My Dog Won't Stop Chewing!!!?

Question

Does any one have any tips on how I can get my 11 mo. old Lab Retriever from chewing up everything when he's alone in the house?! I've already tried giving him chew toys (nyla bones, rubber toys, rawhide, etc.),I've tried bitter sprays & that doesn't seem to phase him, I kept things out of reach only for him to start chewing on the furniture, I've tried crating him & he chewed through his METAL crate! Aargh! I love him to death & I know he is still young, but is there anything else I can try???

Thanks in advance

Oh...and I take him jogging with me 4 days out of the week to try and tire him out!

Answer 1

Pretty funny that several people suggested things you explicitly said you already tried. Geesh.

I suggest talking to your vet about this. Usually crating, spraying with the bitter sprays, and providing plenty of chew toys does the trick. Perhaps there is a medical problem causing him stress? Perhaps he is not getting enough exercise? Often dogs do such things because they are acting out due to stress or lack of exercise. Talk to your vet about this and make sure he is healthy.

Good luck!

Answer 2

whoever said use Tabasco DON'T follow their advice! Tabasco is very bad for a dog, for any animal really.

if the dog chews while you're home not just while your away scold him (no hitting) just strong sounding vocal NOs! don't crate the dog though, you want his crate to be a good place to go, where treats come from, or car rides and is a secure safe haven not a place of punishment. whenever you see the dog near the furniture but not chewing on it, reward them with praises and food. if you come home and notice nothing has been chewed on reward them. this isn't something that will fade out as he gets older. scold for chewing on furniture and the like but reward lavishly for chewing on chew toys and what he's supposed to chew on. eventually the dog would get the picture and will stop, but you must help him. dog training books often help, plus you can teach other tricks!

Answer 3

Try taking him for a good hour long walk in the mornings before you leave the house, then leave him with his toys in his crate. He should be tired & sleep. Keep up the exercise & he should stop the chewing.

Also you have to make sure he is trained so that he respects his place in the house, you're the Alpha dog/pack leader.

All that being said - Lab's are reknown for their ability to eat anything & everything!!! Good luck.

Answer 4

You could put him in your bathroom! Enclose him in a certain area!
When crate training, you shouldnt just put him in and thats it. You should make the crate a happy place! Dont leave him in there for long periods of time when training. Put him in, and praise him. Give him a treat then let him out. Put him in for longer each time. Eventually, you should leave the room for about 5 minutes, come back and reward him. He would now see the crate as a fun place where you praise and give him attention! He will also become more comfortable!

Good luck..and remember, as he gets older, he will mellow out and calm down!

Answer 5

It cant help itself. It is teething and rubber is not hard enough for its teeth. It may not like bones because there is not much flavor. Spray only makes puppies more excited (like your giving it flavor). Try putting everything in foil so it will have a funky taste to it or rub a hot spice on it so that would be its punishment. Make sure you have water for it.

Answer 6

does he chew the nylabones and his toys or just ignore them and go for the other stuff in your house? if he ignores them, try all different tricks, like put a bone inside a kong to challenge him, or put peanut butter over his nylabone or raw hide and freeze it. have lots of balls and frisbees out for him always. i agree, you can solve almost 100% behavior problems with just more exercise, i had to walk my jack russell terrier mix 2 hours a day or she got destructive. also always involve yourself in the chewing toys, dont leave a bunch of nylabones and other chew ones out like the balls and frisbee, just leave a couple

maybe she needs more mental stimulation if you exercise her enough, like flyball, agility, or just obedience classes if you can afford them. or you can just spend some time throwing her the frisbee in the yard maybe.

Answer 7

Well, all puppies chew, and mine did the same. Sometimes they will stop early, some late.

Answer 8

create train the dog and put his toys in with him

Answer 9

Use bitter apple

Answer 10

try getting one of those things that keep dogs away from furniture'