Chewing on furniture

[ngepner]

What do I do? Ginger is 1 year old this month. She is smart sweet and well behaved but we have a new problem.... She has started chewing on the couch cushions. While we're gone she pulls the cushions off the couch and rips out the back and chews out the foam. I hate keeping her in her crate while we're gone. Does anyone know why she might be doing this now? Any suggestions?

 

[j12toad]

I am not an expert but it may be from seperation anxiety. A really good book I have started reading and many people from the forum have read and recomend is the Dog Listener from Jan Fennell.

 

[j'adoreboxer]

My puppy training has introduced me to "Bitter Apple" you spray it on whatever and when the dog goes to bite it, it get's a very bad taste in its mouth and after doing this a few time she'll relize that man these things don't tast as good as they used to be. Maybe that might help you out, or like j12toad said it could be separaton anxiety.
Hope that helps

Jakin's Mom
(Missy)

Jakin DOB:2/1/03 brindle (lt) back mask, doced, cropped, w/alittle white on his chest and paws

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

Crate training.

 

[basak]

I can't crate Krose. Don't have the space. The last time he ever chewed on anything was a year ago. He was 1 year old then. He was I think very pissed at us.:rolleyes:
So, I started from the very beginning. I left him in the house alone for 20 minutes and gradually increased the time. When leaving him alone, I took all the safety measurements. I put the chairs on the couch so he wouldn't be able to get on it. Now, he is ok with everything and hasn't chewed or messed anything. Knock on wood

basak

 

[ngepner]

Ginger definitely has a past of strong separation anxiety. But just starting today she was got into the back of a couch while I was at home.

Ginger stays in her crate now while I'm gone. I make sure to put good chew toys in there for her.

I'm also concerned because she is only eating half the amount of food she normally eats.

 

[LauraJean623]

Crate for us too...

We crate trained Harley and eventually started leaving her out loose for short periods of time. She finally (in 20 minutes) chewed a large hole in the middle of the couch. She is back in the crate for good now, when we're not home. She actually likes being in there so I don't feel bad about it. We come home during the day to let her out so she isn't cooped up for 8 hours straight. I just can't afford to replace funiture like that and really it's just not safe for her to be loose either. There's too much she could get into.

 

[coveyjt]

Powder is crate trained. We rescued her a year ago and after the first few hellish days we crated her. That was a year ago. And she has been doing great. Recently we decided to let her out for short periods in our bedroom while we were away. The first time was great and so was the second. The third time she tore the trim on the side of the door off. Not just a bite or a chew spot. She tore the whole right side of the trim off the door frame and layed it on the bed. I think my little girl is part gorilla, she is definately a goofy monkey.:p

 

[ngepner]

Thanks for the support on keeping her in her crate. It's nice to know what has worked for other people.