have had enough of the contant chewing... sob!

[sparklygothkat]

my dog is 17 months old, and is still destroying things. Last year he destroyed the surround of the trampoline which I had to replace, yesterday I spent 2 hours sewing up the holes he put into the new one, he has chewed the protective ring too. He has chewed the kids swings, scooters, and anything that he can. I will say that he doesn't chew anything actually in the house anymore, but when it comes to the garden its a difference matter.
He also barks lots which annoys me and possibly the neighbours too. Some of it is him being protective, and when the neighbours kids tease him.
How can i stop this bahaviour?

We have the garden across the width of the house and its patio across the whole width from the back door then fence about 4 foott high. The area is about 20' x 5' and thats for 2 dogs. Its enough for them to lay down in the sun, play a bit and do their business. We have a field outside the back gate so they get exercise there. Hubby just put fence all the way across the garden with a gate at one end.

If you ask at a pet shop you should be able to get something called 'bitter apple'. Its great for stopping chewing as they hate the taste. I was recommended it for ferrets, but it works for dogs as well. Just clean your hands really well after spraying it on, it really really tastes bad!

On the chaining front, we have had to use on several times whilst looking after friends dogs with a roaming instinct. The usual floor level chain was always getting wrapped around things, so every 20 minutes there would be a bark or whine saying 'help, I'm stuck again'. We found a high level wire much better - think of a washing line running the length of your garden, with a lead hanging down from it, long wnough to reach the floor (obviously!) and a bit longer. Dog gets the full run ofthe garden and the chain never gets caught.

Si its back door, dogs bit, fence and gate, kids bit, back fence and gate iyswim

Bitter apple is almost impossible to get hold of, I have tried everywhere near me in surrey and can't find it My mum got some from crufts and it does work but if you use it outside it washes off in the rain and is quite expensive for a small bottle

do your dogs try to jump it though Mags, I thought that 4ft wouldn't be tall enough

Wriggle our dog would rip the line down

Yes maisie does but jesse doesn't. Which is why we need the chain. But they dont jump if the kids are in the garden only if left out there alone.

I have a L shaped garden and thought of running a fence from the fence to the shed that are in the bottom of the L

Sounds great if it can be done do it!!! Now just to tackle the barking??
I'm not sure on that one mine only bark when people come to the back gate or front door.
The collars are cruel but water pistols don't sond so bad but then you have to kind of hide and spray them every time they bark

we tried the water thing, he doesn't mind it [hm] I have a silly dog....

ours like water too!!

Just as we speak I have had to got out and get her!!! Let her out for a wee and put the kettle on, she jumps and has a good run round the fiels

Am going to try the pen thing, I think he will be ok in it, as long as he can see us, but it will protect the kids toys.

can you get him smoked bones from the petshop to chew? they're hard and are all smoky and my dogs love them. tends to distract from other things worth chewing - I'll often give them if I'm going out and leaving dogs home for a bit so they don't get too bored, but one in the garden for when he's out there would be good?

You can get a collar called a sitronella collar, basically when the dog exhibits a behavior you don't like, you press a button on a remote thing and the collar sprays out some sitronella which the dog doesn't like the smell of. theyre better than the shock collars which aren't very nice.

One word of warning though, not sure if he's the head butting tyoe?? My friend did the dame and her staffie head butted his way out

god my keyboard

I am going to go to the huge pet shop this week and buy up anything that will help. At the moment he is curled up on a cusion on the floor looking so sweet
Do you know if food makes a difference to behaviour?? Is it like some foods with kids behaviour??

He doesn't headbutt (well only by accident ) He has now sneaked onto the sofa which he knows he isn;t allowed to do.

about 4 hours a day exercise. He is neutured, was done at 6 months. He jut loves people and if he knows someone is here that adores him he will bark and bark until he gets to see him

them.

He is a good dog when he isn't destroying things

I have, he tries it on everyday. He has never been allowed on the sofa, but he tried to get away with it