way to do it is whenever you catch her chewing stuff that you don't want her to chew, say "No" in a deep, low tone voice. Many owners make the mistake of screaming to the dog, ignoring the fact the screaming(higer tone voice) actually make the dog excited. Lower tone voice is dog's natural way of saying "you have stepped over the line". When your boxer is chewing her chew toy, pet an praise her with a higher pitch voice. The catch of this method is you really need to catch every single time she is chewing the right or wrong thing, or else she will get confused.
So there is the text book way, here is what I did. I needed to go to work, and I had no time to sit next to my dog for the whole day. I gave her the "Kong" chew toy(you can buy it from petco). I packed it with peanut butter and biscuits tightly, so that my dog would need to spend the whole day digging them out. I also played catch with my dog with chew toys that were made of cloth. When he caught them, he would be really excited and keep chewing the chew toy. Overtime, you dog would like to chew stuff that are made of soft plastic(like the kong), and the cloth-made chew toys. This is because everytime she chews those stuff, it brings good feeling of "eatting peanut butter" and "playing catch".

Answer 2

Castration might help, but although it's a bit late to tell you this, the only sure thing with castration is no puppies! This should never be seen as a substitute for training. I'm afraid, you have a young hooligan at the moment. At this age many males try to push the boundaries too. You work full time - sorry, but that's a huge part of your problem with this dog. Sometimes it works out fine (ie your older dog is dealing with this) but with some they just get lonely and bored, and turn to being destructive. And as long as you are both working, with this young boy, unless the castration does make a difference, you are probably looking at having to crate him, or build him a pen where he has more room, for some time yet. Do you leave the radio on when you are out? Might help to sooth him, but it's no substitute for you being there, regardless of whether he has your other dog for company - or for that matter only 2 40 minute walks during the working week. He has an active mind, and body, and being shut up for long periods of time is asking for trouble, and too much of him. Sorry I can't help more. Add - At 1 year, he's finished teething!!! - to those who suggest otherwise.

Answer 3

A lot of the ideas being expressed here are great ideas for other breeds of dogs, but every breed is different, and boxers are in a class by themselves and most of these ideas simply won't work with your boxer.

As a boxer owner and breeder, I can tell you that a boxer was probably the wrong choice of dogs for your home.

Boxers do not mature as quickly as other dogs. You will not start to see her begin to mature until she is about two years old, where most dogs are pretty much mature at a year old. Boxers often exhibit bad behavior, as a form of retaliation, or pouting.

Boxers are EXTREMELY sociable dogs. They are best described as children. For their entire life they will tend to behave like children. Boxers cannot tolerate being excluded from the every day happenings of their owners. This is probably the biggest reason for her destructive behavior. Also, boxers are not "outside" dogs. Many people believe that since they are big they will do fine out doors. Boxers physically cannot take extended periods of outdoors, especially if you live where it gets hot. Because of their box shaped muzzle, they are not able to cool themselves properly, this will cause health problems.

If you cannot have a dog that lives inside exclusively, you really need to consider giving her up for adoption. The behavior is not going to cure itself. Boxers need constant attention and affection. If you feel you have no options, or consider taking her to the pound, please contact me first. I will try to help you do what is best for her. I will adopt her if at all possible.

Answer 4

Your dog appears to be suffering from separation anxiety. She probably was not properly crate trained . In the wild when a mother dog leaves the puppies it leaves them in a den until she gets back. Dogs still have the natural instincts even if they are living in a modern world. Some are better at adjusting then others. It also depends on how old they were when taken from the mother , too early will be a problem. The answer is buy a big crate, put a blanket or something over the top ,this will calm the dog. It will also give her her own space, we have our own space. When not in use. leave the door open so she can go in it and lie down if she chooses to, this is her bedroom.When she is alone put her in it when you go out and shut the door, she might object at first. Let her, you need to be the one in control to calm her anxiety. Also your dog needs to be dominated, they feel safe and happy when they are dominated. My dogs never chew anything, and its because they feel safe, have their own space and feel dominated. If a larger dog, take the leash and stand over her shoulders, hold her in that position under you. Make her stay there until she stops struggling, hold her in that position for a few minutes, then praise her and tell her she is good ,etc. If she is not too too big,lol. that will establish you are the dominate one in control. Small dog, get down on your knees on the floor, feet under you. Take the dog put her on her side on your lap facing away from you. Slowly slide her down your legs to the floor, hold her in that position for a few minutes until she stops struggling, when she stops struggling, praise her and tell her she is good, and release her. These actions may need repeated. This will solve your chewing problems. No anxiety, no chewing. Still however give the toys. Oh and never!!!, never!!! use the crate as punishment for bad behavior. Some people think using a crate is cruel, it is far from cruel, it goes with their natural instincts for survival and group psychology.

Answer 5

Dogs need to be supervised until they really learn what is okay to chew on and what isn't. When she can't be supervised, she needs to be placed somewhere where she can't get at things she's not allowed to chew. It's really that simple. To a dog, the entire world is a chew toy. Unless you catch her in the act of doing it and offer her an alternative to what she's chewing on, she'll never understand that.

Ditto above all the reasons dogs chew. Increase exercise, buy her puzzle toys that stimulate her brain, supervise her more, don't just toss her somewhere and forget about her.

Answer 6

She is still a puppy, and puppy's chew. Sort of like young children, when you get them something, they play with the box....
I would suggest a chew toy like a rawhide bone from a store, or just a stick that you play with them with for a while so that they claim as theirs. (Take away, throw, take away, fetch, etc.)
As far as furniture, a pepper spray? Or something that won't smell but tastes yucky, like dish soap sprayed on. Keep up with the training, and be consistent. Good luck.

Answer 7

I'd suggest supervising her outdoors, instead of putting her out alone. She is probably chewing things up out of anxiety or boredom, due to being left alone.
Perhaps consider getting her a doggy friend to play with, that way she'll be less likely to turn destructive when left alone.

Answer 8

A dog should be trained on how to eat, walk with you, not to bark, potty training and sleep on its place etc. You can teach anything to your puppy, dogs get trained easily with some good instructions. If you want some good training tips visit https://tr.im/nycqQ

If properly trained, they should also understand whistle and gesture equivalents for all the relevant commands, e.g. short whistle or finger raised sit, long whistle or flat hand lay down, and so on.

It's important that they also get gestures and whistles as voice may not be sufficient over long distances and under certain circumstances.

Answer 9

what you probably need to do is carry your dog in front of the flowers or the other things she chew on and put her nose to it and slap her on her butt or back leg while telling her "NO" at the same time, you would have to do everytime she chews on thing, for it will take a while before she gets the idea. that is what i did with my dog who loved to chew on my SHOES and now she does not do that anymore (Thank God), b/c i could not afford to keep on buying new shoes all the time.

Answer 10

most dogs chew because of bordom. which explains why she chews out side or when shes alone. my dog used to hate regular toys but loved rope toys. we found this out because we took her to petsmart after we noticed her chewing on other things we didnt buy her to chew on. so we let her walk around and bought her the toys she picked up. you should try it. it might help. =)