gah! None of the chew toys are cutting the mustard.

[Slubberdegullion]

and she has discovered the corners of the kitchen cupboards are chewable.

Nearly 10 week old lab.

I have 3 puppy kongs, and the heinous looking and smelling nobcheese kong filler, and as of yesterday the puppy kong filler biscuits plus numerous shop bought plastic puppy chew toys.

She'll spend about 5 mins with the kongs but as soon as the protruding biscuit is chewed away and she can't work out how to get the bits inside she gives up.

ALL the rest of the chew toys are ignored.

On the other hand every single sodding micro twig in my garden is leapt upon with orgasmic delight, as is a plastic tent peg

Everytime I catch her chewing the cupboards I redirect her to an all allowed chew toy but I fear the moment I am out of the room she is back to the cupboards.

bugger

what now?

Fill the kongs with gravy and freeze them then out her out in the garden with them. Hours of fun - although obviously not one for indoors....

mmm

I've read about filling the kong with their mushy kibble and freezing it. She's just not very adept at chewing down on the kong to get the stuff out.

Just persist?

Invest in some bitter apple/ bitter bite spray for your cupboards - it works with the majority of dogs as it tastes totally horrid!

I may have to beautifulgirls, although she obviously wants to chew and I really want to find someting that she will enjoy chewing (and is safe for her to chew).

Never ever ever leave a puppy unattended in a room.

Yep even when you go to the loo, answer the phone etc.

If you have to leave the puppy you must have a secure place they can be left - may be a puppy pen, could be a crate, could be a puppy proofed room. Put them in the secure place with the prefered chew toy of your choice (not the cupboards) and then leave them.

Some puppies find the kong hard work and give up, you could try a feeder ball or even an old tea towel tied into knots, or just frozen food in ice cube size bits, some puppies love chasing that around their pens.
I have a lab that just refuses to chew anything hard so he has a sock stuffed full with old socks and just seems to suck on that! Probably not recommended for the determined chewer but you will get to learn their preferences.

Try something else in the Kong.

minimu, but I have puppy proofed the room [childish whine]. She is in the kitchen which is gated. The only things on the floor are a few of her toys and her water dish. I am being totally vigilant about everything else being up off the floor (apart from the cupboards of course - and the table and chairs that she hasn't tried to chew yet).

She has a crate which she is happy to go in at night but is extremely reluctant to go into (howling ++) during the day (how does that work?)

I can get rid of the crate and make up the dcs play pen but I don't have space for a crate AND the play pen.

Do I really have to crate her when I need to go to the loo?
(I suspect I already know the answer)

You haven't puppy proofed the area [stern look] cos she is chewing the cupboards. Some dogs do not chew as much as others so the puppy proofing does not need to be so harsh. It is easier to stop behaviour starting than it is to redirect it later.

If she is reluctant to go into the crate in the day, when you go to the loo is an ideal way of getting her used to it.

We owe it to our dogs to teach them to be left alone. If when she is left (even for a minute) she chews, swallows something undesirable and needs major surgery you are not being a kind owner (ok exaggerating big time to make you feel bad!!) If she is to be integrated into the family and given more freedom she has to learn the expected behaviour you wish from her.

Pop her into the crate give her a yummy treat maybe hide it, for her to find you go to loo happy dog doesn't miss you at all buts finds the crate a great place to be and your units still in one piece. What you will find is that as the dog gets busy they will chose to be in their beds when you are not around.

This phase will pass and then she can have the free run of the house.

I've reread this and sorry if I sound like a bossy school teacher, what you do is up to you, but do not worry about seeming to be a little strict with the puppy. In the long run they will have a better life if they have learnt manners. Dog are incredibly adaptable and will not hold it against you if you put them in the crate for a few minutes or stop them chewing the cupboards.

No no don't worry. I respond best to the bossy school teacher approach.

OK I guess I just have to get a bit firmer. Because I'm at home all day I guess I just figured I only needed to use the crate at night time for house training (and for the odd trip to sainsbury's).

Right. New approach.
Will help her LOVE her crate.

Fill the kong with something tasty. Patch loves mini-sausages and chunks of cheddar cheese. I expect the kong filler tastes horrid, which is why it is being ignored.

Kongs stuffed with Nature Diet goes down well here and now frozen as older.

My pup has a multitude of chew toys but the top two for gnawing are a knotted rope toy (lead rope type rope) and a toy which is only a rolled up bit of hessian sacking by the look of it but she looooves it! (When she's well )

Are you directing your pup immediately to her chew toys when she's caught gnawing the wrong thing? If so, she might have decided she's being rewarded, IYSWIM.

Well this morning pre school run I stuffed the kong with some of Wynken's revolting liver cake, a kong biscuit and then a bit of peanut butter over the top (hoping like hell it's ok to give her a bit of peanut butter at 10 weeks...so far no tummy upsets)

and then put it and her in the crate

Silence as we left the house and silence when I got back in.

The kong is still being rolled around the floor so I think the combo of liver and peanut butter [bleurggggh] has worked.

I've also put the play pen up and moved the crate out. She just took herself into the pen (with no treat lures) and is having a little kip.

Ecomouse, so sorry to hear about your puppy . If I catch her at the cupboards I tend to say uh-uh and then direct her to something else. Fingers crossed that by pimping my kong this might be more desirable than the units.

Ecomouse, sorry about your puppy Mine has a persistent cough going on and off since November and is going to have an endoscopy next month when she's spayed, horrible when they are ill.

Only on Mumsnet can you read phases such as 'Pimping my Kong', that had me spluttering !

She's crazy about your liver cake Wynken. I have a couple of bits in my pocket when I do my clicker training to treat her with if she does a particularly spectacular sit or down.

Spluttering at 'Pimping my Kong' here too

Sorry to hear about yours too Wynken, I hope the endo goes well.

Glad you've made progress Slubber

Glad she likes that revolting concoction Slubber, mine has just behaved impeccably in the woods apparently whilst DH was armed with it.

Ecomouse, what is wrong with your pup ?

Here Wynken

Oh no, how awful, I am sorry. Fingers firmly crossed for her.

Chewy toys - You need Bella!! She is the expert on toy rotation and the like!! Sure she will be along soon.

My lab loved those teethers you put in the freezer to harden, they were soothing on her gums I think! Pets at home sell them. She also loved a rather plain rubber chew ring.