Why is dog eating the house?

[Cath2907]

We have a 7 month old puppy. The last week or so he has taken to chewing on the skirting boards, the TV cabinet, the coffee table legs and my bedside shelf. He does it only in the morning and evenings and we are there in the room with him. He isn't left alone all day, gets plenty of exercise, has chew toys gallore (he buries pigs ears rather than chewing them). He sort of lies down up close to the item and then sneakily gnaws on it until one of us catches him and tells him off.

Any ideas why?

Because it's fun 😁.

If he likes wood you might be better getting a natural dog chew which is a tree root so that when you stop him chewing your furniture you can redirect him onto that instead.

Because it gets your attention. I'm assuming he does it while you are busy with something else and not focused on him?

He will (hopefully) grow out of it. Does he get lots of mental stimulation? When Ddog was little, if he was being a pain, we would do 5/10 mins training with him and he'd settle down.

Sounds like comfort and or fatigue. Have you tried deer antlers?

Is he a labrador. They eat everything.

Put a bit of black pepper on the area

Attention, boredom, teething, over-tired - it could be anything. Puppies like to chew!

You need to redirect him onto one of his toys every time. If he doesn't like pigs ears, have you tried things like Antlers or pizzle sticks? Mine goes nuts for them, or the Yakers all-natural chews. Edible and don't cause the problems that, for example, Rawhide does.

I shall buy him antlers and pizzle sticks!

Have you tried feeding the dog more? With my friends dog she just gave the dog more food whenever it did that (not immediately just at the next time for feeding) people thought it would encourage the dog to eat other things but it actually worked! Maybe it's just my friends dog but it is worth a try!

Eventually he should go to his chews every time he gets the urge to chew - but it takes a lot of persistence! Mine is 5 months and teething and he's chewing EVERYTHING.

Our labrador chewed everything from skirtingboards, carpets to sofas until he was 18 months, then he just stopped. Think it is teething.

Definitely get the tree roots you can buy for dogs. Mine did this a lot at that age and the roots saved my house!