Need help from Puppy Experts!

We got our puppy on August 14 from a shelter - he was 3 months. He was easily trained and very well behaved! We never had to crate him. In the past 2 weeks, he has had more than less accidents & he keeps chewing everything. Last night, my kitchen chair. Is this normal? I thought this would be what the first month would be like! Or was it just a honeymoon period? I feel like it is too late to crate him but DH & I both work in schools & I don't want him chewing my house to pieces!

Re: Need help from Puppy Experts!

I suggest trying to crate or using some type of confinement. You really don't want him to get in the habit of chewing the furniture. I had never crated before we got our puppy, but it ended-up working really well for him. We gradually increased his space as he got older (although I think he mostly slept in his crate) and by the time he was a year he had free run of the house. You can also try giving your puppy a stuffed kong toy when you leave. We did that, too and Satchmo loved it. Good luck!

Re: Need help from Puppy Experts!

I would definitely crate him when you are both not home. He is probably bored by himself and looking for something to do. He's only 4 months old and shouldn't have any problem adapting to a crate. It's a safer environment for him and, certainly, less stressful for you.

Re: Need help from Puppy Experts!

we just adopted a puppy last month..she is 7 months...so a bit older than normal...we crated her...our other dog we did not crate and it was a horror getting her to stop chewing things and destroying the house w hile we were out...the puppy got adjusted to the crate almost immediately and has been fine with it ever since...we call it her "house" and I'll tell her "Morgan go in your house" and she goes right in...its great piece of mind that she is not doing anything bad while you are out....I would def crate the puppy! Good Luck!

Message edited 9/29/2006 10:28:42 PM.