Do You Think It's Mean When I.....?

Question

chain my dog up outside when she does something wrong? Today, she chewed up the corners of my rug! It's the 3rd rug she's destroyed! I sprayed her with water the first two times but obviously, it didn't work. She has shade, fresh water (with ice...she likes it), and food. I am just so tired of her destroying my property. I bought her a million chew toys but she continues to chew on my things....and I'm always home so it's not because I neglect her.

If you think putting her outside is okay, how long is enough??
If you think this is wrong, what other options do I have???

Any help would be appreciated!!!

She did it while I was in the other room. She was in my son's room with him (he was on the computer).
She is almost a year old.

Answer 1

There is a product called Bitter Apple that will help in your dog not biting on furniture and rugs. Is your dog a puppy? If so that is probably the reason why she is biting everything. My puppy though small has made some damage in my house as well.

Chaining her outside is not a bad thing as long as the dog has shelter, water, food and a chain long enough for her to move pretty freely. If she is a short snouted dog such as a pug, bulldog, pekinese etc do not leave her outside since she can die from a heatstroke. Always supervise the dog as really any dog can have a heatstroke but the ones with no snouts are highly prone to them.

I do not think that she will understand that you putting her outside is her punishment for chewing on things. Say NO strongly when you catch her doing bad behavior. Praise her when she is doing good.

There are a few products out to help with the not chewing on furniture etc. Look into it it will help

http://www.entirelypets.com/bitapspray8o.html

Answer 2

Your dog is acting like a dog. Dogs chew stuff up.

The only way to stop this from happening is to watch them constantly and when they start to chew something inappropriately, stop them immediately and provide them with a chew toy instead. They'll never learn otherwise because chewing is fun. She's not connecting her chewing of your rug to being put out. For her, the sequence of events was this:

I chewed on that fabric! It was fun!
Hey, now I'm outside. I guess I'll take a nap.

You have to turn that into this:

I sure would like to chew on this. Woah! I guess I'm not allowed to do that! I guess I'll chew on this bone-shaped thing I'm being handed instead.

Supervise the dog at all time for a couple of weeks. Get the dog's leash and tie it to one of your beltloops. Now your dog goes wherever you do and can't be out of your site. When you catch her eyeing something up or starting to chew, stop her immediately and offer an alternative. She will learn. It will take a couple months, but she will get it. Right now you're not solving the problem, just putting a bandaid on it.

And crate-train so that when you leave the house, she can be crated.

Answer 3

putting them outside is ok....but that is not going to teach your dog that it is wrong..have you tried useing the bitter apple spray? you just spray it on what you dont want them near...they cant stand the smell...but its not that smelly for a human to smell it. I know that they sell the stuff in pet stores... now how long have you had the dog? if you have had her since she was a baby...did you give her chew toys then ...or did you wait? does she chew the rugs while in front of you or when you are not around?. cause if it is while you are looking..you want to stop them quick. more her away from the rug and give her a chew toy insted. if that doest work....but a cheap rug from a thrift store of something...and put that in place of the rug she is chewing on at the moment...and let her chew on the cheapo one...after a while...move the one she was chewing on to another part of the house..like in a toy corner of the room so she knows that she wont get in trouble for chewing on the cheapo

Answer 4

Putting her outside isn't mean in and of itself as long as she has proper food, water and shelter. However it is completely ineffective as a punishment and won't teach her anything at all.

The only way to properly teach her not to destroy things is to watch her closely all the time and when ever she starts to chew something she shouldn't say "NO" in a harsh tone to interupt her then distract her with something that it IS ok for her to chew on.

When ever you can't watch her then you put her outside or in a crate where she can not get into trouble. Only let her run loose in the house when you can watch her and make sure she isn't wrecking things.

In time she will learn what she can and can not chew on, but it will take you spending time training her. Right now if you are just getting mad and sticking her outside she isn't learning anything. The important thing is to handle it in a way that makes her understand what you mean, and putting her outside doesn't do anything to help her understand.

Answer 5

Would you like to be chained up outside when you do something wrong? I have a couple of questions though. Does she chew when you're home? Does she chew when you're away? Does she chew after you get home? She might be letting you know that she missed you and wants attention. You could always try finding a dog behaviorist in your area. Their area is understanding why our critters do the things they do, and how to fix these behaviours.
Good Luck

Answer 6

When we got our dog as a puppy, she chewed on everything. They do grow out of it but I definitely feel your frustration. Putting our dog outside never seemed to be effective for punishment. However, we did utilize the crate and it did make a dent, albeit not much of one. And she had stuff to chew of her own too. I really think you have to keep her near you so you can watch what she's doing. She can't be permitted in a room alone and if you have to leave a room and she doesn't want to, then she'll have to go in the crate. Good luck!

Answer 7

Honestly? Its not mean, as long as you dont neglect the dog while shes outside. As long as she is able to eat that day, have access to fresh water, and shade. She is perfectly fine. If you have a PetSmart or a Petco in your are, try looking for things that you spray around your house, and it makes the things she tries to chew on taste terrible! She'll learn not to chew on things.

Answer 8

As long as she has shade, shelter, and water there is nothing wrong with it. However, if you are doing it to try and teach her chewing is wrong, it will not work. She has no idea why you are taking her outside, only that she is out there. I suggest giving the bitter apple a try.

Answer 9

no its not bad for u to put a dog outside if its bad just make sure its not to hot out or if u dont want to put her outside put her in a cage for a couple hours. u could also keep her in another room and have nothing around her i bet she will get the message and sometimes it helps to smack it a little on the nose and say NO GIRL THATS BAD.......... good luck to u i have had cats and dogs all my life i know what it feels like to have things chewed up BEEN THERE DONE THAT!

Answer 10

I can tell you what worked for me since you're home. Get a piece of parachute cord (or some really light weight cord). Tie a clip to each end. Hook one end to your dogs training collar (used to call them choke chains)and the other to your belt loop. Where you go, the dog goes. If she starts for something she shouldn't have, jerk once on the cord (straight up) and at the same time firmly say NO! When she pays attention to you, give her something she is supposed to chew on and tell her she's a good dog.