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MrsKellyBride
Mommy of 3!
Member since 8/06 1617 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Please help me with my puppy problems
We have had our puppy since August. He is a mutt - black lab, hound, dobermind, etc. He is a big boy - 6 months & 46 lbs.
He was easily trained and we both work full-time in schools. He gets the kitchen and computer room while we are gone all day since it has hard floors. Things have went really well until the last 2 weeks.
He is CHEWING EVERYTHING! My microwave plug, tupperware, digital camera wire, paper towels, etc. He will jump up to get things & destroys our house 
Last night, we woke up at 5am to loud noises & he was eating all of our bills & metal mail organizer. It is getting ridiculous & expensive. I am so sad & mad. There have been NO CHANGES - why all of a sudden and what do we do?
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Posted 12/19/06 7:32 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Shanti
True love
Member since 6/05 12653 total posts
Name:
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
I'm sorry about this
To me, it sounds like you have to puppy proof the house and move chewable items out of your dog's reach. During teething, he will chew anything he can. It's up to you to get those things out of the way.
My other suggestion is to confine him to a puppy proof area when you are not home or sleeping like a crate. We confined our pups to the kitchen when we went out. No wires, no papers within reach.
Good luck.
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| Posted 12/19/06 8:10 AM |
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karacg
Babygirl is 4!
Member since 5/05 17076 total posts
Name:
Kara®
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
I am reading a LOT about this now.
First, do not scold your dog unless you catch him in the act. The ones who need scolding are parents who let their dogs have access to anything they can chew and/or destroy. This is also dangerous for your puppy as he may ingest something that can cause a lot of damage internally.
Give your dog 3 chew toys a day - no more, no less. Rotate them daily so they are always "new" - unless he has a favorite, in which case let him keep that one and rotate the other 2. He should have something hard rubber, and something squishy. Rawhide might be a good idea at his point as well.
Crating your dog is NOT cruel - he will cry right now, but if you feed him in there and put his toys in it, this will help him "like" his crate. B sure to give him TONS of excercise before and after work, and before bed. Labs are supposed to get 45 mins- 1 hour excercise 3x/day.
Hope this helps - I got some great training books in the Library!!
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| Posted 12/19/06 8:20 AM |
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chelle
It's a Good Life
Member since 8/06 15404 total posts
Name:
Isn't it obvious?
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
Get yourself some Bitter Apple Spray. They sell this at almost any pet store. We used it when my puppy was chewing everything. It does not harm furniture, clothing, etc. They HATE the taste. Just spray it on the stuff he's chewing and next time he goes for it, he'll be in for a nasty tasting surprise.
Good luck!
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| Posted 12/19/06 9:01 AM |
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pinkandblue
Our family is complete, maybe
Member since 9/05 32436 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
Posted by chelle
Get yourself some Bitter Apple Spray. They sell this at almost any pet store. We used it when my puppy was chewing everything. It does not harm furniture, clothing, etc. They HATE the taste. Just spray it on the stuff he's chewing and next time he goes for it, he'll be in for a nasty tasting surprise.
Good luck!
When my girl was in her destructive phase, she actually liked the way this tasted and would lick ot off things that we had sprayed it on 
Luckily, her destructive phase did not last long 
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| Posted 12/19/06 9:13 AM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
i agree with the crate idea. our dog is the same way... i think sometimes he just gets bored and chews stuff. so we put him in the crate when we're not home. he gets a little bit upset, but we give him a treat and he has blankets in there. i think it makes him feel safe when we're not there. as long as you take your puppy for a nice long walk when you get home, it should be fine.
also just be EXTRA careful with keeping things out of his reach. and give him "good' things to chew, like bones or toys. i know a lot of puppies like those Kong toys where you put food inside them and he has to work to get it out... keeps them busy.
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| Posted 12/19/06 9:29 AM |
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karacg
Babygirl is 4!
Member since 5/05 17076 total posts
Name:
Kara®
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
Forgot to mention - when he is chewing something he shouldn't, take it away with a stern NO and replace it with one of his toys. When he chews on the toy, praise him.
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| Posted 12/19/06 10:03 AM |
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Daybreak
LIF Infant
Member since 10/06 184 total posts
Name:
Dawn
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
Crate train him, he's still young and shouldn't be left alone to get into trouble for one.
Walk him, run him in a park...he needs to get rid of some of his energy
good luck!
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| Posted 12/19/06 1:08 PM |
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LFitzy79
can hardly wait
Member since 5/05 2650 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
He's teething and entering into the adolescent phase-only one thing to do...
CRATE HIM. He could really hurt himself. Put some toys, maybe a kong or a marrow filled with cheese in the crate for him to chew on...
he's safer in there than out on his own, especially if he's eating wires, I had a puppy that started a fire by chewing wires to an electric blanket-thank god no one was hurt.
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| Posted 12/19/06 2:01 PM |
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JMF
LIF Infant
Member since 3/06 230 total posts
Name:
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
Sorry to hear this is happening.... he seems like such a good boy!
I also DONT agree with most of the above post... hes a puppy he needs exercise... Not to be locked up for 8 hr. Puppies shouldnt be in a crate for more than 3 or 4 hrs at a time!!!!
