Unexpected Chewing?

[cheryl & oliver]

Hi guys, I wonder if someone can help me with this problem that has been developing.  Oliver is now a year old, and he has started chewing stuff.( he really didn't do this as a young puppy )Not in front of me, well sometimes, he does, like the mats under the dog bowls, the pulley from the sliding glass doors vertical, the woodwork...And he eats this stuff, he chews it up, and eats it.  I am freaking out.  When I am not home, he is with my other dog, who has never chewed anything.  I know it is Ollie, because I have caiught him with things in his mouth.  He has tons of toys, and I have left them with the kong with peanut butter which they love.  He is really completely housebroken, so I don't crate him, the crate is for bedtime, his choice, not mine, he knows that is his place at night.  He is large, so I would hate to crate him during the day if I have to go out for a few hrs.  I do make sure that they just have the run of the kitchen and breakfast area, they like to watch out the windows at the comings and going of the neighborhood.  I try to make sure there is nothing on counters or wherever they can reach, so that he is not tempted.  They have tons of toys around and plenty of chew toys right there...Then I thought maybe he could be teething?  Do they get teeth at a year old like molars maybe?   I am afraid he will get sick, so far we have been lucky I guess, but I am really afraid that something could happen.  He is happy, eating, peeing and pooping ok, I just wanted to see if anyone else has this at this age.  Oh he is forever picking up leaves and twigs, I always watch him very carefully on walks, and check his mouth frequently outside....Thanks guys...

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Have there been any changes in his routine lately where he is getting less exercise than normal? I know for my girls, who were never problem chewers, that every single time they chewed something I could take it right back to bad weather or something else where they were not getting enough exercise. A lot of bad behavior, like chewing can be attributed to lack of exercise. Just a thought!

[cheryl & oliver]

No, we have no changes around here, thats what has me stumped...Do u know anything about if they get teeth at a year old?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I think they have done all the teething they need to by now - Peri is 1 as well.
I think he's just going through a stage - like a late teenager stage and he is testing you. I personally would crate him while you leave during this time, especially if you aren't gone for long. It sounds like he likes his crate anyway, so he shouldn't have an issue. Work with him on reinforcing the "leave it" command when you are at home and catch him in the act and correct him. Peri has always been a chewer, but mainly with her own toys (which is fine!). Last night; however, we were eating dinner and I look over, she is chewing the leg to our antique buffet. I swear, the NO I screamed scared her to death! She still does random stuff like that to surprise me. They are still puppies at 1 year. Remember that. And the leaves and twigs, welcome to my world.

[cheryl & oliver]

I think u are right, he is probably testing me, I scared him too when I screamed when I caught him chewing the baseboard...And yes he is still a puppy, just cause he weighs 62 lbs and is a big boy, I tend to forget that he is still a puppy. I guess I will have to crate him, I hate to do it, the crate is in my bedroom, and away from everything including Renny, but I can't have him possiblly chew and eat something that will hurt him. Just before he went running with a dryer sheet that he got when I took stuff out of the dryer. I never even saw him in the laundry room, he is so fast and sneaky, but when I see him run, I know he has something he shouldn't have...Thanks Allyson for responding...

[cheryl & oliver]

I kind of thought that too, but if u would see him play all day with Renny, he is busy and playing till he drops for a nap, and then we walk 3 x a day, around a mile each time. This is Florida so we were lucky we didn't have what most people had this winter. It was cold here, but certainly not like the rest of the country. so he really does go out quite a bit. I am going to use the itter apple on the base boards and see if that discourages him...Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it...

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Bitter apple does help.
For what it's worth, I walk Peri 2+ miles daily and she still might get a little destructive every now and then....

[cheryl & oliver]

lol, I guesss then we will have the terrible two's to go thru, lol...He is going to get crated for a bit and see if that will help...Thanks for the response

[Wendy and Eddie]

Elmo had totally stopped chewing, so I stopped puppy-proofing my house, then at 1 year he went through a chewing phase that included my glasses, the remote, . . . things he had never touched as a little puppy. It was exactly like the Terrible Twos, with him testing his boundaries. After a couple of weeks, he stopped, but it was very frustrating!!

[Missi]

I second everyone else's opinions about exercise/boredom. I know he is used to getting lots of exercise by playing with Remi and walks, but maybe he needs more mental stimulation. Are you working on any training now? I also agree that going back to the crate for a little while might be a good idea. That way YOU know he is safe and not going to choke or swallow anything dangerous. And, in honor of Adina's idea, Keep moving forward with training and give his brain something to think about about!