I have a wonderfully sweet Great Dane that we all love and adore. However, he is certainly testing our love and patience these days with his chewing issues. He has a bunch of toys from squeaky balls to Kongs to rawhide and enjoys them all. However, he does not limit his chewing to his toys. We have been very consistent in taking non-toys from him and replacing with one of his, verbally correcting him, removing loose objects from the area, etc. but to no avail. He has his adult teeth so I don't understand why he has suddenly become a chewing monster! We have tried the sprays from vinegar to the bitter stuff in an aerosol can, to no avail. We have a trampoline with a safety net and he has chewed the lower pads off of it. He chews sofa pillows, the living room rug, actually has gone in my room, nosed his way under my sheets and eaten the foam pad on the mattress! He is crate trained but he's an adolescent and needs to play outside longer than I can be out there with him. Ideas??
2007-09-14 05:14:27 · 8 answers · asked by colley411 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I spend a huge amount of time with him as I stay at home with our kids. We go for two walks everyday, one on a leash the whole time and the other in the evening where he can run in the woods off leash. What I was saying about not having enough time to stay outside is that he needs to play outside for at least an hour every few hours and it's not humanly possible to watch him the whole time. Plus, as I said, he's a Great Dane... he can't be crated at this age for any long period of time outside of bedtime. It can really hurt their joints and development.
2007-09-14 05:32:39 · update #1
I see what the first answerer is saying-that he's chewing because he's kept indoors. Actually, he's outside often so he can play and therein lies the problem. I can't very well remove the trampoline so he doesn't chew it, and things like that. I guess what I'm mainly asking is if you think there is an obedience issue here. This just started happening about a month ago so I'm left to wonder if he's rebelling or something? And if so, what to do about it?
2007-09-14 05:35:01 · update #2
Is he not neutered? If so, his testosterone is at its peak and, although it probably doesn't affect his personality, it may make him more enthusiastic about everything. He could just be bursting out of his skin looking for something to do with all of his energy and enthusiasm.
He's also a teenager who isn't getting enough exercise, is bored and has decided to do more interesting things. Does he chew in front of you? Do you yell and scream when you see what he has done? If so, this can also be attention-seeking behavior.
You can try experimenting with enriching his life. Try taking him outside to new neighborhoods, parks, woods, etc. Give him new things to sniff, new people to meet, etc. Give him long walks at different times of the day and night. Vary his routine.
A big block of time is the best but, if you can't do that right now, try taking him out in short spurts frequently during the day and night.
Try a dog park or an open field with a long line (30-50') and let him run. You can try a good doggy daycare in a pinch although that isn't a substitute for long, rambling walks.
Teach him some new tricks like retrieving objects, doing a high five, etc. Occupy his mind and give him something new to think about.
If you enrich his life and his behavior is reduced or eliminated then you know what the problem is. Putting a dog outside in the same yard isn't really exercise. Putting a bored dog into a crate to further increase his boredom and isolation isn't the solution either.
Good luck!
2007-09-14 05:41:01 · answer #1 · answered by APHID 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Be advised Danes often become horrific chewers during their teen phase which can begin @ 8-9 months of age and last until 18 months or so.
While he is in this phase you need to step up your training, supervise him, "puppy" proof just as you would a young teething puppy and either put him in a room that is devoid of items he can chew that aren't his or crate him when he can't be supervised. He doesn't need a whole lot of outdoor play time..he is NOT a sporting breed or one of the hyper breeds..he is a giant breed...you do need to give him exercise like walks & such daily, structured playtime with humans daily, take him to obedience class, give him some raw meaty bones to chew on, keep him from being bored....he is being a pretty normal "teen". Just putting him outside isn't doing a whole lot..it isn't structured and he won't exercise or play enough ot keep from being bored. A bored dog will look for thing to do to keep up his interest.
2007-09-14 10:09:52 · answer #2 · answered by Great Dane Lover 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She may be pretty, but there is no proof that she is purebred without her papers, sorry! I would say less than $100, fatten her up a bit first so she looks nice and healthy, put some ads online, list in newspaper, post fliers, etc. Get her vet checked, you want to be sure she is healthy before you go and sell her. It really would be better to offer a "free to good home" deal, that way people know you care. You could also contact some Dane breeders or rescues and ask if they are willing to take care of the animal.
2016-03-18 05:55:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most dogs go through a second chewing phase after teething in puppyhood. He is probably bored or stressed or both. You will need to supervise him when he is out of the crate - or confine him to a room (or an "x-pen" - see your local pet supply store) where he can't do much damage and offer him his busy toys (toys to keep him busy should be sturdy and he may still need supervision with them). If you catch him chewing something inappropriate, correct him and offer him something more appropriate. This won't last forever, but you do need to be consistent and patient.
2007-09-14 05:37:42 · answer #4 · answered by no qf 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
10 mo great dane chews
2016-02-02 10:47:22 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
needs to play outside longer than I can be out there with him.
This could be the root of your problem. If you can't spend the time playing outside or taking him for good brisk walks every day, than you should try to find (or hire) someone, to help you with that. He's still full of puppy energy and chewing may be his only outlet for it since he's confined to the house.
2007-09-14 05:23:59 · answer #6 · answered by Linda D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Training your dog will be a huge part of your interaction with him for the first few months. Learn here https://tr.im/q7CMV
This includes housetraining, leash training, obedience training, socialization, and problem solving. In addition to providing your dog with needed skills, this time will also be a great opportunity for you to bond with him. Take the time to really get to know your pet while training him and a loving relationship will easily develop.
2016-04-21 04:44:19 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, crate him when not directly supervised and train the rest of the time. Do include real corrections for screw ups.
2007-09-14 05:24:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i heard that that was a common problem with that breed as puppies they need constant attention or they find stuff to doon their own
2007-09-14 05:27:03 · answer #9 · answered by wyldefire83 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