Chewing dogs

[pinkbabytots]

I have two Giant Schnauzers, they are fab and love them to bits. They are nearly twelve months old and are destroying my furniture. I have only had them for three months and out at work all day so know that that could be a problem.

Has anyone go any ideas that will maybe stop the chewing.

Thanks

[amonty1144]

Giant Schnauzers like any other big dog are very destructive when bored. They need a lot of exercise and stimulation. You might consider an outside kennel, when you are out, lave them lots of chews, toys etc and give them a lot of exercise. Can you get a dog walker or soemone to break the day. The other option is caging them in the house when you are out , but you will need lage cgaes as they need to be able to stand up and turn round.

They are not yet mature and should grow out of it but unless you break the cycle, it will become a habit and you'll never stop it.

From personal experience of other dogs, none of the pepper paste or anything like that works,.....distract or remove them from the chewing areas is the only way.

[gallapunk]

Were they left alone all day before you had them? If not, that's your answer. Is there any way you could build a run onto your house so that they could only have access to say the entrance porch if they need to be dry, but they can get outside with toys etc (especially now the wather's getting nicer)?

If they were left alone all day then it's probably stress and/or boredom (they lived at their previous home for longer than they've lived with you and you're not there all the time anyway).

They should settle in time, but you will need patience until they know that you are theirs, you're not likely to disappear and they can trust you. Best of luck.

[lankeela]

Who the hell n their right mind would let you have two baby Giant Schnauzers if you were going to be out at work all day?

Do them a favour and find them a home where they can have some companionship, socialisation and training..

[gelda]

Lankeela, you took the words right out of my mouth! if you are out all day you shouldn't even think about owning a dog.

[kita1]

Please when you go out turn the gas and the electric off at the mains.

I have heard of many dogs turning the gas cooker on or ripping the knobs off the front and therefore turning the gas on. If they chew the gas fire then they could also turn the gas on and cause an explosion.

Dogs also chew wires (my GSD disconnected my clock radio one day - god knows how she survived). She also nicked a beer can out of the bin and took it onto my bed and shredded it - no piece was bigger than a one penny piece, how on earth she did not swallow any or cut her mouth I don't know!

Also make sure any plants you have are not poisonous.

You are lucky if it is just furniture - my BSD (size of a collie) whilst playing one day bounced off my front window - she came back into the room but the window ended up on the pavement outside in pieces! AND I was in the house at the time!!! (luckily). Dogs this size can easily go through doors given the time.

[jules77]

I agree with the others, who sold you two large dogs when you were out at work all day.......?

I dont even think taking them out for a long walk 'before' you go to work, lunchtime and 'evening' would stop these two from destroying your house, but may help, together with access to the garden when you are not at home?

Doubt if they will get out of this chewing and destructive behaviour for some time either, my four year old is worse than my puppy.........and she chews things 'while' we are in the house, and after exercise.

[gallapunk]

kita1: at last, someone who will believe what my GSD did several years ago whilst I was out shopping: chewed a glass tumbler into a third of its size and never cut himself anywhere at all, inside or out. He has taken cans out of the kitchen bin and chewed them at night too, with no cuts to his gums or anything (so I moved the bin to somewhere he couldn't get to at night). What are they made of?

I've always been at home during the day for most of the time, but I do know of dogs that are left alone while their owners work. I think with intelligent dogs (and some are thick and some are very intelligent and there are all the ones in between) it's not a good idea from the dog's point of view, but they have no say in the matter.

[pinkbabytots]

I am surprised with the comments that stero-type people. Just because you have to go out to work does not mean that you cannot own pets!! Furthermore, it is just as bad to spend all day with your pets as it is to leave them on their own and in any case did any of you actually ask how long they are on their own for????

My dogs are very well exercised, well loved and very content. The fact that they sometimes chew things (which is done whether we are in or out) is because they are teething. I was asking advice on teething problems and was not inviting comments about our family life.

[wiggal]

pinbabytots, You did say in your original question that you were out at work all day and and said yourself that that could be a big problem?!
So if you are not out at work all day, maybe you should of not said so in the first place?
People are replying to your question going by the things you said in the original question!

[lankeela]

Dogs have their adult teeth by 6 - 7 months at the latest. No way are they still teething at almost a year old.

'Out at work all day' you said!

[lankeela]

"it is just as bad to spend all day with your pets as it is to leave them on their own" What a load of b*llox.

[pinkbabytots]

Yes I did say that 'I was out at work all day' but that does not mean to say that the dogs are on their own all day DOES IT? If you really must know they do have company as other members of the family are at home most of the day but when you happen to go out they decide to have a chew.

Hells bells I thought I was asking a simple question did not expect all this!!!!!

And just for the records, the vet has confirmed that they are still teething!!