My Dogs Chews!!!!

My best advice as a HUGE animal lover and former breeder....get a crate and quick. When you cannot watch her or when you leave the house, put her in it. You can give her a raw hide (something she won't destroy instantly) or maybe a kong with peanut butter/food in it to entertain her while you are away. But that would cease all destruction. Also - if she likes to chew so much - NO towels, rugs, bed, or plastic crate. Hope that helps.

Crate her til she gets the hint and try having her fixed if not already..there is stuff you can spray on things at petco.
Never tried it my self

I would suggest grate training her! I was completely against this but I had a terrier i could get to potty train and after two and a half years I could take it anymore. She really like her crate, we would have comfy blankets and toys and chew bones in it. when we left we simply told her to go in the kennel and she would run in it... and a suggestion for a crate/kennel would be going to freecycle.com and posting a wanted ad for a dog crate and seeing if anyone has an extra one. Now we dont even use a crate but it was a life saver!!! Good luck

check this site out... don't give up on u'r dog.. she may just be suffering from seperation anxiety.... http://canines.com/library/solutions/sepanxiety.shtml

Have you tried a kennel? Our dog, Leroy, is a German Shepard/Akida mix. And he CHEWS. I have lost countless pairs of shoes, my daughter's toys, pillows, our couch, anything you can think of, he chews. So as "punishment", when we leave the house, we put Leroy in a nice sized kennel. Our other dog, Captain,is not put in a kennel, so Leroy has to watch him roam the house while he is locked inside a kennel. It has significantly helped with his chewing things when we are not around, b/c he does not want to be put in there. Also, when he chews something like a shoe or my daughter's toys, we tie it around his neck and make him wear it for a long period of time. Believe it or not, it frustrates them to the point that they get that they should not have chewed it. Hope this helps!

Hi, I was going to tell you to crate train your dog, but I see everyone else has told you that already lol. I do know one trick that really works go to your local drug or grocery store, and buy some clove oil. It isn't harmful to dogs or people, since it's basicly a seasoning, but for some reason dogs hate the smell, my mother has been a dog breeder for most of my life, and this has worked every time. It's also cheap and safe. Five years is way too long for a dog to still be chewing, could he be bored or is he being spitefull because of jelousy?? Make sure he has his own things to chew on, get him a crate, and try the oil. I hope this works for you good luck!!

It sounds to me like she is bored. Try upping her exercise routine. And I would suggest crating her while you are away.

My first recommendation is that you invest in a crate and crate your little cutie when you are not at home(If that is the only time she gets into trouble.) Crates are great investments...not only do you know exactly where your dog is at when you are not home, but you are actually giving your dog a place of their own. One of the most important things to remember about a crate is to not let your child play in it. It has to be a respected place for your dog...not for punishment, but for safety. We have always used crates with all our dogs with great success. Your dog might be chewing when you are not home because she is scared and suffering from seperation issues. My Greyhound did that once...when we did a trial run of letting her "free" in one room of the house when we were not home. She chewed a corner of my desk!!
Get your dog a kong, fill it with peanutbutter or dog bones, tell her "crate", toss in the kong, and close the door. Leave quickly & might I suggest leaving a radio & light on in the room that you put the crate in. Remember to let her outside as soon as you get home!! Good luck!

Chewers and poopers can drive one crazy. How old is the whippet? Dogs can go through the puppy stage up to 2 to 4 years. If the dog only chews while you are out he may have seperation anxiety. Really! A dog trainer helped me with a beagle that only pooped when I left him and took his load onto my stuff, once going into my purse that was left on the floor. lol Yes, I laughed as I love my dogs and had learned to learn how to take control. Wippets need lots of exercise. He should be taken to an area for running or on a leash with vibrant walking. This will take effort on your part, but look at the exercise the family can get. Crating him while you are out will not hurt him. If he has never been crated then you must wean him into this new type of security. You can call me and I will help you.I have the crate, time and experience to help. Also have him checked my the vet to make sure there are no medical or nutritional problems.

