wag the dog article: problem: chewing
Thursday, February 12, 2009 6:41 PM                
 

Problem: Chewing

Hi Shannon,

I have a few issues that I need some help on.

Firstly, I have a 9 month old Beagle (male) puppy, “Bailey”, who has gone beyond being destructive.  He has always been a chewer and I thought that he would grow out of it once he got a bit older, but he is getting worse.  He chews everything and anything that he can find. He chews his toys, as well as my daughter's toys (which is still understandable) however he also chews my kitchen cupboards, his plastic bed, wooden table legs, appliances, plants, etc.  His latest attack was on my plastic roll-up doors.  He also jumps really high and tries to get hold of anything that has been left on a cabinet.  He is obsessed with food and when we feed him (once a day) he goes mad, usually knocking his food bowl over and spilling his food everywhere – he doesn't even chew his food properly because he's in such a rush to finish everything.

My husband is beyond patience with Bailey and gets very mad when he comes home to a wrecked kitchen, so much so that Bailey is petrified of him and comes and hides behind me whenever my hubby is in the room.  He is a very fragile little soul and I know that somewhere inside is my champion boy.  I don't want to break his spirit and worry that my hubby may be doing long term damage. 

I would like to start training with him, however I can't get him to walk on the leash – he behaves as if I am torturing him and jumps and barks uncontrollably.

A few facts that might help you with your assessment:-    

1. I have anther male Beagle (5 years old)
2. Bailey has not been neutered as I would love to let his breeder breed with him in the future
3. I received Bailey when he was 10 weeks old
4. My daughter is 15 months old and Bailey is absolutely divine with her

I spoke to Bailey's breeder and he suggested that I contact you with regards to training.  Please can you help me?

I desperately need help and am scared that if I don't find it soon I'll have to either find a new home for Bailey or a new husband.

Please help.
Regards

“Peace-keeper”

Hi Peace-keeper

It sounds like your puppy is causing quite a lot of domestic strife, which in itself creates a vicious circle of stress and anxiety. It is impossible to stop chewing problems instantaneously – however it is possible to manage them and reduce the destruction within a short time. The keys to managing this problem are:

  • Remove temptations – if he is not being actively supervised then don't allow him access to forbidden items . He can be crate trained and can spend short periods in the crate when you are unable to supervise. An exercise pen might also be a good option. You can find these products here.
  • Reinforce desirable behaviour – It sounds like puppy is always in trouble. You need to set him up to succeed i.e. remove temptations and allow him access to sturdy chew toys. When he chews on these praise him calmly and maybe even give him another suitable chew toy as a reinforcer.
  • Reduce the emotion – Dogs carry a lot of stress in their mouths and the easiest way to relieve this stress is by chewing. I know this is easier said than done, but puppy is not deliberately being destructive. He is simple doing the best with what he has. He has learnt some bad habits through being given too much “accountability”.
  • Encourage constructive interaction – Training will not solve a chewing problem, but it will give you the tools for a more constructive interaction such as a sit, down etc. You need to get a behaviour consultant or trainer to come to your house and give you individual tuition on the lead problem prior to puppy joining classes.
  • Be rational – Don't pick sides between your puppy and your husband. Make sensible decisions and don't let your feelings of sympathy influence your logic. This can only increase the stress on your husband and make him even less tolerant. Let your husband know that he is obviously more important, but that the puppy is significant to you and you would like to work towards a situation that makes everybody happy.
  • Neuter – Having a litter from a pet dog often creates havoc for the pet owner. A stud dog that is used infrequently can be a problematic pet. I would suggest neutering ASAP. Sure it may be nice to have a litter from him, but is that one fleeting occurrence worth all the hassle? Neutering will not solve this problem, but it will make a general difference to his activity level.
  • Feeding Schedule – He needs to be fed at least twice a day. This gives him a full tummy more often and will reduce his activity level somewhat. His daily ration can be split into portions.

Also read the article on Separation Anxiety and follow those guidelines.

Please don't rehome either your puppy or your husband without giving these suggestions a try – they both sound like they deserve a second chance ;-)

Best of luck

Shannon

  
                       
         
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