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Veteran
Posts: 154
 
Location: Tennessee | We have a one year old Aust. Shep./Heeler mix and I can NOT get her to stop chewing things up. She has gotten a little better the older she gets but now it seems like her taste in chew toys is becoming more and more expensive. She has bones to chew on but they don't seem to keep her happy. She has destroyed bell boots, saddle pads, horse clipper, brushes, shop vac, the cords on our hot heels, and today the 4 WHEELER SEAT!! My husband is going to **** a brick when he gets home and notices that one. We try and keep everything picked up but it seems like as soon as you turn your back she grabs whatever you just had. So please tell me what you all have done to stop dogs from chewing things up? I hate to get rid of her because our son loves her and our old dog has become rather attached but I am at my breaking point!
Edited by S_W 2014-07-13 6:49 AM
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  The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
  
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | She needs a JOB. (And a come to Jesus meeting.) A TIRED dog is too busy SLEEPING to chew up stuff.
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I have one who is a chewer, and she never did outgrow it. I agree a high energy dog needs a job. Mine had one. I just couldn't stop her from chewing, she did it day and night. As soon as I turned my back. She got to be sneaky about it, too. She knew it was wrong. I crated her when I couldn't monitor her in the house and eventually, after about two years, I just moved her outside. She gets to come in every now and then. It usually ends in her getting booted back outside because she chewed up something. |
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 Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7622
Location: Dubach, LA | My black lab chewed the storm door off its hinges. I understand your pain.
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | RacingQH - 2014-07-12 8:22 PM
She needs a JOB. (And a come to Jesus meeting.) A TIRED dog is too busy SLEEPING to chew up stuff.
Breed her.... She will stop chewing and produce 6 more chewers... (that you can sell to people you don't like) |
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Veteran
Posts: 154
Location: Tennessee | I can't even imagine what would be chewed up if she was inside the house!!! Hence why she is an outside dog. We are in the process of building a barn and will be getting some barn cats once it is finished so maybe she will keep herself busy chasing them! : )
She is fixed so no puppies, not that I would even entertain the idea anyway.
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | There is a bitter apple spray that might work for you. I think my dog liked the added flavor, though. Cayenne pepper worked to stop one from digging once.
Tha's all I can think of. Hope you find a solution, or yours outgrows it soon. |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: Nashvegas | Yikes! I would consult a dog trainer and I don't know if this will help but this is the best dog toy/keep a dog busy thing ever: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18516 And yes it is industructable. She may like the texture better, since she seems to like spongy things to chew. Pricey but worth it!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | One of mine used to chew EVERYTHING!! He chewed up my phone once...got it replaced and the same day I got the new one he chewed it!!! He chewed anything he could get his teeth on!! We kept him crated when we couldn't monitor him and every chance he tried to chew he got a spanking and sent to his crate! Finally after he was about 2 he stopped. There were several occasions I wanted to get rid of him but we kept on him and he doesn't even entertain the idea of chewing anything up anymore. He is 4 now. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Maybe try a Muzzle for a while.  |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | I saw a video that had three empty bottles with a hole threw the top and a round stick that ran through the bottles and supported on both ends. The dog was playing with them. They would swing and flip over. One bottle had dog food in the bottom and if the dog could get it to swing just right food would fall out. Perhaps something like this could keep your dog entertained long enought to not chew on every thing. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | have you tried teaching her how to catch a tennis ball or a Frisbee? it's a lot of running for them which gets them TIRED after 30 minutes of playing ball.
our heeler/jack russell would have eaten us out of house and home without learning how to do fly ball. and it was a pretty cool thing to do with him each day. He learned the only thing his mouth goes on is food and that darn tennis ball. and he'd rip those to shreds too but it was a lot easier (and cheaper) cleaning up chewed up tennis balls over chairs and ripped up cushions. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | have you tried getting her any of those dentabones or the nice chewy bones with the spikes on them? Our dogs love them and their good for their gums. Also... do you have an area you can go and take her for a long walk? I take our dogs for a 3 mile walk every day letting them run loose, when they get back, their tired! My heeler was quite the chewer when he was young... he chewed my new boots, a candle, my sisters flip flops etc. If you can catch her in the act and spank her with whatever she is chewing and say NO! that might help... seemed to help me. Try and keep valuable stuff out of her reach... I know that can be hard but maybe try working really hard with her for a few weeks. Also... get a ball thrower and throw ball till she won't get it anymore! That really tires our doggies out and they love it. I'm sorry!! I know your pain!! Glad she is spayed. :)
Edited by DLV 2014-07-14 9:01 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 154
Location: Tennessee | Thank you all for the advice! I am for sure going to try some of the things that were mentioned!!! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 475
Location: Alabama | Another thing that helps is to give them what they are allowed to chew on (like one of their bones or toys) when you take the "bad" thing away.
While we were on vacation, our 1 year old Aussie got to the other part of our yard & busted our redneck pool. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I'm sure I'll get a dislike.....but hott sauce?
Or direct her attention elsewhere, maybe she needs a job |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | Giving more exercise and "Good" things she can chew are good ideas. But never give her old shoes etc as they can't tell what ones are the Old ones from your brand new boots.
One other idea is to get a training collar. We have the kind that can either make an annoying sound OR give a little shock of varying intensity. This has worked great for us. If they pick up something they are not allowed to chew...or start to dig a hole...hit the button. But...this requires you being there at the time.
Honestly...the only way to keep them from chewing stuff is to keep them in a pen when un attended and let them out when you can supervise and use the collar along with "NO". In time they will grow up and get over the need so much.
The collar worked great for me to be able to allow the weenie dog to run around off leash at the house for walks. If she started to get too far away I would call her back...if no response I'd do the tone. She never needed the shock...she would hear that and head back. It also worked great for getting her to NOT bark when I would have her on the tether and walk away. I needed to be able to work around the house without her under foot or running off and she would bark incessantly. Now all I have to do is put that collar on. She knows...and won't bark. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | In all honesty she's a puppy... She is loosing her teeth and NEEDS to chew to lose them. The best thing to do is to play tug of war with her to help the baby teeth to go ahead and come on out. Puppies don't chew because theyre puppies or because they're young, they chew because they need to get the teeth that are loose out and it's very hard to get them out alone.
JMO but I never have a problem with puppies chewing if i play tug of war with them with their favorite rope chew. Once they lose all their baby teeth you have no more problems correct? Try and help her get them all out before the sprays and jobs and discipline.
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 California Cowgirl
Posts: 14973
Location: California | Definitely make sure there are enough things that the pup is allowed to chew on .
My older 3 are now over two years old and out of the chew stage but my pup is just about 7 months and still a busy chewer. We make sure to play with him until he's about to drop every morning and every night outback with a ball. When we are not home or not able to keep an eye on him he is in a crate , even if it is just while I shower . He can do a lot of damage in 20 minutes if he is allowed.
With all of ours rest assured they did stop chewing after the puppy stage but I agree with the above. The more tired the dog , the less outlets he is going to look for to relieve some excess energy.
If you try bitter apple spray test it on one thing first. I got it when my blue started chewing things (electrical cords, carpet , drywall , fireplace mantle , tile , brick wall ) and sprayed it on everything thinking I had her beat. The brat went and chewed on every single things I sprayed after that . She actually enjoys that foul taste .
Good luck! |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | Needs a job And she is teething |
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