The Dish by Darcy

Dear Darc, Does this (your help post below) work for random chewers, too? I have two dogs on invisible fence, and they get into EVERYTHING! I leave them crated during the day, but my parents let them out and leave them out for hours to ‘play’ unsupervised. They insist it’s cruel to leave them crated when they could be out. When I’m home I spend about an hour to an hour and a half with them, training and playing, but I do work eight hours a day. Any suggestions? Brittany

Dear Brittany, Supervision is the key to changing a dog’s habit from chewing on things they shouldn’t to chewing on things they should. Yes, work with your dogs about what they put into their mouth, that work only takes place when you can be with them, sounds like you need to start in the yard. Although I don’t like to see dogs contained for eight hours at a time, it’s a fact of life that most of us have to work to be able to support our dogs. Take your dogs out for at least an hour walk, no goofing around just walk, before you leave in the morning and another when you get home, and keep the play and training going, too, that will help them want to sleep while you’re working. If your parents will let them out to potty and play a bit in the middle of the day, supervised definitely, then put them back into their crates, you have a better deal than most people do. Thank your parents for their help and explain that the dogs will sleep while you’re gone, that you’re keeping them safe and out of trouble while you’re at work. Dogs who get plenty of exercise and who are crate trained sleep when we leave them alone. Crates are not cruel, they are safe dens. I am against invisible fence, it might keep your dogs inside if they are trained properly but it does not keep them safe against other animals or a person who might want to take them from you or from themselves, eating and chewing on things they shouldn’t. Your dogs should not be without supervision until you know that they are safe in their environment. Dogs are like human toddlers, they really are. So much can go so wrong so quickly if you’re not paying attention. Keep your dogs in a safe place with no dangers. Good luck with your folks. – Darc

Dear Darc, I could use some advice about my dog’s habit of shredding any bedding or fabric he can get. He is a year old. I can’t put a pillow in his bed. I give him old nightgowns to sleep on and throw them out when he shreds totally. Can’t use the bed that is made with plastic pipes because he is fearful and wont climb on anything …not even my bed. I use a plastic bed with old clothes because I don’t want him to sleep on cold floor. Any advice on indestructible bedding? Paula

Dear Paula,

Instead of getting indestructible bedding, which doesn’t exist yet, make your dog a dog who doesn’t tear stuff up. After your dog learns not to tear stuff up, he gets a bed again and you won’t have to be there to supervise. This might take some time but you can do it. Some dogs learn it quickly, some take a little time.

First thing, be supervisory. Yes, you have to watch your dog every minute unless he’s in a crate or in some other safe place. That does not mean that you have to interact with him the whole time and it’s best if you don’t. The best way to do this is to keep him on a leash attached to you, we call it an umbilical cord. The dog is with you whether you are playing with him, reading a book, or watching TV. Do be vigilant, watch out the corner of your eye. You cannot take your mind off of your dog. Three places your dog can be until his house and bed manners are impeccable: umbilical cord (see our Buddy System), crate or small safe area.

Start all over as if he is a new dog to your house. Go out for a very long walk, about an hour or more. You’re in charge of the walk so no stopping, no pulling, no meandering. Then when you get home, onto the umbilical cord. You’ll need this walk every day and twice is better. And get into agility or flyball, or play dates, or some other sport that will help your dog drain his energy.

Your dog should be ready for a nap after all that exercise. Sit where you’re comfy and lay out your dog’s bed. Dog lays on bed and sleeps. Praise quietly for good behavior. When dog wakes up, go play with toys or go outside for more fresh air. All the toys are yours, everything is yours. Dog does not get anything without your approval and you are going to supervise. Period.

Most dogs don’t need anything to sleep on, they sleep on the kitchen floor by choice, it’s cooler and most dogs like to lay on a hard surface at least part of the time. So if yours is one who doesn’t need a blanky or bed and it sounds like he doesn’t really, he sleeps without until he learns not to tear it up.

A good start to teaching a dog not to tear things up is let them pick up what they shouldn’t and trade them for something really good to chew…like a bully stick. You’ll find the best quality at SitStay.com and I’d suggest you stock up with a lot of size appropriate chews for this dog and some really yummy treats soft or biscuit type training treats for rewards as well. Also at SitStay, of course. (I am a trainer and keep only the good an necessary on the shelves here. The best part about trading is you’re automatically teaching a retrieve. At first you’ll want to be very close to your dog when he picks up what he shouldn’t, trade for it. Soon you’ll be able to call him to you no matter where he is when he picks up anything. Some dogs start bringing things to you when they think they’re going to get a goodie.

Dog picks up something he shouldn’t, you say, “Don’t chew that, here chew this Bully Stick. Thank you.” Trade for the goodie and let him keep it for half an hour or so. He’ll understand pretty quickly that yummy stuff is better than chewing up a blanket or a bed if you’re diligent.

If you do this right and you’re consistent and don’t let the bed and blankets become toys or eventual rags, you’ll win. He’s just a puppy so always be kind. This is all a learning experience and has to be a good and valiant effort on your part with no hitting, yelling, or any other force. He’s already fearful of some things so it’s imperative that you use gentle and positive training.

Remember to reward the good behavior, too. If your dog lays beside or on a blanket or bed without chewing on it, out comes the Bully Stick! You’re rewarding the dog for not chewing. It’s okay to pick things up with his mouth, don’t stop that because you’re going to also want to teach a fetch, but trade chewing things he shouldn’t chew on to things he should chew on.

I know it sounds a little wrong that you reward when he picks up things and then lets you have them and also reward for what he doesn’t pick up and chew on but your dog understands this. What you’re doing is rewarding for “giving up” and for leaving it alone in the first place.

Do this, too, because you have a fearful dog. Get the Clicker Training Kit from SitStay.com. Click your dog onto that Kuranda Bed. Clicker training works for getting dogs to trade things with you, too. It’s really the fastest way to train ever!

The Kit will save you tons of money in clothing, fabric, and eventually you’ll have saved the living room couch, too. And you can train lots of tricks, heeling, and everything obedience. You’re going to love it and so is your dog. You’ll have opened the lines of communication. It’s easy and it’s fun.

I’ll also suggest that you get a really fun toy that can take some damage. Like the Wubba. This will give him that flapping thing he likes without tearing up your stuff. The toy is for shaking and carrying, not for chewing up. If he starts to chew, away goes the toy along with a goodie for giving it to you. “Give. Thanks. Good boy. Here’s a cookie.” Very soon, he should learn that if he’s too rough, the toy goes bye bye. He sounds like he’ll be very toy motivated if you introduce the toy correctly. (Don’t leave any toys laying around. One toy at a time and only when you give it. You’re the toy master.)

Very soon after your dog starts to understand not to chew things, only give a treat or chew once in a while. Fade the food away until you can say, “That’s not yours” and the dog puts it down or gives it to you.

Another way to do all this is to make the toy the treat, the reward! Trade the Wubba for the bedding. You still have to make sure he’s playing properly with the Wubba and all other rules apply. The Wubba will probably become his binkie and that’s okay. A dog with a toy in his mouth isn’t generally chewing other stuff up.

Do make sure that your dog is getting plenty of fun and plenty of chewing done every day. A dog who plays and chews is most often a very solid minded dog. That leads to a very happy and mannerly dog.

Remember…everything is yours and the dog can only have it if you give it to him. You initiate play, you stop the play. That’s the best way to teach dogs to respect the house and the stuff in it.

Training dogs is much like training human toddlers…they don’t get the run of the house, keep them safe from harm, no hitting or yelling, and reward the good stuff.

Let us know how it goes. – Darc