Destructive Dog Chewing?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
I have a 1 year 3 month old papillon who tears up everything in my apartment. I believe she is just bored, and probably needs more exercise and play time. Problem is the apartment is small, and there’s no yard for her to run around in. I take her on walks when I can, but she barks her head off at every moving thing and constantly tugs on the leash. She did have puppy training classes as a puppy, but I haven’t been to able to always keep her up on it. I’ve thought about taking her to a doggy daycare so she can run around and have fun, but she has to be spayed and I can’t afford that right now. I also work full time and will be starting school soon, so I don’t have all the time in the world to give her all the attention she needs. I am sick of my apartment getting destroyed, is there something I can possibly to do teach her to stop chewing, or should I consider selling her?
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Perhaps you should crate train her. Go get a simple $30 dog crate from Walmart. Surely you can afford that. I lived in an apartment and worked and went to school and have a one yr old minpin beagle mix. I crate trained him and it is like a miracle. Make sure your dog has lots of toys and chewy things to occupy her time while you are gone, just make sure you do not leave anything that she can bite off and choke on in her crate with her while you are gone. make the crate a fun comfy home for her and she will be happy to stay there patiently until you come home. She will not be able to tear up your place. Also, I always leave the TV or radio on while I am gone. It keeps the dog company so they do not just sit and bark or howl from being lonely.
Also, try not to leave her alone for more than 6 hours at a time. I would always come home between classes and take my dog out to walk and potty. However I lived just a couple of mins from campus…
Like many undesirable canine behaviors, destructive habits usually develop because a dog is bored, lonely, or both. It’s not fair or realistic to expect your dog–especially a working breed –to spend long hours quietly sitting and waiting for your return. By nature dogs are curious and sentient beings; see that she has enough mental and physical stimulation to minimize the impulse to dig and chew.
here’s how to treat this problem http://dogtime.com/chewing-digging-behav…
I suggest looking into some dog rescues near you.
No one will want to purchase a destructive, untrained, year old papillon.
Re home her please. It is the best thing to do.
First, there are LOW COST spay/neuter locations in every area of town. All you have to do is search for the closest one near to you. Second, if you have no time, then you may consider giving this poor, lonely, bored baby to someone that will care for her, and give her the proper needs to keep her happy and alive. It’s just as having a human baby…..no attention, no personality growth. As long as you persist on ignoring this little girl, she will persist in showing you her boredom. My suggestion is to SET a schedule, and being consistent with it. She needs room to explore, grow, challenge, excitement, and human attention. So far, seems like she is not wanted, much more, not needed in your life. There are many out there that could possibly give her the attention she truely needs. Will you consider, for her sake?
P
Kindly, from Pilot and I
Before you start to think about giving her away. I have the perfect solution for you. Go to the pet store and buy a solution called Grandma’s BItter Apple. This stuff is like magic. I had the same prblem with my dog until i was suggested this. Just get a couple bottles and spray about 1 to 2 squirts on everything you dont want to have chewed up. And give your dog a squirt and after that first taste she wont tear up anything. And you can teach her to stop chewing it just takes dedication.When your not home cage her and when your are and you have time work with her. and she will get better. I you love your dog you will find the time to work with her.
You can’t ::teach:: her to stop chewing and tearing things up; it’s done out of frustration and stress. She needs someone who will be able to spend time with her; if that’s not you, perhaps you need to call her breeder and return her for re-homing. Selling her is also an option.
You could crate her, or buy a playpen but that wouldn’t address the core of the problem: she needs you and you don’t have time for her. Find her a new home and in a few years when you’re done with school and your life is more settled, and you have more time, you can get another dog.