how can i save my kitchen?

[mellars family]

we have two 10 month old boxers (brother and sister) they are left on there own for a few hours each day, we all know how playful boxers are and the damage they can do while they play so they are shut in the kitchen while we are out, the work surfaces have to be clear, otherwise they get all the mugs from the mug tree, the knobs have to be taken from the gas hob otherwise thay turn the gas on, i am ok doing all this but now they have started chewing all my kitchen cupboard door, they have already chewed most of the door frame, i leave them a huge log so they have something to chew but this dont seem to stop them, i have tried the chew detterent but that dont seem to work either, the only thing i have found that works sometimes is ordinary hairspray. Has anyone got any other suggestions please. Today when i got home i noticed they had started on another door and also the washing machine dial.

 

[JulieM]

Sounds like an excellent opportunity for crate training....

 

[BRIDGIT]

I agree...crate time! I don't know how you feel about this but I was against it at first. After coming home to my house destroyed I gave in. It was the best thing I could have done. Don't get me wrong, it has not been perfect with the crate. Our youngest, Jasmine at 18 months is just now having issues with the crate that we are dealing with. But my house is intact.

 

[Knye2001]

Julie (as always) is right! Crating is going to be the best for your kids!!! Besides saving what's left of your kitchen, crating them will also protect them! There is no telling what they might get into one day that would seriously hurt them!!!! I would invest in two large crates and when you leave the house, give them a treat for going into the crates and leave knowing that you're house and dogs are safe!!! It'll be well worth the money when you have that piece of mind!

 

[mellars family]

we are looking into getting crates for our babies, but we are wondering are they to old now at 10 months

 

[Knye2001]

They're never too old!! It may take a little longer to get them used to it, but that's why you invest in Kongs!! I hear that if you give them each one Kong filled with peanut butter, that will keep them busy for at least the first 15 minutes and that's the hardest time for them. Always make sure that they are treated when they go in and such (make the crate a GOOD place).

 

[Boxer_21]

Nope, they're really never to old to be crate trained. The important thing to do is to make sure the transition from no crate to a crate should be a positive one.

Some pointers that I can offer...

- When you begin crate training, do it slowly. Allow them the chance to go in on their own at first. Be sure to encourage it and give high praise if/when they go in.

- Even with the praise you should offer food rewards as well. If they go in on their own, praise and offer a treat.

- If they don't really want anything to do with the crate, perhaps you should start feeding them their actual meals in there. This will associate the crate with a meal, which boxers just can't resist!!

- You'll want to leave the crate doors open at all times so they go in and out as they wish. Of course this is only when you're home. If you're not home, the door should remained closed or it would defeat the purpose. My boy Riley is actually at the point now where he'll go in for naps. He really enjoys his crate.

- When your playing with the dogs, take toys or treats and toss them inside the crate so they can associate the crate with fun playtime as well.

- You can put a blanket or pillow inside and hide treats under them. My boxer LOVES searching for the treats in his crate.

- NEVER use the crate a punishing tool. If they're getting out of hand and you discipline them by putting them in the crate, you're teaching them that the crate means "you've been bad". Clearly if they'll be staying in the crate for hours, you wouldn't want them to think they're in trouble.

You can do a search to get more info on crate training as well. Before joining BW, I was dead set against crating. I always thought it was cruel to confine a dog to such a small place. I now know that was very foolish and it was actually the best thing I'd ever done for Riley.

Good luck with yours!!

 

[jennifer zaidan]

I am all about the crate! I didn't start crating training Tanner until he was a little older too. I don't think it is ever too late, and I have always kept the crates up thoughout my dogs' lives...it gives them a place that is always theirs.

Not only is he in there during the daytime when I am at work, but he will go into it when he is scared or just to take a nap. I feed him in there too (he eats a raw diet, so I don't have to contend with messy raw chicken partys everywhere else in my house.) He has a big poofy pad at the bottom and I drapped a piece of black cotton material over it so it resembles an actual den.

It is his own palatial puppy estate, with all the comforts of home!

~Jen

 

[Annette Hallet]

Try Shampoo

My Boxer is in a crate so he has not had the chance to chew anything whilst Im not around, the best suggestion I can come up with is to put shampoo on the bottom of the cupboards and on anything you dont wont chewed, I have been given this advice from lots of people, it might be worth giving it a try.

Good luck love to hear from you it this works!!!!!!

 

[mellars family]

hello. thanx for all the advice, and thanx to Annettewith the shampoo tip, i dont think i will try it though cause i know for a fact that Max really loves shampoo, if i leave a bottle anywhere in reach he takes it into the corner and eats it, he also loves shower gel but especially soap, he has been known to eat almost a whole tablet of soap, and if you catch him with it he tries to hide it under the bed covers.
we are seriously considering the crate idea although they have been really well behaved the last week or so, in fact we seem t have developed another problem, although this one is nowhere near as bad, he keeps picking up there water bowl and bringing it into me, he started doing this when it was empty but now he does it even when it is full, he just leaves a trail of water behind him, we have even got hima heavier bowl but that makes no difference ........ . still this is one problem i can live with.