help! my 8mo old Amstaff is chewing my couch and the wood around the doors! What can I do that won't hurt her?

Question

She is getting worse, it only happens when I leave and even then not regularly. She is other wise and angel, I sprated the stuff that has chili in it but it makes me cough and her retch.
I know you are not supposed to punish them if you don't tem actually doing it but like I said it is only when I am gone- I have even tried setting her up so as to catch her in the act but it is so random but when it happens it is BAD!

Thanks so much for all the suggestions, while I am not opposed to " crating" dogs, she is an amstaff and as a respondent said , it would be be bloody, Im sure given their tolerance for pain. I am going to try the apple spray first and then try the other suggestions if no luck, again , thanks and keep 'um coming!

Answer 1

Try bitter apple spray. Sounds like she has separation anxiety. You could rotate the toys or try Kong toys with food paste that you can put inside to keep doggie busy. You may also think about a dog walker or doggie day care at least a few times a week. Or, try a dog trainer. Worse case scenario, they make medication for this that you can get a prescription for at the vets.

Answer 2

When a dog is allowed to misbehave without supervision, it only REINFORCES and REWARDS the bad behavior. For a correction to be effective, the dog must be caught in the act. Definitely begin crate training, as your dog is NOT house trained (this is more than just not peeing and pooping in the house). When you are home with her, and you see her near the objects she wants to chew, tell her 'NO CHEW' and then give her an alternative, like a nylabone or kong. Look for times when she is being good and chewing on her own toys, and praise her for it. Crate training is a useful tool only, and should not be abused. The dog does not LIVE in the crate--rather it is only used when direct supervision is not possible so as to avoid unwanted behaviors. When she outgrows this, the crate will no longer be needed. No way to tell how long this will take, it is different for every dog. At 8 months old, you dog is still a pup and even though her adult teeth are in, she has many months of teething left. Also, this is a breed that just loves to chew, so have lots and lots of safe toys scattered around for her to choose from.

Answer 3

Ive got an APBT who is crate trained and has chewed the corner of the wall twice. Hes about 20 months old. It only happens when I forget to put his Gallileo Nylabone (superhard chew toy) in the back room with him. His crate is back there and left wide open in case he wants to go in it but he normally just lays in the back room on his blanket and plays with his toys. Ive punished him for coming home to the chewed wall by showing him the wall and the pieces and telling him that hes a bad boy but not hitting him ever. Make her lay down and watch you clean up the mess too. I dont agree with using any spray or deterents because they will just learn which walls taste bad and try a different one. My boy seemed to understand what he did because when I walked in the room afterwork he submitted before I even saw the mess, kinda told on himself because he knew he did wrong. I recommend crate traing for a month or so and slowly letting her out for short periods of time when you leave, slowly increase the time so she learns that when you leave you will come back. Praise her greatly when you come home and nothing has happened. I really recommend a strong chew toy, like the Gallileo bone, about $22 at a pet store but well worth it. Also as much excercise as possible. Shes developing her jaw muscles now and really needs to excercise them too, kinda like teething pains. Just use possitive reinforcement when she does well and let her know when she does wrong. Never let it slip and she will learn great respect for you and your property. Good luck with the little bully 8o)

Answer 4

I agree with everyone else that your dog must be crated BUT, you can not just stick an AM-Staff or many other Bully breeds into a crate then take off for four hours! You will likely come home to one huge bloody mess. And I'm not from England! Amstaffs and pits and others do NOT stay lightly in a crate if they don't want to. They are very likely to try to tear the crate inside out just to get themselves free.

You will have to start training her while you are home for the weekend. Like it has been stated above, put her in the crate (IF she will even LET you at this age) with some type of 'mind' skill toy that she has treats inside that she has to figure out how to get them out. Peanut butter is good usually because most dogs like it and it will take a while for her to get it all cleaned out. By the time she finishes, she may be tired enough to take a little nap.

Next time she goes in the crate, go outside for a while and just stand outside the door. When she starts acting crazy, go back in and reprimand her with a "NO BARK" command. Or "QUIET". Then go back outside and keep repeating until she quits. If she quits real soon, start the car (If you drive) and back it down the driveway so she thinks you have left. Sneak back to the front door and wait for her to start up again. Then rush in the door and repeat the reprimands. Don't know if you have neighbors or not but the "QUIET" command is not about her barking at all. IT is about her making any fuss in the crate that would eventually work itself into her shredding the crate and her mouth trying to get out.

Another thing I can think of if she absolutely will not go to the crate (BTW, you CAN try backing her into the crate if she just won't go in forward) Is to tie her indoors to some huge thing like if you have an island in your kitchen. Tie her so that she has enough room to relax but not long enough that she can reach the door and molding.

Finally there is fitting her for a muzzle. You don't want a wicked tight muzzle because she will go ape just trying to get it off and may very well crash into stuff in your home. She will probably get the thing off since she is a bully dog but maybe if you crate her muzzled it could work but please don't expect this dog to go great lengths of time like this.

Answer 5

This is one of the many benefits of crate training your dog. If she were crate trained, she would trot into her kennel when you told her to so that she would not be entertaining herself in your abscense at your expense. Start crate training her now! You can give her a Kong toy when you are gone and have it stuff with cheese or peanut butter. It will occupy her attention for some time trying to get to all the cheese/peanut butter in it. Also a good rope toy and perhaps a chewy, like a Bully Stick. Leave TV or a radio on for her too.

Answer 6

I know the perfect solution if you are just starting with woodworking and also if you have already experience with it. I reccomend to give a look to this website ( woodworkingplans.kyma.info ) You can find a lot of woodworking plans and you will be able to manage the projects with a CAD/DWG software. It allows you to modify the projects and to alter the arragements. If you are a beginner this is the easiest way to start, it's the best approach to woodworking; and if you already have experience you will find a lot of ideas and inspirations to improve your abilities with woodwork. I'm sure that you will love it!

Answer 7

In the event that you need to discover pleasant thoughts for woodworking i can propose you to check here http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=294

It's perfect in the event that you are simply starting out or in case you're a prepared carpenter.

It has thousands and thousands of woodworking arrangements and you have a CAD/DWG software to view and alter the arrangements. You have regulated instructions with photographs and excellent blueprints and schematics. On the off chance that you are a beginner this is the simplest approach to start your woodworking projects, and on the off chance that you already have experience you can at any rate discover a ton of interesting thoughts!

you will appreciate it :)

Answer 8

Try buying some stuff called "Bitter Apple" it is harmless to dogs but they hate the taste of it. Spray it on the areas that gets chewed the most. Hope it works.

Answer 9

Your 8 mo. old is a PUPPY. High energy, lots of curiosity.
Sounds like seperation anxiety combined with BOREDOM.
Crating her is an excellent idea. But, she needs lots of exercise. Then, when you leave she will sleep more and play less (with your furniture)
And, you're right. Punishing her for being a puppy is not fair. Fill her time with safe, energy expending activity, and she will be a better puppy naturally.

Answer 10

There is this type of Spray you can get at stores. I think its bitter to dogs but i dont think it harms them. It just prevents them from chewing on stuff they are not suppose to chew on.