My rescue lab mix chews furniture. How to stop destructive chewing?

This is very hard. Dasle isn't really a puppy anymore at 1 year old, so it seems like she's developed preferences for chewing on inappropriate materials. I recommend treating her like a puppy and never letting her out of your sight. If you need to focus on something else (like cooking or talking to someone) she goes in the crate with toys. Attaching a relatively short leash five to six feet) to her and your belt can help with this. If you catch her trying to chew something inappropriate, give her something better to chew. Avoid punishment as this is usually confusing for dogs. Finally, try to find toys that are similar to the furniture that she likes -- a wood toy or fabric toy for example. Good luck and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!!

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually these behaviors can be corrected but this usually needs in person training by a qualified dog trainer. I recommend you consider hiring a qualified dog trainer to work with you in person. You can try using positive reinforcement by focusing on the positive meaning when he listens to you and stops chewing you start rewarding him with treats and praise. Most of the time when that is done consistently, it tends to help significantly. Good luck and have a good day!

You can try Bitter Apple spray, but I cannot guarantee that it won't stain fabrics, so you may want to spot test it first. Specifically regarding underwear, socks, etc; it is very important to get all family members to use a covered hamper so that these items are not lying around. Socks and underwear are VERY common causes of intestinal obstructions that require surgery. I understand your reservations about using a crate, however, most dogs actually like a crate, when its introduced as a safe recluse for the dog, and never as a punishment. Initially when introducing a crate, you don't close the dog in, rather get them comfortable with it as a nice place to rest. Check out the following article for good tips in introducing a crate. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-crate-train-your-puppy-or-older-dog/ Thank you fro using PetCoach!

Destructive behavior like this when you're not home is usually caused by separation anxiety - some dogs will chew things when they're bored, but if there is significant destruction and it only happens when you're gone, anxiety is much more likely. If you want to know for sure, I would suggest videotaping her the next time you go out - it's usually very easy to see on the video if this is anxiety vs. boredom. There are a few things you can do to try and help her. You can try crating her, but be aware that many dogs with this problem are more anxious when they are confined - she won't be able to do as much damage to your home, but she may injure herself if she panics trying to escape. I would strongly recommend leaving her with a special long-lasting treat of some kind every time you leave the house, like a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter or something similar. You may also want to try a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Composure or Zylkene to help decrease her anxiety. If you don't see improvement within the next 1-2 weeks, you should talk with your vet about the problem as she may need prescription medication to treat her anxiety, at least for a while. You could also request referral to a veterinary behaviorist for additional help if the problem is severe.

I am so sorry that you are experiencing these problems with destructive behaviour with Luther. I am sure it is very upsetting for you. First of all rest assured that this is a very normal puppy and young dog behaviour. Puppies learn through oral exploration and it is part of our role as pet parents to help them learn limits. The behaviours will calm down with age. In general the goals will also be increased exercise and mental stimulation. I would not attempt negative reinforcement such as striking Luther or speaking harshly as this will potentially create more serious behaviour issues such as anxiety and fear-aggression. Try some calm corrections and positive reinforcement. If Luther destroys something, simply say in a calm voice "no" and stop interacting with him for a few moments. This over time will teach him that chewing is not a desired form of play. Also try reinforcing him as she starts to play in a good way by not chewing inappropriate things, and giver him a small training treat. You can also try increasing her exercise and mental stimulation. These help with behaviour issues. Redirection to more appropriate activities or games will also help Other games which may be fun with Luther are hide and go seek either with you and another person, or you hide his toys and he has to find them. Or classic fetch. I would also suggest a dog appeasing pheromone diffuser such as this one to help calm him; www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=32887 Here are some resources to help; https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-tips-to-help-prevent-destructive-chewing/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/10-ways-to-stimulate-your-dog-s-brain/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/top-5-toys-gadgets-for-your-dog/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/benefits-of-maintaining-an-active-lifestyle-for-your-pet/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-myths-about-dog-aggression/ I hope this was helpful!

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.