My dog is the chewer from HELL!

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by SamIam

*Sent by coyote song*

[Stormieweather]

My shorkie is a chewer. If it is within his reach, he chews it up. Like your Corgi, most toys are destroyed in minutes. He's gone through several beds, because he eventually makes a tiny hole, then works it frantically until all the stuffing is removed and the covering is in shreds. I ended up buying him the BIG dog toys, made for dogs like pit bulls (with strong jaws and teeth). There is a rubber ball thingy made from automobile tire rubber (and a bell inside), a giant rope tied in a knot, a rubber squeaky "bone" that he plays catch by himself with, and several tennis balls. A tin of them is cheap and I throw the ball out when he mangles it too badly.

Luckily, I have very large tiled dining area, kitchen, and office. He is gated into these rooms and everyone has been trained to understand that if it's lower than waist height in that area, then it belongs to the dog. Shoes, purses, backpacks, remotes, food, cups, wires, cords, etc. have all been victim to the dog. My spouse has a guitar stand by his desk, the dog doesn't chew it, he pees on it. I used a rosemary based 'anti-chew' spray on the dining table/chairs and bookshelf. He's stopped chewing on the furniture items, for the most part. I did a lot of stern "NO" when I would catch him chewing on a no-no item, then would give him an acceptable toy (he has his own toybox with his chew toys in them).

It's improved, but honestly, the best option for now is to put everything higher than he can get to.

Now if only I could get him to stop peeing on the couch when he's allowed into the living room. Or pooping in the kid's rooms. He's a vindictive little shit.

[SamIam]

Thanks for the ideas, Stormie. I do keep Wyn gated off from some rooms in my apartment to avoid total havoc. Where did you get the rosemary stuff from? I've tried bitter apple and Wyn seems to consider that flavor the icing on the cake and contentedly chews up any item sprayed with it.

I'll try some toys made for rottweilers and pit bulls. Maybe that will help. Wyn is pretty well behaved in every other way except for the chewing thing. I was worried that maybe I was doing something wrong with him, but your post makes me feel like at least I'm not the only one who has a dog with this problem!