I know what you are going through! I have a 2 year old Black lab. We got him when he was a month old. He chews anything and everything. Crating them when you leave and at bedtime helps tremendously. They will cry for awhile till they get used to it. Put old blankets that smell like the family and a idestructable toy. My dog has chewed our kitchen table, brand new cabinets our carpet, almost an entire couch(which by the way we had to throw out couldn't fix it anymore), shoes, coats toys. He is getting better now, we don't crate him much anymore but it is still used as his bed and times when he needs it. He is confined to two rooms of the house when we leave the living room, which doesn't get used much, and the kitchen. My fiance built a door with plexi glass windows in between the rooms. It really helps. We also have child proof locks on all cabinets in our kitchen. for your sons room put a lock on the out side of the door so when your gone lock it and the pup can't get in. I definetly wrote a lot but it may help. I know someone else mentioned the sprays they do not work I have tried them all, the dog gets used to the taste and they don't care anymore, Crating is the best way, also helps with potty training if it already hasn't been done.

Hi K.,

If she's doing this just when you aren't home, why not get a crate she can go in when you are away? That way she can't get into anything that she could chew up. When you have her crated give her the things that she can chew (rawhides, dog toys etc)that way she can maybe learn what she is allowed to chew.

Also, I believe there is a spray out there that you could spray on things that you don't want her to chew, but it sounds like you would have to spray everything.

L.

Hi K.!

I went through what you are describing with our German Shepherd, she was an awesome dog but chewed for much too long. Oh, the damage she did... My advice is to crate train the dog. I now have a 17-month-old Akita, and a 6-month-old Miniature Australian Shepherd. They are both crate trained and neither one of them objects to the time in their crates when no one will be home. When we are home, the Akita is guilty of getting himself into trouble chewing through a vacuum cord, stealing knives from the sink and running around the house with them, etc. Clearly, he is not ready to be left alone yet :) We are just now leaving his crate door open at night so he can walk around upstairs but he always ends up back in his crate on his own. The Aussie just came to us a week and a half ago so she hasn't gotten into as much trouble, but she does have a love for socks! I can see that the crates give them a place to go and feel secure and is best for their own safety. It also keeps them from constantly being in trouble. I know that the initial expense seems like a lot, but compared to the carpet and mattresses, it will be a savings. The other option I can suggest is the "bitter" sprays that you put on the targeted items, but our Akita liked them...all of them! I hope this helps and please feel free to ask questions if I can be of more help!

I think you should consult a professional trainer - dog behaviors like chewing are common enough that a good one should be able to help you. There may be a good reason she chews so much - dietary, stress, not enough exercise, etc.

You may also want to think about crate training. When you are not at home or when you are not able to keep an eye on the dog, she can be put in her crate. You'll want to make sure you get the right size for that type of dog (I don't know enough to tell you about that, but I would think a trainer or dog professional would be able to help you)

Have you done any research on whippets? Some breeds have particular behaviors that are common to that breed and other whippet owners may already have gone through this. Here are some links I found for you:

Whippet owners with some short tips (some good chewing prevention advice) -
http://www.geocities.com/thewhippetclub/faq.htm

more from a whippet breeder:
http://www.onyxxwhippets.com/whippetinfo.htm

here's an online whippet forum - bet they have lots of info for you!
http://www.whippettalk.com/forums/index.php

General whippet info
http://www.whippet.com/

I hope some of that helps - dogs are great and it's a shame when the behavior causes so many problems that you can't enjoy them properly... Wish you lots of luck, both with the dog and your family!

K.

There are a few things you can do. Have you tried a product like Bitter Apple? It is a vailable at most pet stores, makes the stuff taste bad. If the dog is chewing when left alone the best thing to do is crate it. My dogs love their crates, it gives them a place of their own they feel secure in, and big bonus nothing gets destroyed!!

Crate train your dog. I know it sounds horrible and many people don't like it but it really works and its not that bad. I have a pit bull mix and a Siberian husky who both get crated when I leave the house. We've tried leaving them out now that their older but I've had an iPod chewed up, photo albums and books so......back to the crates. They have special treats they get when we put them in the crates and when they see us get them they run for the crates and get right in. It may take a little for your dog to get used to and I would start off with short periods of time but it'll help save your carpet and crib mattresses. Good luck!

