Puppy chewing on electrical cords? How to stop this dangerous habit?

Hi there, thanks for your question on PetCoach. It sounds like you're working hard to break Spooky of this habit! The short of it is, there won't be an easy solution if Spooky isn't doing it when you're home to catch him in the act. You can try covering the exposed parts of the cord with something foul tasting or spicy, such as bitter apple sprays (there are many brands on the market, but here's one: ) or hot pepper sauce (I don't usually recommend the latter due to the potential for GI upset, but cord chewing is an exception, since that's a habit that could be life threatening!). If that doesn't work, then it will likely come down to husbandry/management, by potentially barricading Spooky away from the exposed cord or keeping him in a separate room. If he never tries to chew it when you're there, then the usual training strategies won't work, as all training options require responding in the moment that Spooky would show interest in the cord. Hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would recommend using deterrents such as bitter apple spray and spray it directly on your couch or use a spray bottle filled with water and every time you catch her chewing, spritz her in the face and say "off!". Loud noises such as a can filled with coins or an air horn can also help deter her from chewing. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sadly this is a puppy and or breed problem that MOST dogs eventually outgrow. Everything he could chew on should be put away or removed until this phase of puppy-hood is over. The family needs to learn to put their shoes in the closet. All plants should be put up on furniture or shelves. All exposed wires should be hidden or blocked with baby gates. When Damon can not be 100% watched he should be crated for his own safety or penned in a dog play pen or gated in a room that is puppy proofed. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise with walks and one on one play or sign him up for doggie day care during the day. Most chewing occurs out of boredom. Sign him up for training classes or start teaching him "leave it" and be sure he knows how to come when called. This is going to take time and patience and everyone doing their part to prevent injury to their belongings and to Damon. I hope this helps and I wish you the best!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is of course a severe case but there is always something to try which is the good news. The best thing and what I would recommend is contacting a pet trainer that can work with you and him in person. There are plenty of highly trained people around the country that can help with this. That would be the best approach as you have already tried toys and everything else. You can try using catnip which sometimes has a positive effect in these cases. There is a product called Feliway which can sometimes make them feel more at ease and that could also help. I hope that helps. Have a good night!

Cayenne pepper won't hurt, it's what I use on soil to keep my dogs from getting into my potted plants! Trust me, their sense of smell is very strong and it only takes one time for them to find out that it tastes bad. It's uncomfortable, and cats often foam at the mouth when they taste something bad, but it won't last. Alternatively, you could get a bitter apple spray or similar at a pet store to spray on the cords. These work with variable success. The best option is to cover the cords or put them behind furniture.

Jasmine is adorable!! I would make sure when you cannot keep your eyes on Jasmine 100% put her in a crate. That way she cannot hurt herself. I would also make sure you tire her out. The reason for this is if she is so tired she shouldn't have the energy to chew the cords. I would walk/run/play outside with her multiple times a day. Also you can get a kong and put peanut butter in it. Then I would put it in the freezer. This will keep her occupied. Unfortunately some dogs never grow out of the chewing phase. Hopefully Jasmine will. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This is likely normal puppy behavior. You can try to block the area of the plants by putting up a barrier or you can try to put a little cayenne pepper powder on the plant leaves to make them taste bad. This doesn’t always work but a lot times it does. I would also check the type of plants they are and make sure they aren’t toxic to dogs. I hope this helps!