Re: my dog chews drywall ?!
[Re: Barbara Schuler ]
#343053 - 08/31/2011 08:31 AM |
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Aside from a treat- or peanut butter-filled kong and maybe another safe chew toy, what else do you recommend leaving in there with him? I can't think of a way to stimulate his brain while he's sitting in a crate during the day. Ideas?
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Re: my dog chews drywall ?!
[Re: Chris Waple ]
#343062 - 08/31/2011 09:58 AM |
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Sounds like you'd have to soak the whole house with bitter apple and would guess he would just keep moving on to the next item, whether a fan of bitter apple or not. Sounds like a project that I'm not sure would be fool proof. In addition to ruining items, he could ingest something that results in a gi obstruction.
For me tons, tons of exercise physically/mentally prior to crating and then giving them a gnaw object has always been more than sufficient. Each dog has a different level of tons, tons of exercise. You can put anything edible in the kong and freeze it to make it last longer. Sometimes a jackpot of items keeps them interested in it longer. Knuckle bones, antlers, etc. can be used too. Until I watch the dog chewing an item, I don't leave it in there. Can someone take him out half way through the day, so he really doesn't need much brain stimulation while in there, just a well needed nap and rest?
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Re: my dog chews drywall ?!
[Re: aimee pochron ]
#343074 - 08/31/2011 11:02 AM |
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There is no 'magic' age or amount of exercise that a dog needs. Each dog's needs are different.
As a whole for a working line GSD (don't know what kind of lines you have) or any very very active breed, the amount of exercise you are stating you are giving your dog is a minimal amount that most would need.
Not all dogs magically are able to be out of a crate when not supervised at 2 years of age. Some need to be older & some can do it younger. Depends on the dog.
My dogs sleep in the bedroom with me & don't wander the house at night. They are TIRED & WANT to sleep. They are both out loose in the house when I am out, but they have full tummies & are tired & nap. One dog has not been crated since she was 1 1/2 my male since 3. My female was destructive, if given the opportunuty, as a pup. The male never was. It's all management & mental & physical exercise to do so.
As far as bitter apple, a really bored determined dog will totally disreguard it & chew thru it. Ditto to other topicallly applied solutions.
Your dog is clearly bored & under-exercised. Most dogs are not generally that outright destructive, pups can be especially when teething, but older dogs generally are not.
A mentally understimulated, underexercised dog can be VERY dangerous to itself when being able to choose things as toys to amuse itself. Some dogs NEED to have something in their mouths. I have had 2 males that just need to be able to carry something around to keep themselves out of trouble outside in the yard & not chew on my things. I've not had the problem inside, although my dogs always had kongs in their crates to play with from day one. My male still likes to chew on his at night. They are also TIRED when they come into the house & not interested in anything other then napping.
If you dog gets enough mental & physical exercise they should just want to come in & put their heads down & sleep,especially at the end of an 'active' day. JMO
MY DOGS...MY RULES
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Re: my dog chews drywall ?!
[Re: Anne Jones ]
#343076 - 08/31/2011 12:11 PM |
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There is no 'magic' age or amount of exercise that a dog needs. Each dog's needs are different.
Anne makes a great point (well, many great points actually). My 9 yr old GSD has more energy and requires more than my 1 yr old GSD...I wanted low energy with this guy and the breeder gave me low energy!
Have you considered any agility? I have found that this combo of mental and physical exercise tires my dogs out like nothing else. I just have a couple of jumps, a small tunnel and a set of 6 weaves. It does the trick for all three of my dogs.
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Re: my dog chews drywall ?!
[Re: Melissa Hoyer ]
#343084 - 08/31/2011 02:58 PM |
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I think it's really great that the advice on this topic is more training and exercise. While I totally agree with that, it's kind of muddying the waters. While more exercise and training might make the dog less interested in chewing furniture and walls because the dog has less energy, let's not forget that the dog can do this from a down position. GSD's are known for being destructive. It's self-rewarding. Chewing feels good. If you continue to leave this dog loose in the house, more exercise and training or not, it will chew on your stuff just by virtue of being repeatedly rewarded for it in the past.
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Re: my dog chews drywall ?!
[Re: Lisa Brazeau ]
#343089 - 08/31/2011 04:12 PM |
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Just a thought here on the bitter apple idea. Tanka got an ear infection and we had to deal with treating ear and it was uncomfortable for him to have it taken care of because it was irritated. I am STILL working on getting his trust back when it comes to handling ears or anything that has a cottonball involved.. And that was necessary. Be very careful with doing intentionally bad things to body parts. It can really
backfire.
Good luck with the chewing.
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Re: my dog chews drywall ?!
[Re: Chris Waple ]
#343123 - 08/31/2011 08:42 PM |
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Hi everyone--
Thanks for all the insightful responses. I am going to increase run distance a bit (although after about 3-4 miles I'm pretty much dragging him along behind me... I'm sure his stamina will improve). Also have chosen a few more "tricks" that I am going to free shape him on. Not competition related stuff, just fun stuff.
He's back in the crate overnight and we'll see how long til I'm ready to try him out again.
He's going to his first day of doggy daycare tomorrow, which I hope willreally tire him out for once. Probably will do that 2x a week when possible.
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Re: my dog chews drywall ?!
[Re: Chris Waple ]
#343129 - 08/31/2011 09:14 PM |
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To get enough exercise in, I do two runs a day. One in the morning (2-3 miles) and one in the evening (2-3 miles for a total of at least 5 miles a day three to four days a week) with at least two extra walks in there that are more relaxed.
I use a treadmill for the morning run (I do my make up and have a cup of coffee ) and then bike at night since I am not a runner. So five miles of running and maybe another mile of walking to keep the energy relaxed.
There are other energy burning exercises I do, if you are interested...
Jessica
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Re: my dog chews drywall ?!
[Re: JessicaKromer ]
#343130 - 08/31/2011 09:21 PM |
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if they're dog exercises, then certainly. but i suspect they are probably not. i need to find time for more of that kind of exercise myself.
i don't have a treadmill so i'll have to put the rollerblades on in the morning once in a while too. meanwhile i hope puppy daycare does some good and he doesn't get into any trouble tomorrow.
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Re: my dog chews drywall ?!
[Re: Chris Waple ]
#343138 - 08/31/2011 11:05 PM |
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Keep in mind a doggy daycare is just like a dog park.... except the folks running it are only as dog-savvy as they claim. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable accepting that they would only let my dog 'play' with another friendly dog. What if something happens? Another dog gives your dog a stink eye, and a fight breaks out. Who's stuck with vet bills? What about your OB trials? If you're hoping that he does not get into any trouble tomorrow, I don't think it's the right place for your boy. I'm that super overprotective Mom though, involving both my kids, and dogs.
Just opens up a whole bag of worms IMO. I'd be more comfortable with hiring a dog walker, to take my dog on a solo walk. Probably about the same price as a doggy daycare place too, I'd bet.
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