Ripping Time!!!,,

[124C]

We dog-sit a staff cross.He has completed his basic training at about two years of age.Freddie(for that is his name) has an irritating and messy habit of tearing up sundry items: paper, plastic wrapping, plastic pots and plates and footballs(for the leather??).We sit and watch him so solitude is not the answer, can someone explain why he does it and how to deter him.(Freddie does have a large rawhide chew).

[Baldric]

///We sit and watch him/// . . . . Just a thought but do you think becoming a little more involved might help?

[Baldric]

///They are powerful chewers and will resort to chewing anything they can find around the home if left alone for long periods of time. This is simply because Staffies quickly become bored or stressed when left to their own devices.///
From
http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pets4homes/home.nsf/breedinfo/staffordshirebullterrier
I was not being unpleasant with my reply yesterday, but if you do literally just sit and watch him he may be bored because you're not interacting with him which is what you need to do.
Our own Staffie is a terrible pest at times, but a quick word or a fuss keeps him happy for a while, they are a very tactile breed.

[lankeela]

Try walking him instead of sitting watching him although he probably just does it for entertainment - the sound and the feel keeps him amused. I've got a Lancashire Heeler chewing on an old trainer as I type this - tried taking it off him and putting it in the bin but he pulled the bin over and got it out again! Oh well, its raining so no walk for an hour or two and its keeping him occupied.

[Baldric]

How's the Dog Sitting going, any change?

[Islay]

One of mine used to do the same - even if I was sitting there - frankly she was bored!

I bought a lot of boredom breakers that mean she has to think about how she gets her treats.

change her toys about and also change her walks as dogs get bored with the same walks.