My 6-month-old dog chews everything. Will another dog help?

Oh no! If he will tolerate a crate, I would strongly consider this to help prevent him from swallowing something he shouldn’t and to prevent more damage to your house. I would also consider some calming chews like vetriscience composure and a calming collar like adaptil. If this doesn’t help, I would talk to your vet about starting him on an anti-anxiety Medicine. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chicago. Puppies start teething around 4 months of age and this continues until they are about 7-8 months of age. So a lot of his chewing is most likely related to teething. You will need to keep things picked up and only allow him access to safe toys. The urge to chew should decrease over the next few months. I hope this information helps!

Kailana is adorable! Thanks for including some pictures. I certainly understand and sympathize with your situation. I have one younger dog that has a lot of destructive energy and loves to destroy everything. I have a few suggestions for you that have helped me. First, find things that will keep her mouth busy. One thing that people think of first is treats that keep them busy for a longer period of time. This does seem to help. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for her to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer. Keep her mentally and physically busy during meal times. I love using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps my dog busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires him to work. And speaking of working. I have found that my dog is the most tired after we have done a good round of training. Even if you have done a basic obedience class, I would consider trying an advanced class, a nose work class, a tricks class, etc. And if taking a class isn't an option right now, work on training at home. When she goes on walks, make her sit at each corner before she crosses the street. It sounds simple, but additional mental stimulation can go a long way. Playing with other dogs is a great outlet for energy. If you haven't tried it yet, look into your local dog park or doggy daycare center. Sending my youngest dog to daycare once a week has made a huge difference. There are a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those. https://www.petco.com/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games I have not tried the Clever Pet yet, but it is an electronic interactive toy that I am intrigued about. https://clever.pet And finally, give her appropriate things to destroy. My dog loves paper towel rolls and cardboard boxes. I also get toys that he loves to destroy, so he can get that destructive energy out. So, I think the key is to vary her activities daily and include a wide range of physical and mental stimulation. Be sure to be creative to tire her out on a regular basis and help everyone keep their sanity. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

I'm so sorry you're going through this with Max. Unfortunately, young dogs have a lot of energy that can become destructive if they don't have any other outlet for it. The simplest short term solution might be to crate Max during the day while you're gone, but I think the best long term solution will be to find appropriate outlets for his energy. One of my favorite things for young dogs are feeding balls and toys such as a BusterCube. You can feed his entire meal in it, which will take him a while and require him to "play" more. I would also strongly recommend some additional training classes. It sounds simple, but my dog is 2 years old and he is always tired (and better behaved) for a day after an obedience class because he really worked his mind. I would also consider a doogy care care or dog walking service. That can make a world of difference. I hope that gives you some ideas. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Chewing is very normal behavior for a puppy. This will likely continue until she is 2 to 3 years old although some dogs will be chewers all their life. I recommend kennel training. This is the best way to keep your puppy safe and to keep your home safe as well. Puppies can ingest objects that can cause an intestinal obstruction and requires surgery. Don’t feel bad about not having a bed in the kennel as she will likely chew it up. Make sure to give her vigorous activity every day as this will help some of the chewing behavior. Hopefully she will outgrow this! I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, I totally understand you chewing ca be a bit of a problem during these early months. You need to try to be consistent and not to give up and play with your hands. Even during normal play, interrupt play and ignore him if suddenly starting to play too rough. You should try to praise calm behaviour and when he manages (eventually) to sit and be focused. As times goes by, he will get better and better and hopefully grow in a well balanced adult !

This is very common for this age since they are starting to lose their baby teeth and get their adult teeth at this time. Make sure he has plenty of chew toys and bones to play with. I like plain flat raw hides. They can have one a day. If there is something particular he is chewing on, you can put a dab of Tabasco or bitter apple spray to prevent the chewing. This will sometimes helps. When you aren't able to monitor him I would put him in a crate so he doesn't chew something that might harm him. Give him some time as he won't feel the need to do this forever. I hope this helps!