How do I deal with dog chewing?

welshmoneylover · 20 October 2010 at 8:08PM

Have you considered separation anxiety and possibly boredom?

Please don't criticise the other replies, they are offering very helpful advice.

wilykit · 20 October 2010 at 8:21PM

lucyq wrote: »

theres really no excuse they work on average for £8 per hr, just one hour a day to break up the day may make all the difference to her. (If you can afford to take on a 2nd dog, cover vets fees, jabs, food surely £8 is cheap!)

That is £160 a month, and taking on a second dog doesn't cost me anywhere near that. They cost me £15 a month in food and then I buy treats etc.

Beckyy · 20 October 2010 at 9:46PM

What is she like when you're home at weekends?

It really sounds like she needs some kind of stimulation during the day, it probably won't solve the problem, as it sounds like she needs more human interaction, but it might help to ease it. Consider getting some interactive toys such as a large kong, fill it with treats and freeze it if the treats are freezable ( I sometimes use peanut butter). She's going to be feeling pretty frustrated..think about how you would feel if you were locked in one room for the entire day.

You have to bear in mind that at a year old this dog is only just past it's 'teenage' stage, and as she hasnt had the best start in like anyway she will probably need more attention than a dog that would have been with you from a pup.

Although many people do still work full time and have dogs, it just doesn't work for some people/dogs. It isn't fair for a dog, particularly one suffering from behavioural issues, to be left alone for 6/7/8+ hours a day. It's fantastic that you've rescued her from her previous situation, and although the current one is much better than being stuck in a yard day and night it's still not ideal. I'm not trying to insult you at all by saying this, but the problem will continue if the situation doesn't change.

Please do check around locally for a dog walker, if you find a suitable one you may be able to book a block of walks for a reduced price or even ask for 30/45minutes instead of an hour to reduce the costs. £15 a month is very cheap for keeping two dogs, my one dog costs me about that a week in food. I think realistically you need to expect to have extra costs such as dog walkers/training sessions when you don't have the time during the day for the dog(s).

Is there any way you or your partner could come home during a lunch break for a quick 5 minute run around the garden too?

jenhug · 20 October 2010 at 10:02PM

what food are they on? some foods can cause hyperactivity in dogs. £15 a month is very cheap for 2 decent sized dogs, (I have Mastiffs, they cost me a fortune!!)

I'm not attacking you, but you are coming across as very defensive towards other people that are trying to help you.

If I were you, this is what I would try.
1,look at diet, change to a more natural one if necessary/able
2, get a DAP collar
3, dog training, at a club and at home, teaching your dog tricks etc uses their brains and helps tire them out.
4, up the walks
5, provide a wider range of toys, that are available to chew (one of mine likes a car tyre and teddy bears) change them often, keep some that are just for when the dog is left alone
6, consider crate training.
7, consider agility training or similar.

Not neccesarily in that order, but all things i would do to help my dog.

I hope you find something that works for you, i've had trouble with my dogs (one of them removed the back door while i was out one day, he tried to get out of the cat flap!) so I do know how stressful it can be!

jenhug · 20 October 2010 at 10:13PM

there is also the possibility that the dog would rather be in the garden when you are out?

wilykit · 21 October 2010 at 10:42AM

jenhug wrote: »

what food are they on? some foods can cause hyperactivity in dogs. £15 a month is very cheap for 2 decent sized dogs, (I have Mastiffs, they cost me a fortune!!)

I'm not attacking you, but you are coming across as very defensive towards other people that are trying to help you.

If I were you, this is what I would try.
1,look at diet, change to a more natural one if necessary/able
2, get a DAP collar
3, dog training, at a club and at home, teaching your dog tricks etc uses their brains and helps tire them out.
4, up the walks
5, provide a wider range of toys, that are available to chew (one of mine likes a car tyre and teddy bears) change them often, keep some that are just for when the dog is left alone
6, consider crate training.
7, consider agility training or similar.

Not neccesarily in that order, but all things i would do to help my dog.

I hope you find something that works for you, i've had trouble with my dogs (one of them removed the back door while i was out one day, he tried to get out of the cat flap!) so I do know how stressful it can be!

I am being defensive but that's because sometimes I feel people are looking down on me for leaving my dog. I know the situation isn't ideal and I just wanted to take her away from the home she was in previously.

They eat 2 bowls of dry dog food - one for breakfast and one for tea per day.

I will certainly look into a DAP collar (I will research it on my lunch hour

)

I know this may sound incredibly dim but can I still take her to dog training/obedience classes? Like you said - it uses their brain and may tire them out. Once I have learnt a few tricks etc I could easily carry it on at home - again I will ring round some places on my lunch hour.

Removed the back door :O

I can't leave my dogs in the back garden unfortunatly as it is not safe to leave them unsupervised due to how the garden is set out. Next ear we are gutting the garden and sorting it so hopefully they can be left unsupervised more.

Could I not consider building an outdoor type of run for in the day? The garden is cetrainly big enough and I would make sure there was shelter and bedding etc etc. Then they could both be in the garden securely?

Sorry if I have seemed defensive, I don't mean to be, I am just please some people have good advice.

Thanks

wilykit · 21 October 2010 at 1:29PM

Also - I have just booked both dogs on an Obedience Course starting Wednesday 17th November - I know this won't solve the problem with chewing, but once they know I am their leader and learn to follow commands I feel that I might be able to tackle to problem better.

I will also carry the training on at home and teach them tricks and keep their minds stimulated.

I am very excited for this course and am going to try everything I can to sort this.

Thanks again for advice, and sorry I was so defensive

Missy_Spud · 21 October 2010 at 4:32PM

Good luck with the course, keep us updated on your progress

wilykit · 21 October 2010 at 5:21PM

Thank you

The course doesn't start until 17th November - the course before that is fully booked.

It's a 4 week course for older dogs and teaches basic things such as sit, stay, lay, leave, the difference between food and lead hands etc etc. It also teaches them to walk properly and a lead.

But I feel if I get them to understand these then they will be better behaved and I can carry on the training

I am excited! I really hope it works - the course is 4 weeks long and if I am not happy at the end of the first 2 weeks they will refund me! It is once a week and costs £40.00 per dog with a 4 week follow on period.

elsien · 21 October 2010 at 5:56PM

Is it one of those canine good citizen things? I did the bronze level one with mutt and found it really useful. We didn't achieve a massive amount in practical terms, but it helped mutt to socialize with dogs and people which was one of her issues, and made me more confident in how I was handling her. (Plus seeing other people in the same boat as me made me feel slightly less useless!)