New young rescue dog chewing chair legs!

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Bert&Maud

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We collected our new approx 18 month old collie/lab/??? bitch on Saturday from the Dogs Trust. She's a complete sweetie and everybody is already in love with her. She's quite a shy little girl, and a little nervous of new situations. We've stocked up with toys chews and biscuits, but there are certain times of the day when she heads for the nearest chair and starts to bite and chew the legs. We don't want to tell her off and risk making her more nervous, so I think a deterrent would be a better idea, but what do you suggest using to deter her - obviously Cribox is not an option as it's in the house!
 
You can still get sprays, like bitter bite for dogs, I would prevent it before it becomes habit, block access to the room with the chairs or place the chairs up on the table for now until she settles in a little more and you can get a good exercise rotutine, does she have a kong?

When the chairs go down and she has settled then a "off, ah ah" may surfice to deter her vocally.
 
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Keep her away from the chair legs physically by using a door gate or sections of panelling to fence them off.

What are you doing now, to stop her?
Distract her and call her (nice positive voice, get down on the floor and act silly and enticing) and offer her a better alternative, treat, praise, play with a toy, when you see her heading in that direction.

Put her on a light long line/lead and collar and if she head that way, give her a little tug and repeat ^^^^

It sounds like she is chewing to relax/comfort/calm herself.

Have you tried a stuffed Kong?
 
when i rehomed a GSD young dog he started chewing and from previous experience i found that using 'Vicks' spread on the chair legs or anything else that I thought he may chew worked a treat eventually the smell disperses to the human nose but it soaks into the wood for a dogs nose, cheap but very effective
 
ditto cavecanem... provide a distraction, a better more appealing option. I do think its important she learns its not on. Id try teaching a 'leave' command or simply use a sharp "Aaa Aaa" and the instant that stops her in her tracks go all nice and exciting, offer a chew she is allowed and heap on the praise.:)
 
When we got pip she apparently chewed table legs. Pips stopped chewing things (mainly blankets) in a past time way (not just to find food) two weeks in when she settled. Is there something that triggers it because Pip goes weird if you close the back door while she is outside even if somebody is out with her. It effects her for about 20 minutes of the 'don't hit me face'. Also if you are ever cross with her even in your head she will sulk all day.
Think 2nd hand dogs are really just sensitive. :p

Good luck loads of people here to help you. Just posted to reassure you that it all settled down her after a few weeks! :D
 
Yes, she has a stuffed Kong and several toys of varying degrees of chewyness! I'm just off to raid the medicine drawer to see if we've got any "Vick"!
 
I know she is new and nervous, but don't be scared to teach her commands and rules, even if you have to do it in a stupidly embarrassing, high-pitched, silly, positive way :p rather than constant corrections (it's a much better way!), a dog with boundaries who know's what's what is much happier than a dog with no rules at all.
 
Shaving foam is also good for stopping them chewing things. Otherwise as above just try and distract her from the chair legs, and you could start training her some simple exercises to keep her mind busy, if she is a collie x she will thrive if her brain is challenged.
 
I would teach her the 'leave command' Then the instant she leaves the chair leg, praise her, play with her and make you more exciting than a chair leg.If she has collie in her she will love learning new things and she will be made up she has learned a new command.
 
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