I can't afford to lose anymore clothes!

[Laura & Chewie]

Chewie (4 months) has a couple true, crazy puppy moments daily. Most of the time these are quite entertaining...running around the house at breakneck speed, etc. Something else he does that is not quite so entertaining is jumping up and grabbing our clothes, running away, coming back, playfully growling. Unfortunately we are wearing the clothes when he does this...LOL. I know it's his way of playing, but he has ruined a couple pair of pants and a shirt because ot this...those sharp baby teeth get stuck on the material.

I have tried ignoring him, standing still, turning my back, but when he's in this crazy mood, it doesn't seem to deter him. I frequently will tell him to sit, give him praise for that and he often will settle down. but this doesn't always work...depends on how wound up he is. Suggestions???

[Jennifer Tramell]

It sounds like you are on to something already. You say he sometimes responds to obedience commands, maybe he just wants attention and even negative attention is good. Can you redirect his energy into various things you can praise him for? Will he chase a toy? Practice some other commands? I think the long leash sounds like a good plan but the key may be to use it to distract him into something positive. He might be too young for ignoring to work - he's a puppy and will try to invent a game, even at your expense ;-) Good luck & keep us posted!

[Caroline]

Hi there,
Christy was really "mouthy" and loved chewing clothes when I was trying to get dressed at about that age ( even now at 7 months she finds it tough to resist a shoe or sock). I tried various distractions and saying "no" firmly but sometimes she'd be too excited to listen / let go. We found the bitter apple spray to deter chewers worked really well. I'd spray it onto clothes/ and she hated the taste so it was good as a deterrant as well as while she was in the act.
She's a lot better now, so I think it really improves with age. Now she's having another teething phase I think and is demolishing all her chew toys LOL. Good luck x

[Pat & "Tucker"]

Here is some info- I know saying "ouch" in a high pitched voice (You hurt me) seemed to work when my guy was a puppy. The high pitched voice is similar to puppies in a litter playing- when one hurts the other, the let out the "you hurt me" warning with a high pitched bark. Example , it sounds like when you accidentally step on thier foot. This is supposed to teach them it hurts and they back off. Here is a web site explaining better. . http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1360&S=1...