Wits end!

[Pinkkate]

My dog keeps eating things like her bed, my conservatory furniture etc etc...

How can I stop her doing it?

She is a rescue dog, rotty x, 20 months old.

We walk her 1 hour a day and thats the max we can do....

[coco pops]

This is a good site http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk/ccp51/cc/dog-b ehaviour/chewing.shtml

[Illyria54]

You don't say how long she is left during the day or does she do it while you are there? If she is left a long time on her own then that is your answer, dogs shouldn't really be left on their own for more than 4 hours at a time, if you don't leave her for longer than this then a good solution is to buy her a dog crate, an hour a day isn't too bad though a Rottweiller could really do with double that amount or at least an extra half an hour split between 2 walks 1 in the morning and another in the afternoon, I keep German Shepherds and I also have a Border Collie (4 dogs in all) and they go out for half an hour at around 6-7 in the morning, and then they go out for 1-2 hours in the afternoon usually around 2.30, and most of their exercise is off lead, if I didn't do this they would get bored and eat everything in sight, I also take them out extra in between these times and take a couple of balls and those ball throwers or a Frisbee, for a while in a field close to my home, you really need to keep these breeds of dog occupied or they will be destructive! I'm not knocking you for rescuing a dog in need, but if you are unable to give her the time, may be a less active breed might have been better?

[Illyria54]

I would just like to add also that if you take her out and do obedience training with her, even just in your garden for 5-10 minutes at a time it will also help to keep her occupied and her mind active. Obedience classes are good too and will keep her socialised.

[gilygone]

you could get her a rattle bottle so that is if she starts destroying things get a plastic bottle with pebbles in then every time she tries to eat something shake the bottle and say no she,ll soon learn its wrong hope this is some help xx

[winny]

She is either bored or stressed about you leaving. Check out these l;inks with similar troubles
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals-and-Nat ure/Pets/Question366906.html
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals-and-Nat ure/Question367564.html
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals-and-Nat ure/Pets/Question357673.html
I know these are not the exact same problems but the principles are the same. Hop[e these help.

[lankeela]

Do you give her lots of things that she CAN chew on? Rope ragger toys, knuckle bones, pigs ears, hide chews, even old socks or shoes, anything to keep her occupied. How about a treat ball stuffed with food, so she has to roll it round to get the treats out.

[leelapops]

Agree with all the above! Illyria54 is totally right-and I think rescuing a dog is great, but rotties do need a lot of activity. My 2yr old Collie boy is mad! He gets an hour off the lead in the morning, and 4 or 5 more (shorter) walks through the rest of the day. We also play in the house with him. I have had a LOT of problems stemming from his separation anxiety, and am having to start again from scratch, so I know it isn't easy. He used to chew/scratch/dig EVERYTHING, but he has really improved. Mental stimulation tires a dog as much as physical, so as lankeela suggests a stuffed Kong or treat ball can be really good. Also obedience training in short bursts and even a few basic tricks to keep her going will ensure she's a little more worn out.

From what I know and have heard, the anti-chew spray isn't that successful, though it may be more so for other dogs.

I hope you can sort this, she sounds so lovely.

Lisa x