The never ending eats everything problem...

[Marion Kirchner]

So, our doodle, Robin, 11 months, is basicly a vacuum cleaner. He eats everything that falls on the floor. And if this wasn't enough...he also loves to chew on everything, mainly he loves destroying his toys, but he also steals pillows.  The worst thing is though that he can't have a blanket or dog basket for himself, because he would just eat it all. We've tried it often enough. He actually has a nice basket, where we train him to stay etc. This actually works quite well, but only during training. If we don't pay attention to him for a couple of minutes, he just starts chewing on it. It already has several holes. Telling him to stop only works for the moment, but as soon as we look away, he starts again. The result is...that we really dread the training, bc we always have to carry the basket from its hiding place and then start training and carry it away as soon as training is over. But the point should actually be that this is HIS place, where he can sleep on and move to if we tell him.

 

Do you know any tricks for him to stop chewing on the basket? We don't really wanna put gross tasting stuff on it or anything, bc we fear the dog might never go near it again if we do.

 

 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am into you using gross tasting stuff on furniture legs etc. if that is a problem. I would begin using a towel or blanket as the training spot because it can be easily gotten out, placed and removed.

[Camilla and Darwin]

You could try hot pepper sauce, or bitter apple spray on the basket...

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Does Robin have plenty of appropriate things to chew on - including antlers?  I know there have been some discussions regarding antlers, but most people seem to feel that they're fine.  Sedona really loves hers and directs her chewing there.

[Adina P]

Perhaps use something different than a basket for his stays.  Maybe a rubber mat (though that is not chew proof necessarily) or other item.  Spraying bitter apple on the parts of the basket he can reach while IN IT, probably won't deter him from going in it for a stay.  It will just keep him from wanting to chew on it.  At the same time it might need to be resprayed every so often to keep the smell/taste there.