P.S. You can try a bitter apple spray thats supposed to keep them from chewing things but I've known dogs that didn't mind the taste. I'd make sure she has tons of chewy toys for herself too. Dollar Stores are great places to get cheap toys they can destroy that won't blow your budget!

Have you tried crating the dog when you are gone?

YIKES!
Do you have a crate? I would recommend a crate for her while your out of the house or busy in the home. How about daily walks? How many & for what length does she take them? Walking is one way dog release energy. I could tell you a bunch of things to aid in here chewing but I don't want to repeat anything you have already done. You can contact me via email if you like. I have been training dogs & working with rescues for many years.

____@____.com

Good luck!
E.

Hi K., Well I have two dogs and all I can tell you is try a trainer I had one and it helped and also what I still do when I go out I cage them in a crate. Even at night I sometimes do it so I know they won't do anything. Hope this helps alittle I understand that they become part of the family and it is hard to let go. R.

I know what you are talking about. I also have a pup that is just over a year. When we got her, she was the same way. We had a crate and put her in it each time she chewed on something. She now is able to be out even when we aren't home. You might want to get her chew toys. You can buy rope that has knots, and lots of different toys. Maybe if you or hubby can play with her even a short time with her toys, she will start to understand what is hers, and what isnt'. Good luck. Hope this works. But I think i would get a crate for when you aren't home.

I would definitely get her some training. See if that helps before you do anything else.
You have the right idea on waiting to get anything new. It's hard as it is, when you have pets or kids.
It's also nice that you have your priorities in line. I believe once you get a pet, it's part of the family. It's your responsibility for it's life.
Something will work, keep trying. Good luck.

Hi,
It sounds like your dog has a lot of anxiety, believe it or not, many breeds are known to have it (Goldens and Labs & terriers especially, I don't know about Whippets). My dog is a terrier mix & I know what you're going through. She destroyed just about every piece of furniture in our house in the first 6 months we had her. I was really against the idea at first, but crate training truly works, it gave our dog a safe comfortable place to go when stressed (we left the door open when we were home), and she eventually got used to going in there during the day while we were at work or I was taking a shower. (I tried bringing her in the bathroom but she just ate the rug and wicker laundry basket!) Also, I would highly recommend a dog trainer. We took her to a group class in Berlin NJ (not sure if you live in the area or not) that was wonderful, called WonderDogs. They also do in-home training if you need it. Petsmart's training was a joke. But I think a crate (no matter how small your apt) will definitely keep her from destroying what's left of your place, just be sure to take her collar off before hand so she doesn't get it caught & choke herself. Just another thought, she could be having a hard time dealing with all the transitions lately, since she was with your husband alone before you got married & moved it, now you've got a child & one on the way. She may be really insecure & trying to assert her dominance. Good luck with everything!
A.

You should try crating her whenever you are not at home. We have to do that with both of our dogs. They also like to chew, but only when we are not home. You can also buy this spray, called bitter apple and it discourages them from chewing, peeing on, etc. whatever you spray it on.

hi we just recently got a new puppy she loves to chew on everything. she loved to go into my sons room and chew on things and potty in there so what i did is got a baby gate and it works. also everytime i leave to go out and and night she goes in her crate. they also make a spray that stops them from chewing on things. check it out. if theres a door to ur sons room keep it closed. i do that with all my doors it keeps her out. all puppys chew on everything you just have to put up some boundries. keep doors closed and gates. it works!!! good luck!~!!!!

Hi K.

