HELP!! Couch chewing!!&%@$%

[Joyce & Wilson]

What to do??!!! My 9 mo. old..55 lb. dood just started chewing the cornors of my couch cushions...am not a happy camper right now...hes sooo in the "doghouse" if I had one..can I get a large (huge) crate and start him on crate training to confine when im not home?? or is it tooo late?? He has been fine with the run of the house..I get him out for walks and errands..but today its -10...I appreciate all your input!! Im ready to head into Petsmart if I have to....TY

[Lynda Kamrath]

He's bored, and no it is not too late. It is very hard for pets to sit around a house for hours while their people are out. Get plenty of toys and chews for him to entertain him when he is alone and confine him to an area where he cannot destroy anything. If that is a crate, so be it. I would not give him the "run of the house" unless you are there with him.

[Joyce & Wilson]

I'm retired..so I am home all the time..I think he did this while i was on the phone..and my attention wasnt on him..I remember my daughter doing this when she was a toddler!! It would only be when im out which is 4 hrs at the max...

[Lynda Kamrath]

Four hours is too long to have the run of the house. Do you have a kitchen, bath, or laundry room with no furniture that can be fitted with a nice bed mat and lots of toys and chews for when you have to leave him? That would save on furniture and can be comfortable for him also.

[Camilla and Darwin]

We went back to crating Darwin during the night instead of letting him free roam. He would find the craziest things and destroy them (pot holders, towells, etc.) As "dog proofed" as we thought it was, he would find something. He never touched anything while we were awake watching him, but during the night his evil side would come out. ha ha. He was only six months at the time, and I think he wasn't ready. Perhaps all the freedom+boredom is a bad mix. I agree that you should confine him to a smaller area and leave plenty of appropriate things to entertain him!

[Kyoko]

My old Chow Chow did that when he was young.... It is kind of gross, but he wanted to hump on that corner he chewed!!( Leather couch) We ended up tossing that couch... Yuck. If I 've know the site like DK back then, I would have sprayed with Bitter Apple or something... He did not chew the new couch (also leather ), because we kept a close eye on him after that!!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Exercise exercise exercise. You have to find an indoor source to get his exercise on these really cold days. Last winter our girls were in the 9-12 months range, and if I didn't get some sort of outlet for them, they would chew on my braided area rugs! I just had to be in the other room and I'd come out and catch them. I've just replaced every area rug in the house recently because they have stopped their chewing. But you have to find something to get rid of that excess energy. Take him to Lowes or Home Depot and walk indoors, or find a doggie day care, or toss a ball up and down the hallway or stairs, chase him around the kitchen, do some training exercises, anything. Just taking our girls with us in the car when running errands tires them out some. I would also clean out the garage and let them play in there when it was really cold as well. Better than being outside. (Be careful there isn't any antifreeze drainage on the garage floor though.)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Some animals get into things only when you are gone and some whenever they can. Often the sprays like bitter apple or a home made concoction with cayenne pepper or lemon will work. I would try to keep him in a more confined area when you can't watch him.

[Pat & "Tucker"]

Had the same problem. I put the cushions away while I was at work. Took them back out each evening when I needed them and could supervise him. When he would start to bother the cushions when I was home- I sharply corrected him and he knew this was bad!
This was very Inconvenient I was worried Tucker may start chewing the sofa itself but he never did.
Did this for awile and tried leaving the cushions out again after a month or so and he never bothered with them again. I make sure there are many playthings and chew toys around to keep him busy.

[Joyce & Wilson]

TY everyone!!! This website is soooo benificial and helps one keep their sanity..lol!!!! I bought the largest crate I could ..the cushiest cushion..put treats in it..crawled into it myself and sat..Wilson came in hung out awhile..(til treats gone)..I sat til I got a crook in my neck..but slowly he will go in and come out..cat loves it..he loves the cat..soooo..anyway its a work in progress..he's left the couch alone now..but he did this when I was home..hes sneaky .will bring the kitchen sink strainer into the living room!! I laugh at him everyday..I've moved my kitchen island to one side..my dining room table into the bay window..so I now have about 50' length to throw the ball and practise our obedience training. What we do for out doodles..!! So worth it..Thanks again for everyone input....smiling..