Do all puppies tear up the house?
By TriciaW
@TriciaW (2441)
United States
February 23, 2007 8:19am CST
I have a puppy that is tearing up everything. I want to make it an outdoor dog but I am meeting with resistance from my family. She waits till night when I am sleeping to go on her little adventures. I wake up to a mess every morning. I don't have a kennel and she is growing so much I would need a big one to keep her in. I have locked her on the back porch but she scratches at the door and that drives everyone nuts so they let her out. Of course they complain to me when she chews up their things but they still won't keep her on the back porch. So what can I do?
4 people like this
22 responses
@jillbeth (2705)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Make sure she has her own toys, and anytime that you catch her with something she is not supposed to have, take it away and give her a toy. Praise her when she chews on her own toys. Sometimes dogs have preferences, some like to chew hard things and some soft, so get her a couple different types to see what she likes. Never give her old shoes or anything like that to chew because puppies don't know the difference between old and new! Play with her a lot during the day so she will be tired and sleep at night and not go on her nightly escapades. If the family won't cooperate and keep her locked up at night, tell them they have no business complaining if their stuff gets chewed!
3 people like this
@cayennepepper (266)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Been there done that. My dog is smaller, but I've done the puppy thing and it is no fun. I would recommend the kennel even if you have to buy a big one. It has taken a while for my dog to get used to sleeping in it, but now he just knows that's his space and he is safe. I sleep good every night and he's ready to play in the morning.
2 people like this
@lpetges (3036)
• United States
24 Feb 07
that is why i have no more animals. we've had our share, and its true, they all tear things up.. they poop on the carpet, pee on the carpet, chew your good shoes,, stink up the house, and leave hair all over the place. I love my house enough to not want to share with a pet anymore!!
@limosonia1 (1559)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Welcome to puppy hell. Training a puppy is very hard work. It is probably teething which is why it is chewing everything up. Like children you most doggy proof your room so that she has nothing to chew on. You have to be very repetive with the dog when they do something wrong eventually it will stop. Probably when you think you are at the end of your rope. LOL. The good news is as the get bigger they get better as you train them. There are great training tools and also a spray to deter them from chewing on stuff that is harmless to them. You might want to try it. Good luck
@CarlyLaine (759)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I'd really hate to be a dog in your house.
First: What were you thinking? You seem to have no concept of dog training and your immediate recourse,because the dog doesn't think like a human, is to throw it outside. What's wrong with you?
Second: If you are sincere in training the dog. Take it outside to potty every 15 minutes, as soon as it eats, and as soon as it wakes up.
You are not a good dog owner, therefore, I will give no more to you. BUY A BLASTED BOOK on dog training and wise up.
Poor little dog.
1 person likes this
@TriciaW (2441)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Carly I am not sure I explained myself well enough. I would not say I am not a good dog trainer. My puppy is a lab mix that isn't tiny it comes up to my thighs. I had a lab for 15 years that never stayed in the house. I have had great success at getting this puppy to only go to the bathroom outside and to come when I call. She sits when told and knows when I am around not to get on furniture. My back yard is fenced in and is two lots which in my opinion is a good size for a big dog to run and play verses confining it in a house where it rips everything apart. The back porch is inside the house which when it is cold out I don't like to see dogs outside with frozen water dishes is why I would perfer if she is inside that she be on the back porch. Because she is not a year old she is still a puppy and yes needs to be taught not to chew up everything however if she were able to do anything she wanted in a protected yard I think it would be better for her. My family and it looks like others here think she shouldn't be outside. So when do you start having a big dog outside?
1 person likes this
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
23 Feb 07
Yes , this is quite normal for puppies to do as their baby teeth are bothering them the same as if you had a baby .
A tip you can try is to freeze something and everytime you puppy chews something you get mad and give the puppy the cloth or whatever you froze , this will help your puppies teeth and will eventually teach him to stop chewing everything .
My mohter in law got this tip from the vet and she said it did help but it still took awhile to to teach her puppy to only chew the cloth .
Hope this helps .
1 person likes this
@arnboy (357)
• India
23 Feb 07
I think the puppy should be kept indoors, it has been separated from its mother, and you should provide it with warmth, comfort and lots of love. Puppies which are not taken care of properly at this age will grow up to become a menace.
I personally feel you should keep the puppy beside you in your room. That is what i do, in fact the puppy cuddles next to me and i really like it and so does the pup. Chewing things is a habit of all puppies as they are teething, you can give them some chew sticks, bones to chew so that their teeth can develop faster and they get relief. You can get the doggy chews from any dog store.
Best of luck with your pup!
@silverlou (372)
•
23 Feb 07
My friend had a puppy great dane, it chewed off the doors and the frames.
Puppies like a lot of attention, the main thing is for them to know that night time or when you are out, to leave things alone. They soon get bored with their toys and as curious little things they seek out new activities. I suggest that if your puppy only does this when you are not around, you need to start training on leaving the room, basically you pretend to leave the house or room, but return after 30 seconds and give your puppy a treat if they have not touched anything, carry on doing this and increasing the time span of you being out of the room. The psychology part of it is, is this, your puppy may think you are not coming back, but to her surprise you do and she got a treat, its the returning part which is important, dogs don't like to be alone, so teaching your puppy you will always return should in the end be a reward itself.
