Master chewer destroys everything in the yard

[MichelleRea]

Hi,

We have a 9 month old mixed breed (Great Pyranese / Lab is what we were told but he is the poster child for Anatolian Shepherds).  Lately, when we leave him in the yard for any length of time he finds something to destroy.  Tonight we let him outside while we ate dinner - he was outside for a total of 45 mins - when we went out to get him he had chewed up a brand new hose.  We have just had a lot of things planted in the yard and they have to be watered - not leaving the hose out is not an option.  This has never been a problem before. 

Actually, if he is alone in the house he has been chewing as well.  My husband got up first this morning, he let him outside for 10 minutes then fed him breakfast. Then he went into his office to work.  He walked into the living room and Charlie was chewing on my sandals (they were destroyed - yes, my fault I should have put them away - sometimes I forget).  

He has LOTS of toys.  We change the toys out regulary, mainly because he can chew through ANYTHING.  We even joined a special club for power dog chewers.  The last toy they sent that was supposed to be "bullet proof" was completely destructed in less than 3 minutes.  Oh, he loves his Kong but he can literally get all treats out of it in minutes.  Then he doesn't want it any more.

We take him to daycare 3 days a week because we both work all day and even though we are home, we can't watch him 100% of the time and still work.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Adrienne]

Hi there!

Welcome to the forums,

At 9 months, your dog is officially in the doggy adolescent stage a time when it is quite normal to see an increase in chewing, only that now the jaws are much stronger and capable of causing more significant damage. It's as if these dogs go through a "second teething stage," but instead of chewing as a way of getting relief from sore gums, adolescent dogs instead are prepping their jaws for a lifetime of hunting and chewing bones. Sure, while it's true that dogs no longer need to hunt to survive as we feed them kibble in shiny bowls, the instincts to chew at this life stage remain strong nonetheless. You can read more here about the dog adolescent stage:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/survive-dogs-adolescent-stage/

Tackling this stage of chewing is more a matter of management and helping the dog make good choices considering that dogs don't chew out of spite. Chewing in dogs is a natural, instinctive behavior that is self-reinforcing considering that it feels good to the dog (there is belief that when dogs chew, feel-good endorphins are released) and helps maintain good dental health. So for tackling the chewing in the yard, here are some tips:

-Manage your dog's environment by keeping items you don't want your dog to chew  out of reach. In other words, try your best to dog-proof your yard and home. 

-At the same time, help your dog make good choices! Leave out in the yard only safe items to chew.  Adult dogs may enjoy chewing on stuffed Kongs, bully sticks, dental treats and Himalayan dog chews. It goes without saying that dogs should always be supervised when chewing in the yard. Ask your vet for safe and appropriate chews for your dog.

-Stuff your Kong in challenging ways. If he is emptying it within minutes we can try to turn it it into a longer lasting treat. Here are a few suggestions. Of course, consult with your vet if your dog suffers from allergies or a sensitive tummy.  You can start by pressing  a piece of cheese slice inside the base, using a teaspoon to help you push it all the way down. Next, add a layer of your dog’s dinner, maybe mixed with a few pieces of low sodium hot dogs slices or treats, pressing them deeply into the cheese slice so they stick. Next, sandwich all this with one more cheese slice pressed in firmly on top and finish with large dog biscuits lodged well enough that it's hard to get it and  prevents all the goodies inside from falling out. Alternatively, you can fill your dog's Kong with peanut butter, cream cheese, mashed banana or plain yogurt and fill a part of the Kong and then freeze it. Kong also makes special products to stuff Kongs such as their cans of spray food or treats that lodge in for an extra challenge. 

-You can invest in a Kong Wobbler to give him some longer-lasting challenges. I like to stuff a portion of a dog's meals in the Kong Wobbler and add some larger treats that slow down the speed of the kibble coming out for longer-lasting entertainment.

-In young dogs, boredom and excess energy are often the most common triggers for chewing. That need for mental stimulation and excess energy must go somewhere! We may sometimes sends dogs out in the yard in hopes of them stretching their legs and getting some fresh air, but often, once in the yard, dogs engage in undesirable behaviors. The end result is often dogs who pace and bark at anything that moves, dogs who dig to their hearts' content "dogscaping" the yard into what may look like planet Mars, and dogs who chew anything they find in their path. These dogs benefit from daily walks, games, interactive toys, socialization, sniffing adventures, brain games, training and play. 

-When you cannot actively supervise your dog, keep him in an area where he can be confined with a safe chew toy. An exercise pen, a dog kennel or an area closed off by a baby gate that is dog proofed, can help. 

-Now it is also true that in dogs, there may be different causes for chewing.  On top of boredom and excess energy, dogs may chew from frustration and anxiety. Frustration may occur when dogs face a situation in which they cannot achieve their goal. Excess restraint or confinement, routine changes, over-stimulation or unmet expectations may all trigger bouts of frustration chewing in dogs. If you suspect your dog suffers from a low frustration tolerance, aim on offering interventions that garner a better development of general frustration tolerance and coping skills. Some suggestions can be found here: how to train your dog better frustration tolerance. Here is a guide: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/impulse-control-frustration-tolerance/

-Dogs chewing from anxiety may benefit instead from an anxiety-reduction program through the use of calming aids (pheromone diffusers, calming sprays, prescription meds from the vet)  along with behavior modification. 

-If you catch your dog chewing something in the yard or in the home that he shouldn't, don't just try chasing him around trying to pry his mouth mouth. This can lead to problems such as playing hard to catch and even resource guarding and biting. Try instead swapping the object with something else, you can read more about the art of fair trading in this article at the bottom section: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/overprotective-of-toys/

Aim though to eventually train him the leave it and drop it commands for when you need to intervene:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/obedience-101/drop-it/

With items he is not allowed to chew out of the way, and access to legit items he can chew on, and with him being enclosed in an area when you cannot actively supervise, he should be able to make good choices. Make sure to dedicate some times for brain games and allowing him to put his nose to work as these activities can be quite tiring.  Longer lasting chews can help as well to keep him occupied for longer periods of time. Sometimes dogs who go to daycare may become overstimulated and return home  tired and cranky. Cranky dogs may be more likely to misbehave. Make sure your dog has access to a quiet area to nap with not much stimulation going on. 

I hope this helps,

Best 

Adrienne