Hello! Our lab pup Monty is now nearly 6 months, he's in the last stages of teething but it seems to really be bothering him at the moment. His baby fangs are almost out but his adult ones are growing alongside them which I imagine is pretty painful for him. He's taking to chewing on our bottom step and we cannot get him to stop. If we try and move him away he gets grumpy and snaps at us. We've tried redirecting him onto toys - this works if we give him a Nylabone toy that's been in the freezer but really only occupies him for a few minutes before he's back on the step again! We're really struggling to stop him at the moment as he seems totally set on chewing one particular spot of it! Can anyone offer any advice that will help stop him? I'm hoping it dies down once his teething is over but we may have no bottom step left on the stairs by then TIA! x
Hello and welcome, sounds like you are doing a great job well done. You could try some brain games/training which might tire Monty out.
I'm sure you have thought of this so sorry if you have, but is there any way of blocking his access to the step, like putting a barrier in front or covering the spot he's chewing?
Thanks Emma, we have a treat ball which does tend to keep him occupied, it's just trying to draw his attention away from the stairs onto a toy which is where we're struggling. The only thing that gets his attention is the sound of the fridge opening May have to persevere with the treat ball and put something he really likes in it rather than just biscuits!
We have tried but it's a bit awkward as it stops us from getting up and down the stairs We have a stair gate on the second step so he can't get to any others but there's not really any way of blocking the first one. Stair gates don't seem to work quite as well on a Victorian banister
I haven’t tried a treat ball mmm might try that myself. I have used a pet spray near the surface and after a few sprays Mason doesn’t go near the no go area
Ah, poor boy! If the chew deterrent spray works, then use it. (It worked a treat for my boy Pongo.) Try putting a soaking wet towel in the freezer and giving it to him as a chew - it might make a change from the nylabone. Or a frozen lamb rib. Or anything frozen, as much variety as possible. Let us know how he gets on! Rosie
I know, bless him! He keeps laying himself down and crying so it's obviously causing him a bit of aggro I think! The chew deterrent didn't work for us last time which is annoying The frozen towel is a good idea though, we hadn't thought of that so will give it a try! Thank you!!
Hey Alex. Does he have any other types of chews? We have a variety of stuff for Ziggy to gnaw on, nylabones, coffee wood, antlers, ice cubes, frozen carrots, my socks , the occasional rawhide. He’s not mega-keen on any in particular but will switch depending on his mood and what's available...carrots are always a go'er. So far we’ve had no chewing of the fabric of the house and only a tiny bit on some furniture in his first few days here **touches all wood in reach** He’s 5.5 months and so far as I can tell all his baby teeth are out and adult ones well on the way. I’m not sure whether variety has anything to do with it or lack of access. If not supervised, he's been in his pen which we are now starting to relax and fingers crossed, our house/furniture is still in one piece.
For the step you can get some sour apple spray or anti chew spray aimed for dogs or cats, and spray it on the parts he chews. Dogs absolutely hate the taste of it so they will not chew the sprayed area. For the teeth to make them strong i suggest getting kongs, putting meat in them and then freezing them over night, and rubber balls that have lots of different shapes and textures on it. Baby toys aimed for teething babies might help too!
Hello! He has a few different variations of Nylabone products, keys, bones etc and he also has some teething rings, a kong and softer toys but he seems to only have one love which is the bottom step saying that we’ve just put some deterrent on it and he’s now moved onto the chair leg instead! We can’t win! He had stopped for a bit until these last 4 teeth started coming through and now it’s started again so hoping once the teeth are done he’ll settle down again! That’s good about the fabrics! Fingers crossed for you that it doesn’t start! Our dining room curtain didn’t fair quite as well
Thanks! We have tried the spray but it seems that we just need to douse the whole house in it! If we deter him from one area he moves into somewhere else! We have a kong that we freeze and it does keep him occupied so I think a variety of frozen items might have to be be way forward!
