I have a 10 month old GSD who chews on the bars of this crate. Yesterday we tried Bitter Apple for the first time. I did the cotton ball thing* 3 or so times, sprayed it all over the bars of the crate, and she still chewed them. She already has a very minor chip on a tooth, but it can and will be worse the next time. Not to mention the actual crate, but she's really doing damage and it was $600! I really don't want her to ruin completely or beyond resale quality.
*When I tried to hold her mouth shut she somehow swallowed it. I didn't let go for 1 second. She swallowed it after about 45 seconds the first time, 30 the next, and 10 the next. Is there anyway to get her to keep it in her mouth?
Is there any (or a better) way to keep her from chewing the bars of the crate?

 Quote: Kim Ward

... we tried Bitter Apple .... I did the cotton ball thing* 3 or so times ... *When I tried to hold her mouth shut she somehow swallowed it. I didn't let go for 1 second. She swallowed it after about 45 seconds the first time, 30 the next, and 10 the next. Is there anyway to get her to keep it in her mouth?

Please stop doing that!

What kind of structured activity/exercise is this dog getting/doing? How much?

Are you doing frequent little training sessions during the day? What is the average day like? This is a frustrated-energy situation.

Also, what does the dog have to chew on?

Exercise:
Well it's been bitterly cold up here in WI, so it's been 1 or 2 short, as in 10-15 minute, walks a day. Yes, I'm wimpy when it comes to cold weather, but as soon as it warms up a few degrees we'll get her out a lot more often. I play rigorous games of tug with her in our basement usually every day. She gets A LOT of marker training! Also, she is pretty laid back for a working line GSD.

Training:

 Quote: connie sutherland

Are you doing frequent little training sessions during the day?

Do you mean like sit-stay type of training or be quiet in the crate type training?

Crate toys:
She usually has, uh, um... pressed rawhide bones. *ducks from blows* I would love for her to have some recreational bones or something but, my mom is stictly opposed to any type of raw meat in the house. I'm working on her, though! And my dad pretty much loves rawhide. (I'm 15 years old, BTW.) She has shredded a Hol-ee Roller and destroyed an Everlasting Treat Ball. She chewed the rim off the Treat Ball the first day, though it may have been a little small. I got it at a pet store and didn't see the size, but I'm positive now that it was a medium. After the $20 Treat Ball, my dad disagreed to letting her have any other toys in the crate, even (supposedly ) indestructible toys. The only toy she hasn't destroyed is the Jolly Critter, which is allowed in the crate . I have stuffed that with peanut butter and kibble mix, and (amazingly my mom let me) hamburger meat and kibble mix, frozen. She finishes these in about an hour (out of a 6-7 hour day.) Any suggestions for toys or other "chewing material" would be great!
Thanks!

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Kim Ward

... we tried Bitter Apple .... I did the cotton ball thing* 3 or so times ... *When I tried to hold her mouth shut she somehow swallowed it. I didn't let go for 1 second. She swallowed it after about 45 seconds the first time, 30 the next, and 10 the next. Is there anyway to get her to keep it in her mouth?

Please stop doing that!

Don't worry, I figured that out already. :wink:

As an interim fix, you might consider a basket-type muzzle.

Mind you, I said INTERIM.

The dog is bored, and turning neurotic. It needs more exercise and more mental stimulation.

Sometimes dogs that seem "laid back" are actually just dogs that have been taught to repress (and eventually redirect) their drive and energy. A dog that is willing to chew on hard wide peices of metal (as opposed to wire crate doors), is one of those dogs.

I've seen some pretty intense chewers in the military (as in, could destroy an XLarge Kong in less than 20 minutes), but none that chewed on metal bars for chewing pleasure. They did it out of boredom and frustration.

 Quote: alyssa myracle

... The dog is bored, and turning neurotic. It needs more exercise and more mental stimulation. .... Sometimes dogs that seem "laid back" are actually just dogs that have been taught to repress (and eventually redirect) their drive and energy. A dog that is willing to chew on hard wide peices of metal (as opposed to wire crate doors), is one of those dogs. ..... I've seen some pretty intense chewers in the military (as in, could destroy an XLarge Kong in less than 20 minutes), but none that chewed on metal bars for chewing pleasure. They did it out of boredom and frustration.

Deserves repeating.

Frustrated energy is the cause behind many destructive behaviors. Some dogs will become so frantic with boredom that they will inflict injury on themselves.

You mentioned tug games in the basement. How about fetch, across the widest part? Is there enough room (or can you arrange enough room)? Fetch can be with a rolled ball or toy, BTW, rather than tossed, which often works better in limited space.

Dogfishing is a good basement game, too. Do you know that game (a very popular game in my house in the rainy season)? I sometimes hesitate to mention it on the board because it can cause a lot of crashing of lamps and stuff in the living room, but with a basement .... perfect! I just use an old Shakespeare Ugli Stick pole, but any light pole, like bamboo, works.

http://petcaretips.net/indoor-dog-exercises.html

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=15&Number=166671&Searchpage=1&Main=17224&Words=dogfishing&topic=0&Search=true#Post166659

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/93035/page/0/fpart/1
(Scroll down to Barbara Erdman's two posts.)

Hiding tiny food treats is good, and "find me," and tracking .....

I think that this problem requires immediate and energetic intervention. This kind of frustration needs to be relieved. You can see the kind of destruction it can cause, and not just to property. I'm glad that you posted about it.

More excercise and stimulation. Got it.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

I've seen some pretty intense chewers in the military (as in, could destroy an XLarge Kong in less than 20 minutes)

Geez, that's crazy.
Of course, that was a pretty hypocritical statement!

I think the muzzle won't really be an option because of the expense.
Unless I win the photo contest...

Hypocritical? Maybe you mean a hyperbole (and it's not ... as amazing as it sounds)...

The muzzle was meant as an emergency very-short-term aid. What's needed is a commitment to immediate daily intervention.

You can do this. The dog needs you to.