8 Month old Doodle eating Wood and Carpet! Help!!

[Lauren Salfi]

Hello, 

Our 8 month old doodle Sophie has been an angel dog from the time we got her (8 weeks). 

When we leave her home we close her in our bedroom which also has an ensuite bathroom with tiled floor. She always lays on her bed and sleeps or sleeps on the tile floor in front of the tub. 

Lately she'll play in the tub with her ball as it comes back to her when she pushes it against the walls of the tub. Very Cute!

Recently out of no where she has eaten our bedframe, dressers and even the carpet. I'm talking giant hole out of the carpet even baseboards.

It's so strange and out of character. 

We haven't changed anything with regards to our routine. 

I think she may have separation anxiety as when ever we are in a different room even the bathroom she's now crying and when we get home she goes crazy jumping up on us and like seriously going crazy.

I don't really know what to do at this point to make it better or to calm her down. 

I work from home and when my husband leaves for work she cries. 

Please help any info would be great!

Thanks 

Lauren

[Amy and Annabelle]

I have a 9 month old and she is just a big time chewer, always has been. She would eat the furniture if we let her. She also loves towels and socks, but so far has shown no interest in the carpet, thank goodness. She is crated when we leave. There is no room in the house that would be safe from her incessant chewing. She loves antlers, bully sticks and cow ears, but if left to her own devices she would start chewing cabinets and furniture instead. Nothing but water in a stainless bowl can go in her crate either. I keep hoping at some point she grows out of this. But unlike yours, mine has chewed nonstop from about 12 weeks on. We are retired so we rarely leave without her, so her chewing isn't from anxiety. She is just a chewer, this is her character.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Have you tried leaving a couple of Kongs out, possibly filled with special treats, for her to find after you leave. The black Kong, I think, is the one recommended for strong chewers. I always filled our Kongs with peanut butter. Also, do you leave a TV on or some sort of noise for her. I am not sure why she is starting this at 8 months, but I think I would try and give her some really great exercise before you leave and if that doesn't work, I would try a crate. Is there any way she could be in the area you are when you are working?

[Leslie J]

Cocoa used to chew dry wall and furniture. We had just remodeled and everything was fresh and new... Until she got to it! I kept her in the room with me at all times, but she still found ways to sneak and chew things while I was cooking dinner, reading, etc. I sprayed Bitter pet repellent all over the walls and on chair legs to minimize the damage. I crated her if I was going out. Like a miracle, this behavior stopped when she turned one year old and hasn't returned (knock on wood)!

[Rica + Margot]

Don't do what I did at first, which was give her wood to chew on! Instead, I found out what chew toys she liked and got those instead (benebones and nylabones), and frozen stuffed kongs. She's over chewing inappropriate things for the most part and chooses her toys. Sometimes rotating toys can help with boredom.

[Deeann Roesser]

My 9 month old, Ginger, chews sticks, rocks, carpet....anything she can get in her mouth.  She has been a chewer from the time we brought her home at 8 weeks.  I give her bully sticks, knuckle bones, and when I leave for any reason, I stuff a Kong with peanut butter.  She is calm when I return, so I think she works on the Kong so much she get tired....:)

Good luck with your Sophie!

[Lynda Kamrath]

It actually does get better with age.  Our ALD was a chewer and he chewed everything, including the baseboards in the laundry room, edges of doors, and even the knotholes in the deck.  My husband discovered that he did not like jalapeno sauce and he bought some big bottles of it and daubed it on the areas where Harpo was chewing.  That ended the chewing in the laundry room and on the deck, and age just made him less of a chewer.  However, he always has a toy in his mouth when he comes to greet us.  When he goes outside, he always grabs a toy, whenever he greets he needs a toy and even when he goes off to bed it is with a toy in his mouth.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Sophie is just growing up and does not need to sleep like when she was younger.  You are going to need to crate her or lock her in the bathroom and dog proof it as much as possible.  Change out the toys you leave, but only leave indestructible ones - no stuffed ones.  Kongs,  Zogoflex toys.  She will grow out of it, but not for a long time.  Maybe as young as three or as old as eight.

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

Definitely get her used to a crate. Mine loved hers. Its safer for Sophie and way better for your belongings!