Naughty Poppy Puppy

meesha

meesha

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Hello all, I have an 8 month old bc - we have had her for 3 months, when we first got her she was crated when we went out for very short periods and was fine (couple of hours, couple of times a week), she was then left in hall/landing with toys/food/water and was fine - she was only ever left for a couple of hours (unfortunately my work means that it isn't consistent, I can be out a lot one week and in all of the next week). She chewed her bed a few weeks ago so we took that away when we went out and she has always had a nibble at the trim round bottom of stairs but we have ignored that. When I have been working longer days she has been going to kennels which she seems to enjoy (runs in happily).

We went out Sat night for 3 hours and unfortunately both forgot something so us leaving wasn't as smooth as it should have been with first me then my partner popping back into the house. When we returned she had chewed on the banisters - we didn't tell her off as we didn't notice at first then it was too late. However, just the once she has nibbled on them while we have been in and we have told her off. I left her again today for just under 2 hours (with her toys and a bone to chew) and she has chewed one of the spindles is in half.

So.... what I am asking is best way forward ? We are not that bothered about her chewing the spindles/bannisters as we knew with a young dog it was likely and we will redecorate when she is out of that phase - but should we start crating her again for the short periods we are out? should we spray the bannisters with cribbox or similar? (worried she will then focus on something elese to chew) or should we leave her some wood to chew?.

She does seem wood obsessed....

It really isn't a big issue but not sure of the way forward...

Thanks all
 
if you allow the chewing of wood why do you think it will just stop one day?

introduce the crate again, I have a crate that is always in the hall with a bed in it it is not often closed though-my lurcher chooses to sleep in it all the time and if she gets worried that is where she will put herself.
don't tell her off when you come home even if you notice it as you come in the door as you will just make he anxious about the fact you tell her off when you come in-she will not put 2 and 2 together and come up with 4.
stop her access to the things you do not want her to chew so pop her in the crate with something safe to chew-wood is not safe as it splinters and can get stuck, if know of a dog that chews and eats wood he has an enema most months as he ends up with a blockage
 
Thanks Twiggy2 - was thinking the crate may be the way to go as every room in house has wood in it! It is our own fault as when we first had her oh was re-doing the decking and garden and there was a lot of wood around so she has gotten into the habit of chewing - garden is now done so will re-introduce crate for when we are out. I tried leaving it open for her before but unfortunately last owners crated her all day in spare room with door shut as child allergic to her so although she will go in crate is not somewhere she chooses but I will work on it with treats/toys/bed in there etc (I got her direct from last owner who told me apart from 2 trips out a day she was crated ...ahhhhh) We haven't told her off when we come in ... tbh she is so pleased to see us that all you can see is poppy dog in front of you for ten mins - bit like a whirlwind !

I suppose I stupidly thought the bone would be more appealing than the wood !! apparently not !
 
I can't advise more than Twiggy but I would say when you get in from being out completely ignore her. If she is loose just walk outside for her to go out and wee and ignore all jumping up, tearing around. If she is anxious when you get home and also get overexcited you are confirming that it was scarey for you too, being apart. :-)
 
Thanks will try the ignoring, will be hard as she literally throws herself at us, also going to try leaving radio on when we go out!
 
If you let her do it as a youngster she will now think it's fine to continue. There's nothing so satisfying as biting on wood, it's got a bit of give then it's nice and solid to destroy. Crate when you go out. Maybe she'll transfer her chewing to a fab toy-maybe a nylabone? My lot get frozen kongs stuffed with yummy things occasionally and being frozen, they last a little while.
 
Thanks all, esp amymay for the encouraging post. We have nylon bones, stuffed kong, antler etc. Will be crating next time go out which is wed (she goes almost everywhere with me) and will take it from there.
 
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