Hi all, My 5 month old lab has been absolutely brilliant since I got her, well trained, well behaved, I couldn't complain at all until this week! She's suddenly taken an interest in the skirting board in the kitchen. I've figured shes attention seeking/bored.. She doesn't spend much time on her own as mine and my partners work shifts vary so she's getting plenty of time with us, we go to the park daily and another 30 min walk in the evening. I don't think she could possibly have anymore time and attention. The issue now is how to stop it. She has plenty of chews & toys. She only tends to do it on occasions where she's in the kitchen alone, we began to let her sleep with the crate open and then this happened the first time so we have since reverted back to the closed crate. However now she's found an interest in the skirting board she's prepapred to chew it even when she's in the kitchen alone for a short period of time. When I first noticed it I pointed to the damage and gave a stern "no", she puts her head down and goes to the crate, it's clear she's aware that it's wrong and she's just being mischievous but it's so frustrating. Does anyone know of any ideas to bring this to an end? I've tried the bitter tasting spray and it's had no affect.
Hi there The stern no won't have done any good I'm afraid, and it's not the case she is aware chewing the skirting board is wrong. She put her head down and went to her crate because she was worried you were cross. Unless you punished her as she was actually chewing the skirting board (I personally wouldn't do this - it's very ineffective and it certainly won't stop her chewing the board when you are not there to punish her) then she was just reacting to you being cross - you frightened her - she had no idea why you were cross. It's best not to do this, it just worries dogs and doesn't stop them doing whatever it is you want them to stop doing (as you have found out - she still chews the skirting board). I would just keep her away from the skirting board - a puppy pen would work if you don't want to leave her in a crate. Or, if it's practical, put something in front of the skirting board. I used to leave my puppy in a room that was sort of 'lined' with a metal puppy pen, otherwise he'd chew the skirting boards, the walls, the wall plugs, the door.....everything. He grew out of it.
Many puppies chew, easiest solution is to prevent access when you're not around by popping your pup into her crate to keep her and your house safe. As Julie says your pup was responding to your stern No not to any understanding that she had been naughty or done anything wrong.
Have you tried a frozen Kong as a distraction? We used to do this with my last lab who was a ferocious chewer. In the end with him we had to line the areas we didn't want eaten with puppy pen gates. Am hoping our new pup doesn't chew like my lovely old boy did but am ready for it! He chewed skirting boards, walls, picked every key off a laptop keyboard and on it went. We laugh about it now! I feel your pain
@Joshua Welcome to the forum. Sorry I don't have any advice as I have never had a skirting board chewer! really just wanted to say hello. Helen
Hi there, I think a lot of dogs go through this chewing phase at this age when teeth are falling out and coming through. Meg did for a short time but it soon settled down. She is not remotely chewy now. I think the easiest way is to keep them away from their favourite chewy place. Time to get creative with puppy pens, stair gates, crates ! It won't be for long
Bailey chewed the kitchen chair legs and the door frame/skirting when he was a few months old. He stopped, but has then had another chew here and there on the door frame in the last week or so. I've tried Grannick's Bitter Apple Spray which seemed to work originally, but hasn't stopped him this week! I guess I'll get a new door frame once he's got over the chewing phase!
Lucan was a skirting board chewer at about the same age, I think it was as his back teeth were coming through, he'd not chewed anything up till then. It lasted about a month if I remember correctly. I invested in some Nylabones for him to chew instead, but we had to watch him like a hawk!