The advice I can give is mostly from experience. I currently have 2 German Shepherd Dogs that have a high work drive. Plus, I went to school to be a veterinary technician, though not a behaviorist had a lot of contact with dogs. As somebody already said, she sounds like a bored dog. Chewing is the classic boredom reliever. The best thing that can be done for your whole family is to increase her exercise as was already suggested. It takes a big commitment to have such a high energy dog, but it is worth it as you already know. She should have a nice long ( LONG) twice a day. Play time during the day as well - fetch, chase, whatever she likes. The beef marrow bones are a good suggestion, you can get them from grocery stores and boil them for 20 minutes and let her go to town in the kitchen with it, once she has it "clean" it is safer for the rest of the house, or you can buy them very cheaply at Petsmart or Petco (already clean and some are stuffed with goodies too). Another good chewie is to take a kong toy, stuff it with peanut butter and freeze it overnight. She'll have to work longer to get the peanut butter out. Give her these types of things before you leave her. Also, someone also suggested a crate. They really are a great idea but it is sometimes difficult to get an older dog accustomed to it. I read that you rent, is it a house or apartment? If you have a yard make sure she has time outside to run around too. Some chewers are tough to break of the chewing, my youngest shepherd still goes after board books, sippy cups and plastic blocks if any are left astray while we are out.

Is she obedience trained? Does she know any tricks? If she is fairly well trained you might want to talk your husband into doing agility training with her. It keeps them both occupied!

Good luck, if all else fails, find a behaviorist who is also a veterinarian and have her evaluated for seperation anxiety. Doesn't sound like she has that, but if you can't curb the behavior after several months of the suggestions you have already received it is worth finding out before you lose hope.

Hi K.,

I had two whippets growing up, we rescued ours as well. Chewing and being disruptive is not part of their nature. They are very fast and would benefit from a lot of exercise. I would also crate train her. She may not like it at first, but it would save your house. We have always used crates and the dogs feel secure in them. I have an Italian greyhound now and he needs to be in a crate when we are not home. I even put him in there for time outs.

Good luck, but I would try exercise and a crate.

D.

I don't know how long you have rented your apartment, but I thought you should check something out. I believe that if you have been in your apartment 6 years the owner must replace the carpet when you move out. SO if that is the case, you should not be responsible for the carpet if you have lived there that long. It has been a while since I rented so I am a little foggy on the details, but I would look into the details if I were you. Our dog did the same thing for over 2 years....she even started chewing the drywall. We actually found a dog traing camp where we sent her away to train her for two weeks and then we went for follow up classes to train ourselves afterward. She came home a new dog. My husband had a car accident at the time, so it was necessary for us to send her, but you could just attend the classes without sending her away. You Must ask around and find a good program however. My dog failed out of 3 puppy schools before this one. We went to this place called cainine connections near Reading PA. I am not sure where you are from, but I am sure there must be some good programs near you. I wish you the best of luck. It is a difficult situation.

Sounds like you need to go down to basics with your dog. You didn't mention the age but if a puppy this is normal. The cost of a crate would be less then all the mattresses and carpet. Learn all you can about crate training and only allow the dog to run loose under supervision. You could also keep the dog tethered to you out of the crate. This dog needs to learn house manners.Alot of discipline and it takes time. Since your husband is the "owner" he needs to step up and be responsible. He is the head of the pack and the dog needs to respect both of you. It is showing distress buy doing to distructin and needs to be taught to respect you and the home. I hope you can solve this problem and give the dog the home it needs.

Hi! I know your husband is concerned about putting the pup in a crate. They make crates that are tall and have no top to it. They keep the dog contained, but not too "closed up"!

As a dog lover and an owner of 3 dogs myself, I understand completely what you are going through.

Your dog has a simple problem, she has too much pent up energy and no where to express it besides chewing. How often does this dog have a good long, brisk walk? If you are living in an apartment I'm guessing that you don't have a fenced yard for her either. This isn't a good breed to be pent up in a small house, that's for sure.

I would insist that your husband pitch in and walk this dog at least twice a day for a long walk. I would also buy actual cow thigh marrow bones for your dog to chew/eat. They are hard as rocks and last forever and make no mess. My dogs love them.

Your dog sounds lovely, she is just plain bored I'm afraid.

I wish you much luck!

your dog has separation anxiety. you can do an internet search for info and your vet can help you. have you tried crating her? i know it sounds mean, but often helps dogs with separation anxiety. dogs feel secure in the crate as long as it's comfy and they have a few favorite toys with them. also, giving her stuffed animals that are hers to chew and carry around can help.