Help! My puppy is eating my house!

[permaquandry]

She's been a terrible biter since 7 weeks, she's better with people now but has moved onto furniture. She has just had a good go at the lining of my £££ leather sofa and has ripped off some of it.

She has nylabone, chew and teething toys etc.

We're attending puppy classes but I think she'll grow out of it, just wondering when? She's 13 weeks. Thx.

[tabulahrasa]

Anything up to 18 months is fairly standard depending on breed, some dogs even longer...

Mine is 16 weeks - he's a chewer as well, I have to crate him even if I go to the toilet.

[ViviPru]

Those more expert than I will probably come along and say this is a terrible idea for various reasons, but we find that a firm negative and distraction followed by a squirt of Bitter Apple on the object she was chewing helps stop this.

We also never leave her unattended anywhere long enough for her to get really into some thrilling damage fun.

Ours is 13 weeks too. Bloody knackering isn't it?!

[ImperialStateKnickers]

The bad news is this goes on for bloody months.

Crate and child gates, and move everything up. Like toddler proofing.

And think about cables. Meg1 chewed through a live wire - luckily only a 12 v Ipod charger, but blood still runs cold thinking about it.

[ijustwant8hours]

I left mine in the kitchen for five minutes while I dealt with a screaming child and he has eaten a lump of plaster of the wall! He is nearly 16 weeks. I spend my life distracting him!

[LookBehindYou]

I spent what seemed like hours every day when my dog was a puppy removing him from destruction, giving him a chew and saying 'this is what you chew' in a sing song very irritating voice. He got the message eventually. Don't despair.

[ijustwant8hours]

I have also started outting things that in can chew in places where he has to find them, that seems to satisfy his urges to steal things he shouldnt have....

[anchovies]

Sympathy from me too. I have a 8 month old lab cross who is still at it. I'm sure you've heard all this but things that work well for us are - charity shop stuffed toys, stagbars/antlers, frozen carrots, plastic bottles with the lid on, cardboard boxes/tubes, these nylabone lookalikes

Literally everytime I catch her chewing something he's not meant to have I replace it quickly with something she's allowed. Occasionally now she chooses something she's meant to have...

[WTFwasthat]

it is starting here too! he seems partial to my pile of recycling, bottles, cardboard packaging etc.

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

And empty plastic bottle in the garden is a good distraction from wanton house destruction. Especially if youput it on the floor in a way that 'allows' stealing.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

oh yes. the joys of puppy chewing. Mine would happily eat anything other than his toys at that age. He still will if he is left to his owns devices whilst DH is supposed to be watching him!
sorry no advice except distract distract distract

[WTFwasthat]

he also makes a beeline for my sapling apple tree. i chuck a ball but it's no competition!