frustrated with the chewing

[sarah c gammel]

Now that lotus is one, I was hoping  the chewing would lessen .and the more things she destroys  around the house the more frustrated and nervous I get that that   this  behaviourisnt going to go away. So somebody please tell me this gets better with time.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm sorry you are struggling with this issue. I have a few suggestions. You may have tried them all already: 

Have you tried spraying Bitter Apple on the things she is tempted to chew? Have you crate-trained her so that she isn't roaming about getting into trouble when you cannot be with her? Does she have chew toys that are safe and attractive to her? I used elk antlers. I asked the vender to give me some for aggressive chewers. I used antlerpantry.com. Linda was great to work with!  My guys aren't big chewers any more, but there were days!!! I should say months. Some dogs have a greater need to chew than others. 

I hope something works to ease this stress for you. Sending hugs.

[Cheryl and Lucas]

Umm, wish I could say, but in my case, Lucas is 16 months and is still picking up everything! The vet even recommended that he use a muzzle, but I could never bring myself to that. I have had close to 5,000 in vet bills, due to his "habits". Sticks are his favorites, although they can splinter. Learning the command "drop it" helps sometimes. "Leave it" command sometimes works too. Good luck.
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[sarah c gammel]

Ha I actually entertained the the thought of a muzzle for just a second :) lord know she has plenty of chew toys  bullies antlers , horns.....etc. fortunately no trips to the vet.....yet. she has the most coloful poop in the neighborhood.  Red is the color of the day as she ate the silicone wrap to the wii controller.  Ouch that had to hurt!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Some dogs take longer to outgrow the chewing and some need strong discouragement. Suggestions:  

If she is picking up left-out things - like the wrapper for the wii or a wii controller or shoes or socks, etc., then keep an area where she can roam free cleaned of things she can get into. Police this area as if you were baby proofing. Unless she is with you then she needs to be confined to this area. 

Use baby gates etc. to keep Lotus in the room you are in.

If she goes after bigger things - like furniture, spray it with bitter apple or paint it with a red pepper paste or even hot sauce.

[Debbie Daniels]

my doodle is 6 months old and doesn't touch a thing on my coffee tables or end tables , however if I lay a shirt , jacket or scarf on my dinning room table she will get it and tear it up ...Two scarfs this week :( I text her trainer and said If Miss Beasley makes it this winter I'll be surprised and her trainer ask me what she did, I told her and her trainer said , I just want to ask you one question, why was she out of your eye site ...ummm put me on the spot but it's a true fact if I can't watch her she needs to be in her crate ...she said when I'm not watching her and I let her roam the house I'm not being kind to her I'm letting her pick up bad habits that will have to be broken and that's not kind..I stand corrected...and yesterday and today she has been in my site! I have had her sit and lay for a while..she does't relax well and wants to roam but it is true I wouldn't leave a baby unattended so I have vowed to do better. I need to get my mind set that its not hurting her to be in her crate as long as I'm balancing it out with walks and training , having to sit stay, down stay doesn't hurt ... I feel she is still so little..yet she has no trouble reaching the top of that dinning room table ... I wish you luck and hopefully ....this to shall pass ! 

[Dynamite & Doodle]

Darwin is almost one and he doesn't chew on our stuff, but like others have said we keep him with us/watch him at all times. The kids keep their doors closed because those stuffies in their rooms would be far too tempting for him. We have gates so we can keep him in the kitchen and living room which are safe for him. If he is out of the gates we are actively playing with him in the playroom downstairs. He gets a big walk every morning and then he sleeps until lunch time. We play outside in the yard for an hour and then he sleeps again until I bring the kids home after school. A good puppy is a tired puppy, this is so true.