I read on the ASPCA website that a good way to curb aggressive chewers tendencies to demolish household items was to use one of those products.
What I am wondering is if anyone else has tried it, and what is your opinion on the effectiveness of it?
2007-04-09 14:40:51 · 14 answers · asked by KS 7 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I tried it and it didn't work for sh!t. My dog has separation anxiety though.
What we do is to switch out her toys every so often. Dogs get bored with the same old toys so new ones are always exciting. We also have certain toys (her favorites) that she only gets when we leave.
We also give her cardboard boxes and stuffed animals (from Good Will...VERY cheap) she absolutely LOVES cereal boxes and empty toilet paper rolls. Plastic pop bottles are great toys too, we shove treats into them so she has something to work at when we leave. I wouldn't suggest the plastic stuff though if your dog swallows what it chews. My dogs don't swallow, they chew things up and spit out the pieces.
Good luck!
2007-04-09 16:17:42 · answer #1 · answered by KJ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've found training and supervision works much better. Why?
The products do wear off, and you'll literally have to spray everything. Also I've met many dogs that actually LOVE the stuff.
When you can't supervise put your dog in its crate. When you are there to supervise, and you see your dog going for something it shouldn't, tell it NO in a firm tone. This will stop it, wait a few seconds and offer it one of its toys. When the dog takes the toy, praise lavishly. Also when you see your dog chewing on its toys on its own, praise lavishly. It may stop chewing the toy and come to you, but that's ok, it has just gotten the message that you like it when it does that.
Also try toys such as Kongs stuff with treats, or a Buster Cube. You fill the Buster Cube with small treats and your dog has to roll it around certain ways to get the treats. As it gets good at it you can increase the difficulty to keep it interesting.
Another great thing for aggressive chewers, more exercise. Chewing is a form of exercise and stress relief, as well as being soothing for teething puppies. Often times increasing the dogs exercise will help decrease the need to chew.
Take up some training classes, such as obedience or agility. This will not only help exercise your dog physically but mentally as well. Dogs will chew when bored so mental stimulation also helps decrease chewing. The buster cube and kong also help with this as well.
It will take some time, but your dog will learn what is and isn't ok to chew on.
Remember a tired dog is a good dog.
2007-04-09 22:02:37 · answer #2 · answered by Bindi *dogtrainingbyjess.com* 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure , go for it if you wish.. it will deter your pet from chewing THAT item. Please remember a dog that chews is usually a bored dog. Usually the more intelligent the animal..the more they will be destructive like that. Perhaps rather than..or in hand with the bitter apple you try some extra activities with your pet.? I had a young dog (way back when I was new at this dog ownership thing) that ate everything..table legs and even the flooring. When it was explained to me why the dog usually chews...I increased the time I spent with him..and began a training program for him..just tricks and stuff. The chewing ended almost immediately. I kept up the exercise and training and never had another problem with him. He lived to the nice age of 14.
2007-04-09 21:50:32 · answer #3 · answered by tq j 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bitter apple does work fairly well, depends on what you are trying to protect with it tho :) Also not all dogs hate the taste.. 99% of them won't bother with anything when you spray the bitter apple, but there is that 1 % that will go out of their way to lick it off of things. So it depends on the dog, and what you are trying to keep them away from.
2007-04-09 21:55:18 · answer #4 · answered by DP 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
UGH! Yes tried it. Hate to get all Valley Girl on you, but totally gross!
The spray did absolutely nothing to keep the dogs away and the mist went all over including in MY mouth! Is your dog kennel trained? If not that is a lifesaver. For the chewing months if you can't keep an eye on him or her she goes in her kennel. (I am assuming that most of the "wrong" chewing goes on behind your back) Get the natural beef bones if you can stand the initial smell. If not Petsmart markets some bleached bones that are stuffed with different flavors. The last ones we got were bacon and maple. Smelled just like breakfast! (all day). Then correction, correction, correction!
Good luck!
2007-04-09 21:52:36 · answer #5 · answered by secretisout123 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have tried bitter apple spray. Two of my dogs actually chew MORE when i spray something!! It has worked with one puppy of mine but these two love the taste, little wackos!
2007-04-09 21:47:34 · answer #6 · answered by Mel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's worth a try. I tried it but it didn't work out well for the one dog we had a problem with. But others have had success. We also tried Tabasco and it didn't work either. Our dog may have been a tough case.
2007-04-09 21:47:45 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I used bitter apple. Seems like my dog likes the taste and wanting for more.
2007-04-09 21:48:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its pretty effective. The smell and taste keeps dogs away from it. But dont use it too often or your dog may get used to it and start chewing again. :)
2007-04-09 21:55:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I tried a couple of things but they only worked as long as they were reapplied every couple of hours.
In the end we made a dog safe area where it didn't matter if they chewed as it was all their stuff anyway.
2007-04-09 21:49:32 · answer #10 · answered by Debi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