Must you mouth everything?

[Donna Vee]

Ginger and Penny doodle, 7 and 5 months respectivly, can't seem to keep their mouths off of anything at this stage of their lives,  If I had a nickle for everytime I say....AHHHH....LEAVE IT......DROP IT.....AHHHHH AHHHH...Well let's just say I could solve California's financial problems with the interest alone from my account. 

Anyway, We have removed everything within reach from their area and completely supervise while they are outside because we have a very "lush" yard, and they can't seem to leave the plants alone. Still, they find things to mouth and chew. They are now chewig the molding and furnature in the dining room.  Has anyone ever used bitter apple spray? Does it work?

They are SOOO good at "leave it" during training, But when they find something they really want in the real world....not so much.

[Cathy w/Shiloh~Cody]

We can so relate-we joked about changing our pups name to some type of vacuum cleaner. Everything goes in his mouth-every leaf, acorn, twig, paper-you name it. I must assume that he will outgrow it down the road. My boy is 4 and a half months old. Sometimes I felt like, "Maybe I was not feeding him enough"-even though I know I am!! LOL

I guess misery does loves company-it made me feel better that others are struggling with this too.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Hoover comes to mind.

[Donna Vee]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback. I think I'll use the spray for the furniture and just continue with the training and positive reinforcement outside when they obey. Can you put bitter apple on plants?  I think I will take Carla's advice and section off some yard if I can but that is where they really get their ya ya's out.  We walk them everyday but puppies have an untapped source of energy it seems.  They still need to chase each other around and run crazy eights (as we call them) through the yard.  It's two levels and they just run up one side and down the other...lol. Fun to watch! I guess they just can't stay our there too long or they start tearing off plants to play keep away with.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Our puppy was also very oral and was biting on everything.  Remember that they are like children but the only thing they have to experience things is their mouths.  And some are more oral than others.  My husband has used tabasco sauce on our cabinets and on the deck where the puppy was chewing.  He does not like tabasco and stays away from that.  Also keep around plenty of things you don't mind his chewing on and when he is chewing on something you don't want chewed, just substitute.  And yes, shoes, socks, underwear, etc. need to be put up for a while.

[Donna Vee]

hahahaha.... We actually tried that...Apparently, my dogs are party dogs....they licked it off and started barking for more.  I CAN'T EVEN HANDLE IT!...Sooo funny.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Quincy never minded the bitter apple, I did find a bitter lime and he hates it so much that after the first couple of times all I had to do was show him the bottle. He wasn't a big chewer of things around the house but he did like to style his ears and tail.

[Livia Free]

Bitter apple worked for us too. Sprayed the legs on the rocker that she would just go crazy trying to chew. Worked like a charm. I am about to stray the leash with it. Just got a new one and she's crazy about chewing that thing.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Peri was like this.  Never let them out of your sight during this time in their lives.  Keep them in the same room where you are and if you leave, crate them!  They grow out of it........

[Harper's mom]

I should start spraying it on my legs and hands :) I am a chew toy!!