Problem Chewing

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

At 10 months old, I've been having a bit of a chewing problem with my Freya. She has never been into chewing anything like shoes, etc. But on days when I am at work she will sometimes chew on different spots. Corner of a coffee table, corner of a wall, a piece of drywall along a window. Thankfully we are currently living in an old house which will one day be torn down when we move so these are not huge issues but obviously I would like to nip them in the bud.

I know a lot of chewing issues can be chalked up to a bored under exercised dog but I really do have a hard time seeing this. She is an extremely active dog. Besides what she gets from me on a regular basis, she gets a minimum of an off leash walk/run for 2 hours while I'm at work (plus wherever we go when I get home) and also spends some days at a doggy daycare where she runs, plays and swims all day long.

I've heard various theories about not being able to discipline a dog unless you catch them in the act. Any truth to this? Or anyone have any other suggestions? I obviously would like to put a hasty end to it before something more serious gets damaged.

[Stella]

It could be separation anxiety, seeing as it only happens when she is home alone.

[Adina P]

That was my first thought too. 
How does she do in a crate? 
And also YES to the ideas for providing appropriate chew toys.  Although the tricky part to me is this:  Everyone says you should 'supervise' a dog chewing on antlers, Nylabones, real bones, etc...but I know when my dogs were into chew things those things were the ONLY things they'd chew on.  So do you leave a dog alone with an antler or bone--or don't give them anything because they are alone? Because rubber things were either ignored by my dogs or quickly disintegrated :-) 

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

We have always supplied MANY different choices for our Girl to chew on. Antlers,Nylabones, Bully Sticks, Kongs filled with frozen goodies....so far, so good.only appropriate things chewed. Add a gazillion stuffed toys, kong toys, balls and puzzles, and she has time for nothing else;)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think that it is absolutely true that you cannot correct a dog for something that you did not see her do. ("Discipline" implies some type of punishment, which has no place in our interactions with our dogs, IMO). The dog will always associate the correction with what is happening at the moment, and will not connect it with what was happening three hours ago, i.e. with the inappropriate chewing. 

One way to deal with this is to confine the dog any time you cannot supervise her, so that she cannot engage in destructive behaviors. That might mean a crate, or a gate at the door to the kitchen or laundry room, or any other area where there is nothing she likes to chew. She should be supplied with lots of chew objects in this confined area. 

[Gerrie barnes]

Spray some bitter apple on her favorite place she likes chewing on :-)