Okay, folks, this is something that might stir up some controversy. I feel very uncomfortable at the suggestion of using VICKS VOPOUR RUB as a remedy for dogs chewing things. I am not intending to criticise anyone in particular, so don't be offended, but please join in this discussion. Am I alone in thinking this isn't a good idea? I just know that in humans, things like vicks, olbas oil, karvol and other camphor/eucalyptus containing substances can be highly toxic if ingested (like....fatally toxic, even getting in through eyes or noses). And a child accidentally drinking some or getting some in their eye needs admitted to hospital for observation. If this comes as a surprise to you, don't worry, it shocked me too when I found out just a few years ago. I kind of get mixed messages about the Vicks, and I think it is used to block smell of wildlife too?? Googling isn't reassuring either http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/camphor/ I know my solution of chilli powder in washing up liquid may also be frowned upon, and googling that it doesn't come out particularly risk free either. Is it purely quantity ingested that is the issue? And does bitter aloe really work? Are the proprietary anti-chew sprays safer? What are your thoughts, and does anyone have any firm evidence of safety for these things?
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! Well, good point, Jac. Charlie was a champion chewer, he still is time to time. I have to say though, I didn't find it necessary to use anything. My pup was going to chew the house down, so I was either supervising him or he was in a metal pen and that was that. I did once put washing up liquid on a door hinge that he wouldn't leave alone, but that was it. I don't know how safe these things are, but I wouldn't risk something like vick's, and really didn't need to use anything at all. A barrier to keep puppy teeth away from my stuff was 100% effective...
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! I've never used any substance (just physical separation) but if I had to deal with a furniture chewer I'd use detergent. Definitely not something potentially dangerous like Vicks. I didn't know it could be toxic if ingested...eek!!
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! [quote author=Oberon link=topic=10227.msg150098#msg150098 date=1426568927] I've never used any substance (just physical separation) but if I had to deal with a furniture chewer I'd use detergent. Definitely not something potentially dangerous like Vicks. I didn't know it could be toxic if ingested...eek!! [/quote] Wait, wouldn't detergent be just as bad for a dog? Maisie gave a few chomps at the furniture when she was really little but hasn't made any attempts since then. I bought a bitter cherry spray to put on stuff… I literally soaked a piece of cardboard in it (I was using a box as a separation thing and she kept chewing it) and she just chewed on it more. So I didn't use that again (waste of $10). She does/did like to chew on her crate which I allowed because, well, it's hers, and it's wire, so she's not going to do any damage. That seems to have dropped off as well though. She may decide chewing things is a better option when she is eventually decrated, but right now she is crated and my next move is going to be moving her to a crate inside a playpen type situation, and see how she does with that. I think supervision + separation is really the only 100% safe answer.
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! Detergent (i.e. washing up liquid) is yucky, but not toxic As I said, I haven't had to use anything. But if my expensive antiques were at risk then I would. Others have wrapped cardboard round chair legs etc. That can work.
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! I have some lovely wooden kitchen chairs, that I saved up to buy. I put them in the bedrooms when Charlie arrived, and bought some cheap as chips metal ones (which I quite like)...I wonder if I could get my wooden ones back out now? Knowing my luck, after 2 years of hiding them away, he'd chew through the legs like a beaver the first time my back was turned! ;D ;D ;D
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! We put Tabasco on stuff and wrapped cardboard round wooden furniture. The only thing that really works is separation. Crates and baby gates. I wouldn't use Vicks that's for sure.
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! I was advised to use Vicks by my Guide Dogs friends, so tried it - just a very thin smear. It worked, Gypsy never tried to nibble the skirting board again - the smell put her off, so she didn't eat any. I know of a dog which swallowed some (about two tablespoons full) when he snaffled the jar out of the bedroom cupboard - when his owner rang the vet he was told that it would take much more than that to be toxic. The amount I smeared on the skirting board was miniscule in comparison - it goes a long way. I used bitter apple spray when Tatze was a pup - much more dog friendly? But maybe not as effective?
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! The problem with anything advertised or passed via word of mouth as a chew deterrent is that there will always be that one dog who actually LIKES the taste of it! Fortunatley I've never had to use anything as Penny has never been a chewer, except of us when she was little!! I've also heard cheap perfume recommended as a deterrent, no doubt for most of these products it's the taste that is supposed to put them off, but I would be wary of using anything that is 'non edible' eg. Perfume, Vicks, washing up liquid etc.
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! I know I've been very lucky with Juno as she's never shown any inclination to chew. We've just used separation and supervision with her and a selection of toys that she could happily chew on. When she was very little she put her mouth around the leg of the wooden stools in the kitchen a coupe of times and the drawer of the oven but stopped each time when old no and distracted with a toy.
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! I don't have any evidence of anything. I blindly bought a couple of different deterrent sprays to stop Willow chewing doors and the walls when she was little. They didn't work at all. I tried Grannick's bitter apple and it worked fabulously. I hindsight, I would and should have looked into these products to see what they're made of. The idea that they're on sale so must be safe is a lazy one. Now, I'd be more inclined to go down the more "natural" route, but you also have to be careful with that - just because something is natural is doesn't mean it's safe and non-toxic (see arsenic as an example!!).
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! I tried Bitter Apple spray. It was ineffective. Fifteen years ago, a trainer sprayed my dog's lead with Bitter Orange Spray then stood there open mouthed as Holly licked it off with great relish. "I've never known that before" was the trainers comment. With Molly it has been vigilance and removed (or her or the item as appropriate)
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! You WOULD think that washing up liquid would be safe. But I knew a perfectly sensible chap (hospital doc) that would was his dishes in sudsy water as normal then rinse them all out under fresh hot water before drying. Makes you wonder what he read and where.
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=10227.msg150194#msg150194 date=1426603896] You WOULD think that washing up liquid would be safe. But I knew a perfectly sensible chap (hospital doc) that would was his dishes in sudsy water as normal then rinse them all out under fresh hot water before drying. Makes you wonder what he read and where. [/quote] Anything that doesn't go in the dishwasher gets washed under a running stream of hot water with a soapy sponge, so they're finally rinsed in clean water. I just don't want soap streaks on my dishes
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! I rinse my dishes, have done ever since I shared a room with a French girl at uni. French people are always horrified when they see that not all English people rinse dishes...I think they think washing up liquid is poisonous...
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! I rinse them, but it's because my grandma used to use too much of the stuff and your tea tasted of soap! I have rinsed dishes ever since
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! Wait....WHAT?!?!?!?!!? You don't rinse your dishes?!?!?!?!? This American is stunned..... On the chewing front...supervision, obviously, separation, and distraction are the way to go. We have always taught the "leave it" command from day one with our dogs. To keep Bella entertained as a puppy...she always had ample supply of sticks and firewood she was allowed to chew - and if she is in a particularly chewy mood...she goes and finds her own piece now. She's not bothered the furniture or house in any way other than to make a disaster of the piece of wood she's decided to chew. :
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! (whispers) I don't rinse my dishes. Bitter apple spray didn't deter Molly at all. I think she's grown out of chewing furniture now.
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! I don't rinse my dishes either Joy.....nobodies died (yet!)
Re: How to stop puppies biting everything in sight! In Canada, not rinsing your dishes would be seen as quite odd. How interesting. We also don't call that detergent in Canada - it would be called soap/dish soap, etc here, and detergent more commonly refers to laundry detergent (which I did a quick google when I read someone was using detergent and found that IS toxic to dogs, and no wonder). I suppose they're just not ingesting large enough quantities for it to make them sick. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1677&aid=2278