1 person likes this
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
24 Feb 07
Based on what I have heard, all puppies will be a challenge and tear up something. Puppies take almost as much training as a child. I do know from personal experience that when a dog is resisting the restraints you put on it, it can be very destructive. They can be very persistent in their desires.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
24 Feb 07
Sorry, but all puppies do this. Well, at least all mine have.
Trai9ning is the key to stop this behaviour. Do you have a puppy school nearby. This may not deal with night time behaviour, but it will certainly help with general behaviour.
And in the long run, she/ he will have learnt the discipline to cope with night time expectations.
What about her own doggy toys? Every time you say her playing with or desroying a something else, take it away from her and give her a doggy toy. Growl at the same time.
Hope these few suggestions help.
Good Luck.
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Seems to be a common problem with young dogs. My younger dog is almost two and she still gets into things. She loves to pull the toilet paper off the roll. I have to remember to keep things above her grasp. She chewed the back of one of our remote controls. Some people believe in crating dogs at night. I've never done that. Have you ever heard of Ceasar Milan? He has a show on the National Geographic Channel. He has also written some books about working with dogs. One of the key things he says is that certain dogs, especially young ones, are very high energy and need more exercise than others.He suggests taking dogs on long walks so they can get a lot of exercise. This seems to work for me. I walk my dog a couple of times a day. A long walk tires her out. He also says that you must establish dominance as the "pack leader" to let the dog know who is boss. I've tried some of his tricks and they work.
1 person likes this
@alegend (37)
• United States
24 Feb 07
You need to get your dog some squeaky toys. My dog plays with her toys only and has never torn up anything. If your dog will not behave at night you will need to get a kennel, They are the best option, they are good for potty training also, you can find them at thrift stores really cheap. If she still keeps you up while in the kennel you will have to put a sheet over it so she can't see out. Don't forget to give her water in the kennel also. Good luck
@jimreimer (8)
• Canada
24 Feb 07
The best solution to dogs that go wild at night, is to put them in bed with you and let them sleep at the foot end. Works for us and our dogs nuts!!
@pradeep782 (82)
• India
24 Feb 07
TRICAW
although i dont have a pet dog in my house i am telling this on my experiences, tearing up things in house is a common nature of all puppies as it will be in growing process of there teeth, even with humans child like to bite things always, it can be avoided by giving it some old cloths for it or when u feel that t may tear up things instruct it with high voice NO for few days , it will understand.
@prestocaro (1252)
• United States
23 Feb 07
i have two tips:
1. invest in a baby gate. you can use this to confine the puppy to a smaller space so you at least know where she will do her demolition act and/or wet.
2. tired puppies = good puppies. make sure you wear her out! take her on a few walks during the day, and play with her until she gives up and lays down.
3. let everyone know that letting her out when she scratches just tells her that when she wants to get out, all she has to do is scratch. it is the same principle as a toddler throwing a temper tantrum in front of the candy display at the grocery store.
1 person likes this
@rusty2rusty (6751)
• Defiance, Ohio
24 Feb 07
I suggest to crate the dog at night. You won't hear scratching on the door then. Buy your puppy its own toys. Not just one or two. More like four or five. Play with the dog with the toys. So the dog knows it is okay to play with those ones. Any other thing the dog puts in its mouth. Make sure you firmly say no. and direct the dog away from the object.
I had a lab mix which turned out to be a very big dog.. Not sure what kind you got....but good luck and keep trying.
@phon4u (2215)
• Laos
24 Feb 07
All of my puppies tear up the paper, cloth,... My first puppy, tore the paper,slipper, and the wood. My second one tore the cloth and pull down the cloth making the glass cooker broken. I think we should keep cloth, paper out far from their mouth. We can provide the unused things to them.
@ydang_kulit (7)
• Philippines
24 Feb 07
The reason why dogs chew on things is because it is their way of releasing all the energy they have... giving him a toy to play with will help... but the best things for me is to play with your dog.. By this way you are able help in minimizing the boredom your dog has and at the same time you are able to bond with your dog..Sooner and later your dog will wear out and will have no time to chew on your furnitures and will sleep like a baby.. Try to do this also at night before you sleep, to make sure that your dog is tired and will not have the energy to do her little adventures..
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
24 Feb 07
We have almost the same exact situation Tricia. We adopted a mixed breed at the pound as a companion to our other dog. We've had him since he was 2 months old, he's now almost 5 months. We love the little guy but he is a terror! He waits until we go to bed at night and chews everything he can get his mouth on. We've bought him all sorts of toys, it doesn't work. Our other dog won't sleep anywhere but in our room and I think the puppy gets upset because he's not in there also. We tried but he won't let us sleep. We tried leaving him in the sunroom, he cries and scratches. The other night he pulled my hubbys wallet off the kitchen counter (proof doggy proofing doesn't work) and ate his wallet, drivers license and debit card, and left everything else. He knows when he's doing something he's not supposed to. But he's a great pet, a lot of fun, and he can't stay a puppy forever. I guess we just wait it out. LOL
@AlexMasters (247)
• Philippines
24 Feb 07
Maybe your pup most of the time is bored. Give her some dog toys, about three or four sets, one set for every day. Also, a chewbone helps. For those things you don't want her to take a bite at (or get close to), bitter apple always do the trick. it's a liquid spray emitting some kind of smell that most dogs don't like.
