Help!
Submitted by Sarah P. on April 11, 2012 - 12:51pmI don't know what the deal is... but for the last 2 weeks Cupcake (who is 10 months old) has been chewing up my utility rug by front door. She completely destroyed one and I bought another one last night, ran a 20 minute errand, came back and she had chewed up the edge. I've been able to leave her alone for the last 3 months and have never had this problem until the last two weeks. The utility rug is cheap, maybe 10 bucks, so that's not the issue. I just need her to stop! I've fussed at her pretty sternly and put her in time out, which she hates, for about 10 minutes. But each time I come home and find shes chewed bits of the rug off, I walk in the door, gasp, and Cupcake starts shaking like a leaf and hides. So she knows it's wrong! She just can't help herself?
So how should I handle it? Do I go out and buy another wire crate to keep her in for the times that I leave the apartment? (Biscuit, the 4 month old, has to stay in the one crate we have so we can't put them together.) Or do I put the rug out of her reach each time I leave (difficult to remember to do, but I could try.) Or do I just get rid of the rug and let everyone track mud in the place? Grrr. It would be great if I could just put her in another room when I leave the apartment, but we are living in a very small temporary one bedroom apartment now and literally have a bedroom, bathroom, and den area. She has to stay in the den area because of space reasons.
What to do? So frustrated! This has never been an issue with her and I sure don't want her teaching Biscuit bad habits! And you'd think she's acting out, but I hardly ever leave her alone so it's not like she isn't getting attention.
Meet Cupcake (born May 15, 2011) and Biscuit (born December 2, 2011)
for me...crate
If she's shaking when you come home I, personally, would not give her time out. I think that might create a snowball effect of bad behavior. I would remove the rug, for now. Maybe get one of those straw type outdoor rugs that she cannot destroy for right now. \
Personally I would crate her, she is still young, and it has nothing to do with what she destroys, its the things that could harm her. If she got a hunk of the rug caught in her throat it could be very tragic.
She might be acting out because of sharing time with the baby brother..even though it has been a few weeks. It could be something not quite right medically......Kippah tore two blankets when she has a UTI. She could be bored. If only they could talk!
Loves and Smooches, Kippa and Mama (Annette)
Thank you.... that is very
Thank you.... that is very helpful. I just hate crating her because I know she loves her freedom, and she is generally very mature for her age. We've never had issues with her before... But you're right, she could get hurt and I have to protect her.
Meet Cupcake (born May 15, 2011) and Biscuit (born December 2, 2011)
I do believe with age they
I do believe with age they can actually mature into 'naughty' behavior that they would not have even thought of before.
GOod luck, Kippah will stay in her crate for some time, in fact we just started putting our 3 yr old Bostons in a crate, and they never started there, but man the house is nice to come home to now, I know there is nothing torn up and no accidents--which were mostly a pouty female boston that peed in the bathroom almost every day lately!
Loves and Smooches, Kippa and Mama (Annette)
Crating - Take II
I never had trouble with my Stella after 6 months - but I think I was lucky.
My sister's lab was crated for 1 year, then "set free". After a couple months, she ate the leather sofa (literally the whole front part), peeled wallpaper off the wall and dug holes in the drywall.
She went back in the crate for another six months. Then she was ready for freedom.
I think I would put Cupcake back in for a few more months. Just a suggestion.
If she's shaking when you
If she's shaking when you react like that, I don't think it's that she knows chewing the rug was wrong. It's that she knows you're upset, and she's going to get scolded. She's reacting to you, but doesn't understand what she did that caused that reaction. I would definitely not scold her unless you actually catch her in the act of chewing the carpet, so that she puts her action together with your scolding. Otherwise it's just, "Mom comes home, and I get scolded".
Bitter Apple the rug edges -
there is a product called Bitter Apple - which 'repels' Dogs from chewing on the item (Gizmo was liking the dining room chairs too much... SPRAY SPRAY)
it isnt long lasting though, so you have to re-apply.
I thinking scolding 'after the fact' could be an issue, you really need to catch her in the act to scold her firmly. Could she be bored? maybe need a good walk before you head out? I would also say, back to crate training to protect puppy from house from puppy :)
Last steps taken May 26, 2014 -- Been rolling along ever since . . . .
Bitter Apple is also good
to try but I have heard that some actually like bitter apple. I've used it at times and haven't yet found a dog that liked it...LOL!
I use bitter apple too....
We had the same thing happen with Gracie recently. We had to throw out 3 rugs - ugh!! I started reading online and found the bitter apple spray at petco. Sprayed it on the edges of the the living room rug and she hasn't touced it since! It's been about a week and a half and so far so good! good luck!
Another bitter apple proponent...
Saved many pieces of furniture and our rugs (even though our rugs are temporary, we didn't want Rugs getting into the habit). Rugby just had to see us spray it on something and he wouldn't go near it again.
Back to the crate
she is still a puppy and they will have set backs sometimes. Ester had freedom for almost 2 years, then chewed a hole in a leather chair, she was coming into season. Girls sometimes will be a little more destructive when they come into or are going to come into season. Thou I think I remember your Cupcake is spayed so that shouldn't be the issue.
She is likely not very happy you left her and the rug is the closest thing to the door chew.
The only one I leave out when I'm gone is MacKenzie. Even though I think the other 2 would likely be fine, it is just easier and safer to crate them.
Give her something to distract her when you leave...
Crating wasn't ideal for us after Sanford reached a certain age so I started giving him a hollowed out marrow bone with peanut butter smeared in it when I would leave for any extended period of time. He's 7 yrs old now and I still do this and he is very well adjusted at home alone during the day and we've never had any problems with him chewing or tearing anything up.
Maybe you could try a kong with peanut butter or a couple little treats in it or something - that might help too.