help me stop her chewing!

[Auntfanny]

I have a Collie shes about a year old and however hard we try we cannot get her to stop chewing at the moment she has to be muzzeled when were out or at night, we often take her out with us and she runs the garden freely, shes fussed fed watered so i dont know why she does it any ideas would be great as idont want to have to resort in rehomingher, also how do i stop her barking at people and dogs shes not vicious she just want to play, shes good as gold in every other way she sits stays and lays down and is house trained perfectly ahes a great dog but we cant have her chewing all the time help!

How much time do you spend away from her? I think this is your dogs way of telling you she is unhappy that you are leaving her.

The only thing I can suggest is to give her some more things to do when you are gone which means lots of toys.

I had the same situation in the past and unfortunatley we had to rehome him as we were unable to spend more time with him than he required.

You could consider other options like a crate when you are out but it depends on how long you are leaving her as to whether it is pratical.

we have tried a crate she howls the place down! i go out every morning for a couple of hours but often take her with us we only leave her once a week, she has mountins of toys and bones, also she barks at other doga and people and jumps up , we have tried destracting her and telling her off when she does it shes just seems untraiable we got her free from somebody in one of our local papers i think she may have been mistreaed.

Take her to dog classes she needs to integrate with others thus allowing appropriate play collie dogs need alot of simulation.

Separation anxiety. More than most other breeds, Border Collies need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They become anxious, which they express by chewing and barking. If you work all day, this is not the breed for you.

Border Collies are one of smartest and most capable breeds in the world. Many are eager to please and learn very, very quickly. But many Border Collies are very difficult for the average person to train.

Some are manipulative, i.e. using their intelligence to get YOU to do what they want you to do.

Some are willful and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things.

Many are so sensitive that if you correct them too harshly, they may freeze and "shut down."

Finally, many Border Collies are frustrating to train because they're hyper-reactive to the slightest sound or movement you make. They are "anticipators" who keep trying to guess what comes next. They will sit, or lie down, or run toward you, or run away from you, when you simply open your mouth or lift your hand. Their reluctance to remain still and wait for your actual command can drive you right up the wall.

HTH

i know alot about collies as we have always had collies in the family home and most i found are quick and willing to learn but Kiera just doesnt seem to understand we practice with her everyday sitting and staying and laying down on her bed ect and she does these well, we dont leave her long or punish her to harshly, we make a fuss of her when shes good and shes got loads of toys and gets treats when shes good, she has long runs and plays all day with my mums collie running around like mad things its just the chewing we cant seem to stop, and the barking at other dogs and people. shes not spayed and is ver hyper as shes still a puppy, the last thig i want is to rehome her but i dont think its fair thats she has to be muzzled every night and constantly watched in the garden becasue she chews, she will blatintly do it in front of us even after bing told no, im not sure what to do next.........

Alternatively, you could try this approach.

She is chewing for attention when you are out or away from her and so it's possible she has learned that chewing earns her attention.

Therefore when you come home and find she has chewed something, try and ignore it. Instead picking up one of her toys and making a fuss of that. then remove her from the room and deal with the mess of the chewing so that she cant see you.

This way she will learn that chewing does not earn attention.

good idea horse shoe i am willing to try anything!