What stops destructive chewing?

[decca]

I have a border collie x lab, 6 months old, who chews everything including the walls, right through the plaster, skirting boards, clothes, parcels left by the postie, you name it.
He has ad lib access to an acre fenced garden, is walked twice daily for several miles and is often out on the farm or in the yard with me and the horses.
What can I put on the walls to stop the chewing? I have put mustard on but would prefer not to stain my blue walls yellow if I can avoid it.
Should he have grown out of this stage by now, ie teeth ? Someone told me collies are very destructive, maybe he won't grow out of it? Nothing is safe from the teeth!

 

[CorvusCorax]

I would see if you could crate train him. PM Cayla, she has a brilliant guide on how to do it

Chewing is a relaxing activity for dogs, and makes them happy if they are bored, anxious, alone etc, and what they regard as things for chewing, we often do not
The best thing you can do is keep them physically and mentally occupied as you mention, offer them an alternative, and physically keep them away from things you do not want them to chew while you are not there.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Have you tired getting him a big fresh bone from the butchers?

It will help wear him out as well as giving him something he can chew on. My garden looks like a grave yard.......

 

[CAYLA]

Exercise alone will not keep a collie type fully stimulates, they also need some brain stimulation, at 6 months, she is no where near over the "I think I may chew this today" her jaw is still developing and she needs to work/strengthen it, as well as her mind, you can go down a few options.
She may also have a seperation issues as opposed to solely destruction for the sake of it.

1. One is to crate train her to go back to basics and teach her to stay comfortably in a small space and take the option of destruction away and gradually as she matures faze it out (I recommend no earlier than 2 years old) or leave her stimulating goodies, hidden kongs filled with goodies, humungus fresh bitchers bones to gnaw on, treat balls filled with goodies that she has to figure out how to get the treats out of.
Sounds like you exercise her well but make sure you ware her out before you leave her not a few hours before lots of free play ball catching.

 

[CAYLA]

Lol, on re reading that cross, its the lab part that will be more likely to cause the destruction and the collie half tats getting bit bored/anxious.

 

[decca]

Hi, yes, she has bones, rawhide chews, kong I fill with peanut butter/sandwich spreads etc.
She was crated at night until a month ago, but she hates it and got upset going into it.
I know I am not going to stop her chewing, it is to try something to put on the walls to stop her doing this at night that is my main problem.She does a weekly agility class and has 2 kids that play with her everyday as well as her walks and horse hacks. She is happy to be left on her own when needed and at night so I don't think seperation is a problem.
I was told that there is something in plaster that dogs find tasty?

 

[CAYLA]

You have to be careful with the exercise at this age, its not good to over do it, which in turn does not help greatly in the burning off energy stakes and instead using mental stimulation, also with the treats its best not to jsut leave the same old stuff day in and day out sprawled across the area, it is best to leave one at a time of high value and a different one each day, so kong filled with sardines mixed with their dry food the next day a butchers bone, the next a kong filled with a different mixture, the next a ball filled with treats for her to have to roll across the floor to get the treats out (I personally would not stuff peanut butter in, as will be packed with sugar)

Im not sure about the taste in plaster, I would find it more feasable that the plaster is very easy to munch through than say brick/concrete, allowing her to carry on being destructive is not really helping the issue, but if you want choose that route to stop her you could try bitter bite sprays or a new wall covering

 

[minmax]

My GSD is very partial to chewing at the plaster, I lost the plot the other morning as he was doing it so put rubber gloves on and covered the walls and the kitchen cupboard in washing up liquid. He has stopped doing it and is now chewing the hard dog bed. Little monster!!!
I don't know what you could use, lemon?
I also put chilli powder on the wall a while ago as he had made himself ill, sneezing all the time. I presume from the plaster??
You can buy sprays that stop chewing from the pet shops, don't know if they are any good?

 

[3DE]

My GSD is very partial to chewing at the plaster, I lost the plot the other morning as he was doing it so put rubber gloves on and covered the walls and the kitchen cupboard in washing up liquid. He has stopped doing it and is now chewing the hard dog bed. Little monster!!!
I don't know what you could use, lemon?
I also put chilli powder on the wall a while ago as he had made himself ill, sneezing all the time. I presume from the plaster??
You can buy sprays that stop chewing from the pet shops, don't know if they are any good?

I use Cribex for horses for the dogs - it works!

 

[samerlin]

try using 'vick' on the wall, most dogs don't actually like the taste although they may try it. and it doesn't leave any nasty smell for humans.