eats everything!

[JinaU]

I wasn't sure where to post this...so hopefully this wouldn't be the wrong area.
I am so fed up with trying to find something to put in the bottom of Luke's (8mnths) crate...we have to put something in there because what he would be laying on is the cage. We just recently put a THICK heavy solid rubber mat (cut perfectly to fit snuggly in the corners...though we had finally found something because we watched him attempt to get it up and chew on it a time or two and he was never able to do it. We've gone months without anything and then I notice today that he has gotten to all four corners of the thing!!!!!!!!!!! It doesn't matter what you put in there with him for him to chew on as far as toys are concerned, he pays no attention to it unless he can tear it apart and eat it! He has to stay in the crate during the day because both my husband and I work...I could put him out in the kennel but it has been very very cold and he is an inside dog. I don't know what to do about it...I don't want to keep putting things in there and allowing him to eat them...I dont' know what rubber could do to him!! I had though about selling the crate we have, which is a very nice expensive crate, and just getting a new one that doesn't have the cage as the bottom. I chose this one because when it came to potty training/crate training it was a good tool seeing as how if he ever did use the bathroom in there it would go right through the bars and onto a puppy pad in the bottom. He has never peed or pooped in there though so at this point I don't think I have to worry about that anymore. Any suggestions? Sorry I rambled on and on but I am at my wits end!!

 

[LILYLARUE]

Maybe your crate is a general size and you could buy a replacement tray for those crates that have one. Measure yours and then go on petsmart or petco and look up the crate sizes and order just the replacement tray. Its a hard plastic, so maybe not so distructable or any interest since its not "chewy".

 

[DiverDiva]

Could you try spraying a little bitter apple or some other dog-safe chew deterrent on the corners of the rubber mat? You don't want to use so much that the dog is repulsed by the crate, just enough to discourage the chewing on the corners of the mat. This is assuming, of course, that your dog is actually deterred by this kind of substance. A few dogs actually like the taste it. My Oscar is one such dog. The stuff works great for Mali, though.

 

[caruse]

Our trainer recommends to use cayanne powder on anything to discourage chewing....she also thinks some dogs like the bitter apple so if you spray a little bitter apple to moisten the area and then sprinkle the cayanne powder on to stick it should discourage the chewing!
Let us know....
Barbara lovicon

 

[JinaU]

Well I decided to go with just an all over hard plastic crate...I don't have to put anything in there because the bottom is solid...there isn't anything that sticks out on the inside for him to chew on...so far so good, of course this is just day 3. I don't know what makes him want to eat everything...I can understand that he might get bored in the crate but when outside and in the house he picks up everything!!! just like a baby...from their hands to their mouth...in his case the floor/ground to his mouth.

 

[argosrocks]

i have a problem with my doggy devourer too,he eats everything,on walks,grass,sticks,sometimes rocks,its all fair game ,at home,toys get played with,chewed on and eventually eaten,which makes supervision so important when he plays,i cant let anyone play with him and his toys out of fear,they will forget to pick them up,which would be a certain meal and possible trip to the vet:(