Make sure you walk him (for 30 min) when you get home and before you leave!!! If hes tired he wont chew and rip things... HEs a baby... its hard for them to sit home all day with nothing to do...
Also.. get a kong. I put yogurt in it at night and freeze it. I give it to bailey before we leave in the morning.
Try the walks for a week... I konw it will work!
GOOD LUCK!
Message edited 12/19/2006 5:37:46 PM.
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| Posted 12/19/06 5:36 PM |
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Porrruss
Nya nya nya
Member since 5/05 11618 total posts
Name:
Amy
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
I don't see where any of the above posters said to leave a puppy crated for 8 hours a day.....
Regardless of whether the puppy is locked in a crate or locked in a room- NO puppy should be alone for 8 hours at a time. And being free to roam around a kitchen does not provide exercise- it provides opportunities for the little guy to hurt himself.
A crate provides the safest environment-obviously not something he's been in if hes been able to chew wires.....
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| Posted 12/20/06 8:40 AM |
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LFitzy79
can hardly wait
Member since 5/05 2650 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
Posted by JMF
Sorry to hear this is happening.... he seems like such a good boy!
I also DONT agree with most of the above post... hes a puppy he needs exercise... Not to be locked up for 8 hr. Puppies shouldnt be in a crate for more than 3 or 4 hrs at a time!!!!
Make sure you walk him (for 30 min) when you get home and before you leave!!! If hes tired he wont chew and rip things... HEs a baby... its hard for them to sit home all day with nothing to do...
Also.. get a kong. I put yogurt in it at night and freeze it. I give it to bailey before we leave in the morning.
Try the walks for a week... I konw it will work!
GOOD LUCK!
I agree that exercise is key in raising a puppy-"a tired dog is a good dog"....however I still stand firm on crate training, dogs are den animals, they feel safer in a crate, it's like thier own little home, and they can't hurt themselves.
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| Posted 12/20/06 9:57 AM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
Posted by karacg
I am reading a LOT about this now.
First, do not scold your dog unless you catch him in the act. The ones who need scolding are parents who let their dogs have access to anything they can chew and/or destroy. This is also dangerous for your puppy as he may ingest something that can cause a lot of damage internally.
Give your dog 3 chew toys a day - no more, no less. Rotate them daily so they are always "new" - unless he has a favorite, in which case let him keep that one and rotate the other 2. He should have something hard rubber, and something squishy. Rawhide might be a good idea at his point as well.
Crating your dog is NOT cruel - he will cry right now, but if you feed him in there and put his toys in it, this will help him "like" his crate. B sure to give him TONS of excercise before and after work, and before bed. Labs are supposed to get 45 mins- 1 hour excercise 3x/day.
Hope this helps - I got some great training books in the Library!!
I agree. The dog thinks that they are doing a normal & natural thing by teething & helping the new teeth come in. Yelling at them unless you catch them in the act is not helping. Also, you have to puppy proof your house. The dog does not know what is for him & what is off limits. Crating is not only a good way to keep your dog & house safe, but it also can create a "home base" for your dog to rest, sleep & feel safe.
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| Posted 12/22/06 8:23 PM |
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JMF
LIF Infant
Member since 3/06 230 total posts
Name:
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
Posted by LFitzy79
Posted by JMF
Sorry to hear this is happening.... he seems like such a good boy!
I also DONT agree with most of the above post... hes a puppy he needs exercise... Not to be locked up for 8 hr. Puppies shouldnt be in a crate for more than 3 or 4 hrs at a time!!!!
Make sure you walk him (for 30 min) when you get home and before you leave!!! If hes tired he wont chew and rip things... HEs a baby... its hard for them to sit home all day with nothing to do...
Also.. get a kong. I put yogurt in it at night and freeze it. I give it to bailey before we leave in the morning.
Try the walks for a week... I konw it will work!
GOOD LUCK!
I agree that exercise is key in raising a puppy-"a tired dog is a good dog"....however I still stand firm on crate training, dogs are den animals, they feel safer in a crate, it's like thier own little home, and they can't hurt themselves.
I agree crate training is GREAT too... however people abuse the crate... Poster said DH and her both work full time jobs! 8-9 hrs alone is NOT FAIR to a puppy. Poster needs to reconsider the needs of her dog so that he is happy... then maybe she wont be so "mad"
Message edited 12/23/2006 5:38:19 PM.
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| Posted 12/23/06 5:37 PM |
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karacg
Babygirl is 4!
Member since 5/05 17076 total posts
Name:
Kara®
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Re: Please help me with my puppy problems
I totally agree that 8 hours is too long for a puppy to be in a crate - which is why I recommended 1/2 hour - 45 min play 3 times daily -- ideally we would all work from home and be able to take puppy out whenever need be. Or be able to come home at lunch time - which is not always the case.
I do think however that a pup is much better off being crated for 8 hours than being left in a shelter or pet store -- where they do their duty in the cage and rarely get out at all.
The best case scenario - you or DH go home at lunch time and take puppy out, or have someone come by and do so. But I still stick by the crating as I am doing this for the first time with my 10 week old lab, and he seems to be doing very well. It keeps pup and you house safe. And you, sane.
Message edited 12/23/2006 6:02:12 PM.
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| Posted 12/23/06 6:01 PM |
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